
Keep your saliva in your mouth, not on things other people are going to touch, taxi company says.
Yokohama-based cab company Sanwa Kotsu has an undeniable quirky, fun-loving side to it. This is, after all, the company that offers Tokyo-area taxi rides driven by ninja and “pretend-they’re-not-there” kabuki stagehands.
But Sanwa Kotsu is still a legitimate company, and a Japanese one. That means a commitment to sparkling customer service and proper business decorum, and so the company has recently installed a new employee policy regarding proper document-handling protocol. The company wants to be as transparent as possible regarding this change in worker regulations, and so it’s shared a photo of the memo that’s being circulated to its employees through the official Sanwa Kotsu Twitter account.
先程、弊社の全職員宛に
— サンワさん@三和交通 (@sanwa_taxi) November 22, 2019
通達メールが届きました。
何か重大通達かと思いきや…
_人人人人人人人人_
> 激しく同意…! <
 ̄Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y^Y ̄
(2号) pic.twitter.com/g6Kq6SGTEn
The stern-looking memo reads:
November 22, 2019
To: All individuals affiliated with Sanwa Kotsu
Notification:
From this point forward, the following actions are prohibited when handling any documents or papers:The application to the fingertips of transparent liquids secreted by the salivary glands, oral muciparous glands, or elsewhere in the oral cavity to the fingertips prior to the repagination of paper documents or currency.
This policy is to be thoroughly communicated to all employees.
– Sanwa Kotsu Corp. General Headquarters
Or, in simpler language: Sanwa Kotsu is officially prohibiting its office workers from licking their fingertips when leafing through papers, and also their drivers from licking their fingers before counting out the bills they give customers as change, on the grounds that it’s gross to make someone else indirectly touch your spit.
While Sanwa Kotsu hasn’t receive any direct complaints from customers regarding finger-licking, the company itself decided to officially codify the practice as nasty, and online commenters are already thanking them for it, reacting with:
“Such an elegant way of phrasing the new rule.”
“I wish my company would put out a notice like this.”
“And the library too.”
“There seriously are some taxi drivers who slobber all over their fingers before they give you your change. I haven’t encountered any Sanwa drivers who do that though.”
Oh, and while the new policy only specifically mentions paper-based items, we’re sure that in practice it’ll extend to the crossbows Sanwa Kotsu gives customers for its taxi cab archery promotion too.
Source: Twitter/@sanwa_taxi, IT Media
Top image: Pakutaso
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Not in the mood for small talk? Japanese taxis add Silent Mode service, activated with finger tap
Japanese taxis now being driven by ninja, bodyguards armed with concealed water pistols
Bone-chilling taxi tours of Japan’s most haunted places now include all-night course, livestreams
Tokyo government organizes food truck event to clear out delinquent/homeless teen gathering area
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Cherry blossoms begin blooming in Japan with record-early starts for sakura season
Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki releases new artworks, still wants to make movies
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
This Japanese vending machine doesn’t sell drinks, but you can buy drinks through it
We go looking for a monkey mommy like Punch with Amazon Japan’s ultra low-rated orangutang plushy
When will the cherry blossoms reach full bloom in Japan this year?[Forecast]
Umamusume food and drinks dash into real world at Family Mart convenience stores[Taste test]
Peko-chan Milky Time Cafe opens in Chiba and we go to check out all of the pastries and merch
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Japan’s cherry blossom season predicted to start earlier than we’d thought, especially in Tokyo
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
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
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
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】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says