Rush Hour Commuting The Salaried Workers' Ordeal

摘要

Overconcentration of population in Japan's large cities has given rise to various social ills, perhaps nowhere better symbolized than by the jampacked trains at peak rush hours. Many salaried workers live in the suburbs and commute to work in the heart of Tokyo. One only needs consider Chiyoda Ward, located smack in the middle of Tokyo and filled with office blocks. The number of people who come to the ward during the day as workers or students far exceeds the number of residents. In fact, the ratiois 26 to 1 in favor of the former. The situation is about the same in adjacent Chuo and Minato wards. In other words, Tokyo exemplifies the "doughnut phenomenon" typical of large cities. During the morning rush hours, therefore, the myriad trains speeding toward the heart .of Tokyo are packed with commuters.