Here’s a happy little story to start your weekend off right!
This Wednesday, a group of seven elementary school girls spotted an elderly lady trapped on a railroad crossing in Yamanashi Prefecture. Her electric-powered wheelchair had run out of power, leaving the poor woman stranded–and that’s when the brave girls sprang into action.
The seven elementary school girls noticed the woman stuck on the railway after the crossing gates had already lowered and the train warning alarm had begun to ring. It was obviously a precarious situation for the aged woman!
After hitting the emergency button, four or five of the girls worked together to lift the crossing gate, while the rest helped move the elderly woman and her wheelchair to safety. When asked about it later, one of the girls remarked that, “I was scared, but I felt like we had to save her.”
Fortunately, pressing the emergency button stopped the train at the station, ensuring their safety. Once the train started moving again, the conductor stopped at the crossing to find out who or what had caused the alarm. When he didn’t find anything amiss on the track, he noticed a group of elementary school students and asked them if they knew what had happened. It was then that he learned about the elderly woman and the girls’ rescue.
The girls received letters of gratitude from JR, the Japan Railway Company, though the company also issued a general warning, saying that normally people should not go through lowered crossing gates. As a rule, they stated, people should just use the emergency buttons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8qggTxe9AE
While we certainly don’t want to encourage anyone to do anything dangerous, we were still moved by the girls’ bravery. And greatly relieved that no one was injured!
Now, have a great weekend, everyone, but try not to drink too much eggnog! There might not be seven elementary school girls to rescue you if you fall down drunk on the train tracks.
Online survey reveals the types of guys elementary school girls DON’T want to date
Survey ranks dream jobs for Japanese elementary school students around the nation
Local 13-Year-Old Boy Commended by Police for Rescuing Woman from Train Groper
Japanese elementary school student teaches us all how to pronounce English like a native speaker
Japanese elementary school student’s essay about mother’s prawn pilaf is absolutely adorable
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Believe it or not, this row of retro Japanese bars is actually a hotel!【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases new “Butterflies in the Forest” Totoro towels
Starbucks Japan new Nyu Frappuccino: An old-school throwback that reminds us of Osaka【Taste test】
Japanese restaurant chain serves up super thick soba noodles in Tokyo
Many foreign tourists not picking up, paying for their orders at 100-year-old Tokyo sweets shop
The best Japanese curry in Japan isn’t eaten at a restaurant
Nara deer shikadamari phenomenon continues to baffle visitors at Nara park
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
“Beauty dictionary” for Japanese elementary girls advises braindead phrases for boys to like them
Japanese elementary school student teaches us how to solve a difficult maths problem
Japanese elementary teacher gives awful excuse for leaving his smartphone in girls changing room
Woman decides to go for a walk on the busiest train tracks at Shibuya Station【Video】
What event did you hate most in elementary school? Survey asks Japanese adults
12-year-old Thai boy earns big bucks to support family by cross-dressing as girl on Instagram
Japanese train stopped in its tracks after elderly resident leaves vegetables in its path
Make Tracks to Tokyo’s Train Bars
Japanese woman finds a depressing way to prevent train gropers from targeting her
That time our reporter’s classmate became possessed by a dead child at school
42 reasons why we love riding the rails in Japan
Leave a Reply