Tokyoites head back to work on Monday as the city tried to edge back to a semblance of normalcy while the northern part of Japan continues to reel from ongoing repercussions from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency. As or least, some did: with energy saving a major concern, some firms remained closed and told workers to stay at home.
- Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
- A policeman speaks to a commuters as others queue waiting for train services to resume at Tokyo’s Chofu station on March 14 as rail services around the capital were disrupted due to energy blackouts.
As Tokyo started its rolling blackouts in a move to save on power, trains service was cut down, upsetting commuters’ hopes to get to work on time. East Japan Railways said that it was cancelling numerous rush-hour trains. A JR spokesman said that the majority of lines were shut and that on average only 20% were running as of early Monday. Tokyo Metro, one of two subway line operators, was running trains with longer gaps than usual.
Morning commutes became a triathlon of sorts for those who ventured a turn on the rail system.
Standing on the side of the Shinagawa station in the central southern part of the city, Tsutomo Takahashi, 49, was resigned. The 49-year-old manager at Misawa Homes, was halfway through his morning commute from port city Yokohama to Shinjuku. The journey had already stretched to an hour, on trains that took the overflow from other cancelled lines. Mr. Takahashi was resting before plunging into the fray again. “As you can see, the number of people is amazing,” he said, pointing to a river of dark-coated commuters, six lanes wide, being herded out of the station behind black and yellow rope. Police in blue yelled out directions to open gates as the station master read out a list of cancelled and delayed trains. “I’m going to wait a bit yet and see,” said Mr. Takahashi.
- Associated Press
- A station staff seals an electric sign after decision of suspension of train services at a line due to planned blackouts, at JR Shinjuku station in Tokyo March 14.
Those at Sangenjaya station, west of Shibuya, were also stopped in their tracks. They were told at 9:30 am that the wait for a train into central Tokyo would be three hours.
Daiki Yamashita was biding his time in line for a taxi after the trains proved to be too troublesome. The 21-year-old Mr. Yamashita said it took him an hour and a half to get to Shinagawa by train — normally a 40-minute trip – only to become stuck because the train he had to transfer to wasn’t running. “I’m going for a job interview, so I really wanted to get there on time,” Mr. Yamashita said, staring at the ten or so people that still stood in front of him in line. “But I only have five minutes left.”
Some attempted to circumvent the rail chaos, but back-up plans were often foiled as well.
More bicycles, mopeds and walkers than usual were seen on Route 246 stretching between Yokohama and central Tokyo. Buses were overflowing, likely due to one of the major lines into the Western Tokyo rail hub of Shibuya running at much lower capacity than usual. That line, the Denentoshi line, like others, was running at 50% to 70% of normal capacity, according to Tokyu Corporation. Commuters were hoping to make it as far as Shibuya, where subways were running at more normal capacity.
- Associated Press
- Passengers line up to catch a train during suspension of train services at Yokohama station in Yokohama, near Tokyo March 14.
One male suburban commuter living 30 miles north of central Tokyo said he tried to drive to his office in Tokyo to avoid the train disruptions, but faced problems on the road as well. He decided to head back home after driving half way to the office. ”There is no way. The traffic isn’t moving at all.”
Meantime, gas stations rationing their supply have extended to Tokyo. One Mobil station in the mainly residential Setagaya Ward in western Tokyo began limiting drivers to 20 liters of gas, roughly 5.3 gallons, on Saturday. There were about a half dozen cars lined up Monday morning, and one station further down the street had a sign up saying it had run out of high-octane gas.
A 32-year old male, who commutes by car to work in the northern outskirts of Tokyo in Saitama, spent three hours in line Sunday to fill his Nissan minivan at a neighboring gas station to ensure he had enough juice to get to work Monday morning. Customers here were also limited to pump only 20 liters, said the driver. He noted the gas price remained at normal price points — 141 yen per liter of regular gasoline. As it turned out, his efforts were not immediately necessary: he was told by his delivery company to stay at home today.
Several businesses also attempted to do their part. A booming sound truck woke up the residents and businesses in the hilly Akasaka neighborhood, asking for people’s cooperation in energy conservation. A pharmacy was dimly lit and the spotlights that usually bring out the sparkle in the rows of shimmering cosmetics were turned off. The hum of the heater system was also mum. The store clerk said it was to help save energy, and that conditions are set to remain the same until at least early April.
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