Netizens collectively facepalm and shake their heads after finding out the root of the problem.

Japan takes train punctuality pretty seriously, even going as far as apologizing for 20-second early departures. Hiccups in train schedules can affect hundreds of people, and in a country where being on time is expected, such incidents remain scarce.

But when they do happen, they’re a big deal. Japanese commuters were quite upset when a series of mysterious delays occurred on 22 February. According to @Trainfo_, a Twitter account that gathers all relevant train information in metropolitan Tokyo, they weren’t all caused by unavoidable mechanical problems.

▼ The cause was a bit… stranger (translation below).

“Passengers at Nishi-Ogikubo Station have requested police assistance regarding an umbrella that was wedged on the Rapid Chuo Line train at Musashi-Koganei Station. Commuters may experience delays of more than 15 minutes for some trains between Takao and Tokyo.”

That seemed like a genuine accident, but netizens suspected it was a cover-up of the next portion of the tweet.

“An agitated woman on the women-only carriage was shouting, ‘I don’t have my coffee.’”

According to Japanese media outlet J-cast, interviews with witnesses at the scene revealed that the woman suddenly screamed to no one in particular:

“I wanted to drink coffee! You know I drink coffee, so why wasn’t there any? I didn’t want to drink matcha!”

▼ Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned…
or deprived of her coffee.

Sensing a commotion, the train driver stopped the vehicle at Nishi-Ogikubo Station and requested police assistance. Coaxing her to step off the train proved futile, as it only encouraged the lady to demand seats from passengers.

Her demands were met with stony silence, but fortunately she managed to calm down after a few minutes of persuading from police officers. The train then departed, and the troubled lady got off three stations later, much to the relief of other commuters.

▼ Shortly after however, the Keihin-Tohoku Line also reported
a massive delay unrelated to the previous incident (translation below).

“Due to commotion on a female-only carriage at Oji Station, the Keihin-Tohoku Line is anticipating more than 15-minute delays for trains bound for Okubo, and more than 10-minute delays for trains bound for Omiya. It seems a male intruder was found on the women-only carriage, with passengers chanting ‘Get off, get off!’”

It was truly a bizarre day and a massive headache for commuters involved. While there’s nothing much one could do to help the screaming “coffee lady”, the male trespasser should have been more aware of his surroundings.

Although we do have to admit, it’s kind of funny how what would most likely be considered fairly normal belligerent passenger behavior in other countries makes big news in Japan. In fact, Japan is probably the only country where train disruptions can sometimes even bring smiles to everyone too.

Source: Twitter/@Trainfo_ via My Game News Flash, J-Cast
Top image: Pakutaso
Insert image: Pakutaso