Sunday, July 10, 2005

ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE TRAIN

▼ Opening the closing door by force, a man got on the train. Immediately a conductor in the car made an announcement by the public-address system. “Don’t rush into the car, please. It’s your fault if you are hurt as a result.”

▼ At the beginning of the last month, the incident happened as soon as a Japan Railway train left Kokubunji station on the Chuo line in Tokyo. Later one of the passengers complained about the announcement to the company saying, “It was unpleasant.” After investigating the matter, East Japan Railway Company concluded that it was inappropriate and cautioned the conductor about the warning. He was a veteran conductor with nearly thirty years’ experience.

▼ When it was reported in the media, JR Company received as many as 420 letters, among which 90 percent were in favor of the conductor. Though his wording sounded like shifting all the responsibilities to the passenger and may have evoked unpleasant feelings, I cannot deny his anger to blame the reckless passenger.

▼ Former conductor Sachida Katsuo, 60, says, “When a conductor gets excited, he is required to have the competence.” Sachida worked on a commuter train and a night train for many years from the time of National Railways Corporation. He was said to be an expert to relax passengers by casual announcement. “It is important to have the capability of making an off-the-cuff speech. A single word at a timely moment is required.”

▼ Ubukata Keiichi, 72, a former announcer of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) comments that the conductor should have kept his composure to say, “If forced to open, the train door would be broken. ”Ubukata had committed a serious error as a master of ceremonies at the annual male-and-female singers’ contest held on New Year’s Eve. He introduced a popular singer Miyako Harumi by mistake as another popular singer “Misora.” Twenty years have passed since then. He reflected on the error and said that in case of an unexpected happening, a sense of humor is important.”

▼ In the past I often heard a conductor add something extra to his announcement such that “Hydrangeas are at their best now,” or “Have a nice day.” But those expressions are no more heard. Japan Railways explain that some passengers require quietness under any circumstances while others ask for an announcement full of information. How to announce on the public-address system is a “very” hard nut to crack