Why Tokyo's Metro Is Profitable and New York City’s Isn’t | WSJ U.S. vs. Japan

Japan’s train system is ranked the most efficient in the world, according to Statista. The United States is tied with Azerbaijan for 11th best. Part of this is because Japan’s railway system has more points of connection allowing for easier commutes. A New York City subway ride often features a transfer before reaching your final destination.
Why does the MTA operate at a loss while Tokyo Metro is profitable? WSJ explains how Japan’s transportation system got so far ahead and runs so smoothly.
0:00 How many people ride the subway each day?
0:28 Commuter rail integration
1:22 Payments for trains
2:30 Profitability and funding
4:42 Subways delays
#Subway #Tokyo #WSJ

[@kevinjenner9502]

The fact that children as young as 5 ride the train alone, says more about Japanese society than the actual infrastructure itself.

[@richardg1426]

Just think humans riding the trains and not animals !

[@Joseph-cf2wd]

That's because crime in Japan is one of the lowest in the world. They don't have land borders for illegal immigrants and drugs, the populace is largely ethnic Japanese so there are few racial tensions, plus practically no access to guns than here in US.

[@awellculturedmanofanime1246]

@@Joseph-cf2wd people love to say crime is underreported etc but its legit one of the safest places on earth with the exception of the usual domestic abuse etc which is still a ton better than most countries not that its good its just the way it is in every society

[@mosubekore78]

Isnt that dangereous for 5 years old kids to travel alone using train? Even in a safest country

[@user-jg4xo3rx5o]

@@mosubekore78 But I actually took the train to school in Japan for 6 years from the age of 6 and it was never once dangerous.

[@taipizzalord4463]

You need to continue comparing US infrastructure to that of developed countries.

[@captain_context9991]

--Because its hilarious every time. I saw a big lecture on traveling in the US compared to traveling in Europe. And they said trains in the US, do the same speeds today as they did in 1953.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@captain_context9991have you been to Italy. Most of their trains are from the 50’s.

[@captain_context9991]

@@bngr_bngr Yes I have been to Italy, and Im going again in the summer. My favourite country to travel in. You can take a train between all their amazing little villages up and down the coast. Between hills and mountains. And you can bring your bike free of charge. Even a motorcycle on special carts. In fact... On the train out of Venice at night, is where I was when I met the woman I married. Every road, every path in the woods, every train track in Italy was laid hundreds of years ago. Back in HISTORY... Italy does not lend itself to high-speed trains. Or to the free-for-all speeds on their motor ways like there are in Germany. Or the 140 speed limits of France. The Italian countryside is very well built out with trains, buses, of all kinds. While MOST of the US is flat like a pancake, and has no excuse to not have virtually ANY working public transport. Even Russia beats America at this. China has built out 30 000 miles of high speed rail that goes 220 mph, the US has zero. And also has zero plans to ever make any.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@captain_context9991 if we stop giving money to countries like Ukraine, we can spend that money at home.

[@MidnightAspec]

@@bngr_bngr even we didn’t fund the Ukraine proxy war, we’d still not give mass transit a dime more……except for bogus transit studies.

[@eli128]

Another thing I noticed with Tokyo is all the stations are basically giant shopping malls with train platforms attached, they're destinations in themselves. So there is probably a lot of revenue coming in from that to JR East and the other station operators. Here in the US cities there often are no vendors at all in a train station, you can't even buy a coffee.

[@mcnuonuo]

A lot of the rail companies operate these shopping malls and Keio is also a real-estate company which builds houses and apartments along its train routes

[@kknn523]

The Japanese health care costs are low too. The big idea is that they have intelligent people in charge. As apposed to America, where they leave billions of dollars of equipment in Afghanistan, because the American military leader is a literal bozo.

[@bigfrogs4207]

@@kknn523 which is why people die from overworking

[@w1z4rd9]

@@bigfrogs4207 Haha, no.

[@kennethisaac233]

@@kknn523 any idea why their healthcare costs are low?

[@thischickkej]

As a new yorker, i get annoyed daily by how pathetic our transit system is. It's genuinely so insane to me that despite being such a major city, the people in power don't do enough to make the changes that will make the system more efficient.

[@kickiniitbak]

Exactly! There are always delays and they’re always “fixing” something. The little patch jobs are not cutting it anymore. It’s filthy and not having a barrier or medium between the track and platform is also really dangerous with the amount of mentally unstable people. The entire subway system needs to be re-done.

[@nickhickley1]

The people in power don't ride the subway, so there's no incentive for them to make it better. We keep voting for them in spite of the fact that we get next to nothing for our tax dollars (except for the endless war that we wage overseas for the sake of geopolitics, whatever the human cost).

[@citrusjuicebox]

​@@nickhickley1 came here looking for this exact comment

[@lololololo359]

true

[@Brendonmakesmesmile]

Yet it is still the best in north america by a mile

[@andycarlson813]

It's about culture of Japan too. They are in general a culture that keeps things clean and maintained (which is a large component of efficiency). I visited a subway station in Japan that I would imagine was built/renovated in the 60s or 70s. There was a public restroom in the station and it was cleaner than some restrooms I've seen in nice hotels in the US.

[@Momowowo8]

This is not true - every other country other than US I have been to has clean railway:) in fact nowhere else in the world, even not in the third third third world country, will you see ppl defecating on public transportation.

[@kilojoule_kj]

Why is that you don't see people defecating at airports and shopping malls, but you see them in subway stations in the US? Think about that and also look at how Tokyo's subway train stations also generate revenue themselves (system owned store kiosks and convenience stores right within the stations generate rent income, amenities like lockers, ATM machines, photo booths, bring in extra revenue stream, etc.) and you'll figure out why they're able to have funds to hire janitors and security while the US subway stations which lack any revenue generating streams (only ad revenue) on their own and you'll figure out the why.

[@kilojoule_kj]

@@richardg1426 Was NYC Subway ever had a check-in/check-out system also that prevents criminals from making an easy escape? Most Asian transit use distance based fares where it's harder to dodge fares because there's an exit check. If you can't get out of the system, there's not much hiding to do as you're locked into the system

[@Waywind420]

You can't expect a homogeneous culture of people who have a shared set of values and care for their nation, and who are generally more intelligent and peaceful to be compared to a dysfunctional multicultural society with tense social division, low education standards and rampant drug/ gang activity.

[@critiqueofthegothgf]

do you think culture is genetic or do you not understand that given time and education, the culture will change too? some of these excuses are genuinely so pathetic

[@TheAdrianVillasenor]

Another aspect of Japanese transit that differs from the US is that many transit companies also double as developers/ real estate companies. This means they have diverse sources of income and a vested interest in maximizing the safety, convenience, and profitability of developments near their stations.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

Correct. And the video is incomplete without mentioning this ALSO: Tokio was razed to the ground and rebuilt in the 50s, so infrastructure was laid out much better with modern criteria and objectives

[@youcanpunchmeintheface]

Most of the operators build transit-oriented-development even way back in the 1960s to grow their railway patronage too. They are reaping what they have been sowing for decades now.

[@TheOnyomiMaster]

So, cities need to be burned to the ground and rebuilt every century? Got it.

[@mrvk39]

@@ricardokowalski1579 so, solution for NYC - just blast it out of existence and then completely rebuild.

[@ricardokowalski1579]

@@mrvk39 why would you rebuild NYC?

[@harumih.3727]

From the riders viewpoint, Japan's infrastructure and subway and bus systems are far beyond the technology-only comparisons. Connectivity, cleanness, punctuarity, safety, disruption-free technology, and manners of users, all of these are into the consideration of the infrastructure in Japan. In summer, every station has a cooling sysyem and in winter, every station has a warming system.

[@ngc-ho1xd]

In Tokyo, the trains have heated seats in the winter.

[@iu2]

Meh. While Tokyo's system may be efficient, it's highly complicated for tourists. For example, the train you are on will change names as you travek along a line that will also change names, even though you never got off the train. How counter-intuitive. 🤔

[@harumih.3727]

@@iu2 Your perspective is only based on non-japanese views, because of lack of familiarity of the system and location names. From the tourist perspective, everyone can say the same thing. For example, New York subway system doesn't have an arrow sign on a platform indicating which side a train comes from and to. Also a tourist to Manhattan wouldn't know without a guidebook, the difference between the Avenue of Americas and the 6th avenue. You can say the same thing about any other foreign countries as long as you are a foreigner who never lives there. And your lack of familiarity doesn't have anything to do with the cleanness, punctuality of trains, public safety, connectivity and people's mindsets of how to treat the public interests.

[@iu2]

@@harumih.3727 "Your persepctive is only based on non-japanese views." Yes. That's what I wrote. What part of this did you not understand: "it's highly complicated for TOURISTS." You sound triggered. Why so upset? Because there are better metro systems elsewhere? Like not having to deal with molesters? Is that why Japan has women-only train cars? 🤦‍♂️Fail.

[@harumih.3727]

@@iu2 I wanted to tell you that your comment is out of point. My comment was about this video, and your comment was against my comment. Your "tourists" viewpoints have nothing to do with this video. Please read KZbin community guidlines.

[@TheKewlPerson]

Best part about Pasmo and Suica is they not only work in just Tokyo, but pretty much everywhere in all of Japan. In cities as far from Kagoshima to Sapporo. They all work on each others systems. On the buses, subways, commuter trains, light rail, It even works on the Disneyland monorail of all places.

[@LinksRoyal]

this! the next level i would say is the Singapore payment system which uses credit card or payment via phone tap

[@sonozaki0000]

That sounds glorious. Not possible in the US due to size and the way things are segmented, but wouldn't it be nice to at least accomplish this statewide?

[@GATE12JPN]

By the way, instead of using a physical card, we can also use apps on smartphones and smartwatches. We can pay with Suica or PASMO at any store where electronic payment has been introduced. Convenience stores, restaurants, bookstores, clothes, home appliances...anything.

[@aa-dl8un]

​@@LinksRoyalクレジットカードまたは電話タップによる支払いでは日本の通勤ラッシュに対応できません。なぜなら改札を通る時の決済に時間がかかるからです。 日本のPASUMOやSUICAといったカードは、他のクレジットカードで使われているnfcよりも処理速度の早い type-fという日本独自の規格が使用されています。これには他のnfcとの互換性が無いので、日本の改札をクレジットカードで通る事ができる日が来るのは難しいと思います😢

[@SweetShimotekutafuto]

Suica and Pasmo can be used at grocery stores, konbini, and vending machines (if applicable).

[@microproductions6]

This video still doesn't get to the heart of the issue, which is the difference in how the two systems are funded. They got so close to explaining it when they said Japan's subways remained profitable throughout the pandemic but then just stopped. The difference is that Japan's system is heavily funded by real estate and the tax revenue from land around stations. This is called "value capture". New York's system used to be funded this way, but sometime last century the US decided it was better to fund infrastructure expansion with debt rather than with value capture.

[@RKupyr]

Interesting.

[@SandySmith80]

When did we fund any mass transit facilities here through value capture? That's the secret sauce to the operating profit of Hong Kong's Mass Transit Railway as well. Here we have storage yards with nothing built on top of them and subway station entrances built into privately owned buildings. I know of no subway stations in the four legacy cities (New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago) that have ancillary developments owned by the transit agency. Save for regional/commuter rail stations, most rail transit stations in the US have no development attached to them that the transit agency can earn revenue from. This needs to change.

[@neilmckay8649]

​@@SandySmith80 great points you make and makes me think that 'an integrated transport system' is not simply about moving but about the commercial aspects also.

[@coleball6001]

Tokyo’s Subways are not actually funded through taxes. In fact, Tokyo Metro has a farebox recovery ratio (Fare revenue minus operating expenses) of 119% in 2016. Meaning that they have 19% of their farebox revenue going to capital expenses or profits. They do get a decent portion of their financing through real estate. But, it’s not through real estate taxes. It’s through Tokyo Metro acting as a developer and landlord for those properties along their service route. Plus, Japan also gives business plenty of incentives to provide transportation for their employees that they acquire through Tokyo Metro and other transportation companies in Japan. Also, ads.

[@microproductions6]

@@coleball6001 Informative, thank you

[@aceboogisback9946]

As an American that has lived in Tokyo and traveled to NYC, as soon as I saw the video title, I laughed out loud. I knew this was going to be embarrassing for the USA. We need more of this, please.

[@mikelarry2602]

How big of a difference is it ?

[@aceboogisback9946]

@@mikelarry2602 As an American, the first thing you'll notice is that many of the stations are like shopping malls and have stores and restaurants in them. It's a lot cleaner, you won't see homeless people loitering or begging for money, everything's very orderly, and the music they play as they close the subway doors makes it feel like you're in an anime cartoon, lol.

[@AegisEdge]

It's absoulutely huge. Coming from experience.@@mikelarry2602

[@Digger-Nick]

As a black person you need to hold your people accountable, they're the reason we will never progress.

[@aceboogisback9946]

@@Digger-Nick black people aren’t “my people.” My people are my family, friends, and fiancé, some of whom aren’t black. Go gripe about about your racism to someone else.

[@Amaling]

Tokyo's metro system is a legit masterpiece. Not only are there an incredible amount of connections, but pretty much all these connections have an incredibly low amount of downtime waiting to hop onto the next train. Some times it's literally instant, which again when considering how many more connections there are... wow

[@etbadaboum]

This video is only scratching the surface

[@th3thrilld3m0n]

The biggest reason for income not touched here that includes most Asian rail systems, including Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, to name a few, is land ownership around the stations. By owning and leasing the station and its direct surroundings, they can turn huge profits with large skyscrapers, business centers, malls, hotels, etc. all directly attached to stations. This also fosters a central hub for the station's local communities as a destination for residents to spend time and money at, rather than just passing through on a commute.

[@auxiliarypowerunit]

preach!!

[@Demopans5990]

Just imagine how not in debt the MTA would be if it only owned and leased out like what, 10 random buildings in Manhattan?

[@taichii1120]

@@Demopans5990 Tokyo's subways are monetized to the extreme. Advertisements are placed inside the company and in the stations, and the vending machines are owned by the railroad company. Furthermore, the railroad companies own both residential and office developments, effectively profiting from owning both residential and business real estate. In addition, the railroad companies cooperate with cellular phone companies and electric power companies to create a large economic zone

[@user-fm6ns5nb4j]

@@taichii1120 Don't NYC's stations and trains have advertising? I'm sure they do - London certainly does.

[@kekberus1]

So basically just capitalism.

[@andyjackson115]

I think Japan having the transit card work for all modes of transportation and even to buy things (essentially a cash card) also makes using the train, bus, or taxi so much easier. You don’t need to have multiple cards or even a credit/debit card. Just one card loaded with cash. It’s always surprising how transit systems here in the US are unable to find a way to use one card especially when it comes to those that are so intertwined like that of NJ and NY

[@rabbit251]

Yes, my Suica card can be used for the bus, the train, subway, convenience stores, vending machines, even my public city gym. And this is for everywhere all over Japan, not just Tokyo. Also, if you ride the bullet train here, it will include free rail transit at your final destination. For example, when I went to Osaka, I could continue using my ticket in the Osaka rail system until exited it. So when I went to Universal Studios, my ticket got me all the way to the USJ station.

[@honnjyukudo]

スイカの技術自体はソニーがセキュリティ認証用のカードでした、国鉄がそれを多方向に使えるように改良しており。 個々に運賃表のデータが改札に入っていて瞬時に送受信出来るので、カードのIDを読み込んでいるのでネットにバックアップを取って後から反映も出来るようにしてあり。 基本的に不可能はありません。 スイカが普及したのはいうまでもなく、ネットにつながってなくとも決済が出来ることで、ソニーが昔からあった技術(FeliCa)なのでソニーからICリーダーを買えば後はコンピュータソフトだけなので簡易的にも導入しやすかったんです。

[@benfelps]

it's not a technical problem in the US. The issue is everyone is trying to make money. All the payment systems are contracted out and municipalities compete with each other

[@rabbit251]

@@benfelps So how do you get the different systems in the US to co-operate? Seems to be a fundamental problem.

[@kilojoule_kj]

@@rabbit251 You need a standardized fare system and fare structure first that is set at the national level. Here, you have every state and municipality coming up with their own fare system and structure, some uses zones (METRA, NJ Transit) others uses flat rate (most municipal transit), others uses distance based (Amtrak, LIRR, BART, Metrolink, DC Metro) and every one of them have their own rules regarding seniors, who "children and students" are, whether disabled or veterans count, and they all issue separate ideas of what a day/weekly/monthly pass is (30 day or actual month to month), so there's no standardization nationwide.

[@TRUTHANDCONSEQUENCESWILLNEVER]

In America a public space, culturally is viewed as "my space" because "I pay taxes" and the general _me me me me_ baby culture of America, while in Japan a communal space is viewed as _OUR_ space. That is a big difference.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

Yet when the stuperhighways were making their dreaded advances throughout major cities, that "my land" mantra meant absolutely nothing.

[@sadvenom7826]

But it's always been like that, even back in the world wars when U.S. infrastructure was so good, by it's might we defeated Japan. People aren't intrested in public transport for different reasons, and some people get offended when we say these things. Search up the mass demographic changes of the 1960s and 70s in new york, you'll see the major differences in subway comfort, and crime.

[@Walrus286]

The big difference for the last 60 years Japan has invested in their transportation systems and for the last 60 years the US has invested in endless wars. It’s over. Now we’re so far in debt that none of the deteriorating infrastructure can be improved.

[@sadvenom7826]

@Walrus286 we invested in the Japanese system, and we rebuilt them. But you're right about war, if we divest from europe and the middle east, we could totally make ourselves better for ourselves

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@Walrus286 But the stuperhighways waste more than $800 billion dollars annually; if they were privatized and turned into taxable land, the nation could still maintain its overbuilt and overinflated military and build a nationwide HSR system. Of course, reducing the military budget by just five percent would work "miracles". But then again, the military maintains engineering divisions in two known branches, and have been known to assist in the construction of rail-based public transportation when natural disasters strike----the 1994 earthquake in SoCal being a good example.

[@shawndasilva]

Another key about Tokyo’s system is that most (99.9%) companies will pay for an employee’s commuter pass. But will not cover other forms of transportation

[@noseraph]

They didn't address that NYC subway is 24/7. Tokyo Subway shuts down every night from midnight to 5AM. 5 hours a day gives a lot of time for maintenance and cleaning, which goes far to explain why the NYC subway looks and smells like a sewer.

[@emjayay]

Subway systems in Paris, Amsterdam, London, Vienna and other cities have added numerous entire new subway lines and extended many existing lines in recent decades. The NYC subway has managed to add a few stations in that time.

[@robertewalt7789]

I was a student in London in the late 1960’s, worked in Tokyo in the early 1970’s, lived in or near NYC mid 1960’d through present. I certaintly observed how much more Tokyo and London subways have expanded vs. NYC.

[@szurketaltos2693]

US and especially NYC transit systems are incredibly expensive vs most other developed countries. NYC could have probably double the amount of lines if their construction costs were same as Paris, which btw is not particularly low -- Seoul is building much cheaper for instance.

[@MB-we4dx]

@@szurketaltos2693 US does not want to develop its train infrastructure because politicians are corrupt. There are lobbies for airlines, oil, cars who don't want Americans to ditch their cars and planes for public transportation.

[@dansouthlondon9873]

@@robertewalt7789 Yep, and we've recently added the Elizabeth Line. We're going to be doing more too.

[@cloudkitt]

Yes but at least NYC added those stations for triple the cost that Paris does.

[@brandonlee1488]

I lived in Japan for a year, and yeah, their public transit is the best.

[@dededengo32]

Japan's first railway line was Yokohama - Shinbashi (next to Tokyo) line built in 1872. The first subway line was built in 1927, between Asakusa - Ueno. Many Japanese railway companies have various sources of income like retail, hospitality, real estate, invested in the foreign real estate markets including the US, because they are private companies. Tokyu, for example makes only 18% of revenue from transport, 52% from retail and other services and 22% from real estate and 7% from hotels & resorts.

[@marmung6263]

Everything is privately owned in the US so why they stopped at Subway station and decided to make it unprofitable?

[@lqr824]

> Japan's first railway line was Yokohama - Shinbashi (next to Tokyo) line built in 1872. Fun fact: that original Shinbashi station is about 100m east of the current one. The current Shinbashi was originally called Karasumori, "Crow Forest," the old geographical name for this small area. Karasumori was only on the beginning Tokyo loop train line. After 20-30 years of running railways they had the realization that it's best land usage and rider convenience to make a railway corridor, and have all the parallel lines right next to each other. Since Shinbashi was so well known, they renamed Karasumori as Shinbashi. But the south exit of the current Shinbashi station is still called Karasumori exit. There's a shrine there called karasumori and I'm not sure if the shrine took its name from the area, or vice versa.

[@VernonParker]

They didn’t mention how clean and orderly the train in Japan are. They failed to mention how a lot of stations also stop in shopping centers (above, below, or next to) and drive ridership. When I lived in Japan there was seldom a time I didn’t stop at a Lawson Station for a snack before getting on the train. Rarely a restaurant I wanted to try was not near the station I was using. The station was within walking distance and walking there was always a serene and safe thing.

[@imbobbymudda]

Not to mention places like Japan and Korea are more respectful and don't have graffiti, urinate, or people fighting in subways.

[@jefflebowski918]

Isn't diversity great in the US?

[@TheRandCrews]

Society and cultural issue, both countries fund greatly in social services compared to US always talk but no solutions

[@cj5937]

They also aren't jumping turnstyles and breaking ticket machines lol

[@kevinjenner9502]

In Japan first graders ride the train solo to school.

[@7141141aj]

Japanese knows how to behave in the public. We can’t have nice things in NYC

[@user-id1li6bp6l]

In Japan, the term "through services" are pretty common in the railway world. Cities such as Tokyo and Osaka has made the term subway or metro too ambiguous because most subway lines has through services with other private railways that connects to other cities. Such as in Tokyo, there's the Tokyo Metro (Subway) Fukutoshin Line which connects with Tobu Railway's Tojo Line and Seibu Railway's Yurakucho Line and Ikebukuro Line on the north end and with Tokyu Railway's Toyoko Line in the south. The Toyoko Line also connects with the Yokohama Rapid Railway Line on it's other hand. Thus, commuters can get from Saitama Prefecture suburbs to Shinjuku, Shibuya, and then to Tokyo Prefecture's suburbs and all the way to Yokohama's Chinatown in Kanagawa Prefecture. But the hiccup here is when one of the interconnected lines delays, it will delay the other lines as well

[@standin.excaliblur7510]

is it save to say that the Fukutoshin line is designed to relieve the overcrowd at the west section of Yamanote Line? (from Otsuka to Meguro) ?

[@standin.excaliblur7510]

also, finally people from Atsugi can take Sotetsu train (used to be the only private railways in Greater Tokyo Area that didn't go into 23 wards of Tokyo) to Shibuya, thanks to the introduction of "相鉄・JR直通線"

[@bhagat2774]

They also used fungus experiment to plan their infrastructure, the US used burger stops lol

[@bryan.w.t]

exactly, i still find myself amazed you can take one train that crosses 3 prefectures and 4 different operators

[@DanielP-nt8bx]

the tokyo metro is extremely easy to use if you're japanese and speak japanese. for anyone else.. its a nightmare.

[@ryanu1046]

i just came back from japan yesterday and the railways are fantastic, transfers are easy, trains are clean, fare is cheap, and everything interconnects (you can even use the same card for the tokyo disney resort monorail, subway, commuter trains, and they are all different rail companies. also you can use those same cards at some convenience stores, vending machines, shops, restaurants too) if only the us cared more about public transportation than they did about cars

[@norihiro01]

Even if the same exact system could be built in the U.S, it would just become vandalised, abused, dirty, unsafe, not-punctual, and too stinky and sticky to use. Sorry, but the problem with the US, is not really about the infrastructure, but we are not allowed to talk about it.

[@88esplosione]

@@norihiro01 I hope that Americans will realize that political correctness and SDGs are for the benefit of a few and that they are destroying society as a whole, and change it into a more decent society.

[@deadby15]

@@norihiro01 The real problem is that we have a culture that beautifies selfishness, greed, and ignorance IMO.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

​@@deadby15"norohiro" appears to be quite RACIST....

[@chikawatson]

I'm from Tokyo and now live in NYC. One nice thing about Japan is that pretty much every company pays for your commuting fares (a monthly ticket between your station and your office) and you can use it for personal purposes too. The video said that it's not a flat fare in Tokyo but because your company pays for it you don't really have to worry about paying to take a train.

[@Sjalabais]

In short: Better governance and coordination in Japan.

[@Booz2020]

Chinese Bullet Trains : please hold our TSINGTAO 🍺🍻

[@TohaBgood2]

@@Booz2020 The same Chinese bullet trains that are bankrupt and $900 billion in debt? Yeah... thanks, but no thanks.

[@Kvasiir]

@@Booz2020 from stolen Japanese bullet train tech ❤

[@linuxman7777]

Also way more expensive tickets. If you want a premium train service expect to pay premium prices

[@bhagat2774]

They also used fungus experiment to plan their infrastructure, the US used burger stops lol

[@chrisli210]

Couple of things to consider - Tokyo metro is not the only company to run trains in Tokyo 23-district, there are tonnes more from both private and also JR (public) companies, among them many are listed companies. this historic background helps to speed up investment which is hard to replicate for other countries - There is a goverment strong hand planning to make companies to work with each other on "Throught Train" that works across networks for Japan, this extends the reach which helps to expand coverage, and encourage suburbs to develop outside the Tokyo central district. the train companies compete while at the same time collobrate with each other - a distance base charging mechanism is pretty much standard across the globe which helps to increase revenue (for longer distance ride and to be fair) and encourage short distance travel (increase ridership) - Signaling system and automation does a big role in giving on time performance and cramping more trains in shorter window, e.g. HK peak hour the train is every 1.5 minutes, and Shinkansen departing every couple of minutes. you would never expect that in US

[@robocop581]

HK MTR system is so efficient I remember hearing an announcement on the Radio in the 1990s that a certain line will be 3 minutes instead of 1.5. They apologized for the delay

[@honnjyukudo]

日本で運行している会社はJR(旧国有鉄道)と多数ありますが、元を辿ると4～5社で国がインフラを守る為に主に国有鉄道(現JR、旧JNR)と大手鉄道の傘下に入れる方法で守ったという経緯があります。 有名なのだと大東急で東急の傘下に小田急、京王、京急、相鉄(他江ノ電を含め数社)が傘下にありました。 (現在は東急以外は小田急の傘下にあり、小田急は東急の子会社です。) そのために東急の創業者同につながりがある阪急電鉄のマーケティング理論に沿って駅周辺を再開発するという方向に舵を切ることになっていきます。 これらにより大企業の鉄道会社が多く現在のインフラが確保出来ています。 逆にこれらがなかったら相鉄や小田急傘下の江ノ電などは採算なく倒産していた可能性が充分にあったはずです。 阪急電鉄の創業者の小林一三(松岡修造の祖父)のマーケティング理論が現在も生かされており、基礎になっています。 JRとも東急は結びつきが大きく、そのために横並びでマニュアルを統一したりしやすいのです。

[@KoushiroIzumi85]

From what I understand, JR East, the company that operates in Tokyo is one of the JR companies that are privatized.

[@bhagat2774]

They also used fungus experiment to plan their infrastructure, the US used burger stops lol

[@chrisli210]

@@KoushiroIzumi85 the only JR that is truly struggling should be JR Hokkaido

[@JamesNY718]

One key difference they don’t break down when it comes to Japan’s system vs America is that companies pay for their employees transportation to work. Even though the subway system in Japan is more expensive, majority of the cost is fulfilled by companies. In America, very few companies pay for employee transportation.

[@justlim622]

Korea subway system is great too. I went everywhere in Seoul and it was so efficient, clean, cheap and punctual.

[@jaredspencer3304]

American transit isn't doomed! We used to have the most developed rail network in the world. We got there through deliberate effort. We lost it for a variety of reasons that other people have pointed out. But if we got there before, we can get there again. We just have to want to do it. And I'm optimistic, since people seem to be fed up, and are realizing it could be better.

[@linuxman7777]

It needs to be built new, and away from freight rail, if we want better passenger service

[@vitasoy1437]

The government doesnt seem interested in making the transit great again. People are sooooo car centric in the US that theres a number of them who say their freedom is taken away with the government 's push for public transit. Plus in the US, they want the system to make $ and a number of people also believe that, look at opponents of the HSR in California.

[@joannejones363]

This is what happens when the government is for profit.

[@antihypocrisy8978]

US politicians are accountable to its corporate donors, who do not want rail investments for one reason or another.

[@bhagat2774]

They also used fungus experiment to plan their infrastructure, the US used burger stops lol

[@jinwoowon6556]

Why are asking transit systems to make money, while we don't ask the same from highways? It's not a fair ask.

[@theexcaliburone5933]

I don't think its necessarily always bad though. The for-profit commuter and long-distance companies in Japan have done great for the country, and in their heyday, two of the best rail systems in the world, the US' and Great Brittain's, were privatized. I don't think it's a good option in a lot of cases (for instance I still think that minor routes which can't make a profit still should exist), but I think it can be helpful. Also it's worth noting that the only way any railway company can make money is off of real estate ventures adjacent to their rights of way.

[@misosoppa3279]

Highways make money too in Japan though.

[@nagasako7]

US Tax payer pays for Elon Musks roads that his Tesla models run on. Imagine if Elon had to flip the bill for US Highway systems. Meanwhile JR constructs and runs profitable bullet trains better than any Tesla vacuum tube solution.

[@TohaBgood2]

@@misosoppa3279 No they don't. The private companies that run those highways are allowed to make money, but that's only because they are subsidized by the government in various direct and indirect ways. Or rather, the government synthetically creates conditions where a private company can make money on the government's dime. Same thing with JR , the Shinkansen system, and the rest of the passenger rail system more broadly. The Japanese government creates conditions for those companies to make money at great expense to itself (i.e. the taxpayers). Everybody likes to talk about the Japanese rail companies making money, but no one likes to talk about how they make most of their money from real estate and are require to run trains to get the special treatment. And this is not unique at all. In fact, this is exactly how our rail system used to work in the US too. It was fairly normal all around the world and we practically invented it. We could return to this model. You let the rail company have some special treatment (cash subsidy, land grants, "zoning" change, easements, etc.) and require a certain level of service in return. The question is - how many Brooklyn residents will accept a brand new 1400 ft luxury condo tower at their subway station that they can't NIMBY out of existence? I'm guessing not many.

[@linuxman7777]

Japan asks for it from both. The Trains are Expensive to ride, and so are the Highways. I remember driving 3 hrs to go 60mi In Japan, because I didn't want to pay the tolls on the expressway to get to the area of Yamanashi I wanted to go.

[@sinisterisrandom8537]

The main problem with the NYC train system is the lack of stations being convenient. There are tons upon tons of train stations that we could help renovate and get into proper working conditions. They are not only convenient for everyone but also safe. Some people have stated on videos related to the abandoned stations that some of these recently decommissioned stations, abandoned ones from only a couple decades ago are still within near, to somewhat perfect condition for usage but are not used at all and if they were would make transportation a lot more convenient for the average new yorker.

[@zorkmid1083]

Like which abandoned stations would be useful to reopen?

[@RobinSentell]

The majority of the abandoned stations I know of are in Manhattan in areas that are already transit rich. We don't need to reopen them.

[@archlab007]

HA! The NYC Subway is great. Try taking MARTA in Atlanta. Great if you live near the very few lines, but for 90% of the Metro Area, Mass Transit is a Joke. In places like this, until we totally demolish & rebuild our cities, there needs to be a commitment to making transit by car work a lot better & integrate it as part of the solution of transit. For most of the USA, it does absolutely no good to vilify this form of transportation because the vivifiers ain't willing to pay for the massive change required.

[@BBQporkramen]

Every time I visit Japan I look forward to riding the public transit especially trains and the subway because I know it will be clean, safe, punctual, and a pleasant experience(maybe not as much doing rush hour). I don’t think I ever look forward to public transit here in the US.

[@yellobird5682]

Did you know that many companies in Japan pay transportation costs for their employers? Even if you drive to work, the company will pay for the train or bus fare from your home to your place of work, in addition to your salary.

[@marciashiraishi5891]

Many companies have their own buses to transport employees free, in addition to paying for those who need to use train, subway or urban buses. Few are allowed to use their own car because parking in Japan is a serious problem

[@momoko9967]

@@marciashiraishi5891 That's only for central Tokyo. Many people who live in the suburbs own cars, and the countryside is completely a car society, and it is not uncommon for a family to have two cars.

[@marciashiraishi5891]

@@momoko9967 I was born and raised in Tokyo, graduated in Osaka and have been living in Kobe for a few years now. I have relatives in Hiroshima and friends who live in small towns, and they all have cars. The problem is parking at the headquarters of companies, imagine large companies, with hundreds of employees and everyone going to work by car? There isn't enough space for that. Fortunately I found a house with a garage but I walk to work, it's only fifteen minutes, so I keep fit and help the planet

[@udishomer5852]

Same in Israel, every employee is entitled by law to a "transportation allowance". They usually get enough money to buy a "public transportation monthly pass" (roughly $70-100).

[@tokyojon4344]

I work in Tokyo. Yes, of course my employer pays for my train ticket, for both my jobs. Am uncertain if this is the law of Japan or not. I know that some workers travel by train where I work from Yokohama to Chiba, costs around $10 each way 90 minutes each way.

[@tomokh2]

Riding the Tokyo subway is what got me to love the contactless payment system. So, when I got back to the US from a vacation trip in Asia, I started transitioning from "insert your card" to "tap and go" credit card. I mean, the OMNY is sort of in the right step direction, but Asia has the system beat because you can get a PASSMO or a SUICA, and use the same card for stores and other things on top of train tickets. Having NJTransit and the MTA work together for a single card system would definitely help, but yesh....bureaucracy. I know the MTA is trying to make improvements slowly with their system, but.....*sighs* Also, in Tokyo, most stations have conbini (convenient stores) and/or other shops you can stop by once you go past the gates. They even have an option for visitors to get platform tickets only if people just want to walk around a station (that ideally promotes the area) and not board a train. Can't do that with NYC's ancient set-up unless they start doing what the Japanese do. Get rid of old buildings and build new ones. The homeless, around Tokyo's stations, tend to stay outdoors. No one is allowed to stay in the stations past midnight as the stations close for maintenance before re-opening at around 4 a.m. or so. There are just so many nice ideas that you wish could be implemented into NYC's subways. And yes, clean well maintained bathrooms would definitely enhance an experience by a whole lot.

[@4daluvofnikki]

NYC Transit is 24 hours. There is always a train running.

[@tomokh2]

@@4daluvofnikki Except during the height of the pandemic, they closed the subways at certain hours at night, and used that time to clean the stations. Very rare occurrence.

[@4daluvofnikki]

@@tomokh2 Yes I remember that. The most clean those trains had ever been. They should do that at least once per week. Funny I was not using theSubway then, because my job was 100% remote then.

[@DanielP-nt8bx]

and all you have to do to figure out how to use it is speak and read fluent japanese!

[@tomokh2]

@@DanielP-nt8bx All ticketing machines at the Japanese stations have English, Korean and Mandarin Chinese options so you'll never have to worry about テキストの日本語を読みます (reading the Japanese text). ;)

[@jayceechan6098]

I’ve been to Japan and I live in New York. Our public transit is the difference between night and day versus Japans. Japans trains/platforms/ tracks/ stations are clean, automated messages are clear and concise, have cushioned seats (will not last a day in NY), passengers are respectful (only noisy people are the foreigners), efficient, always on time, platform crews are so helpful (also hold the doors for you) people let you out before you go into the train, train cars designated only for women, stations a brightly lit, all the employees care about their jobs. If something is broken like a light going out, they replace it right away at the next station. New York transit have dirty trains/ platforms/ tracks/ stations, everyday there are delays, many times it doesn’t matter if you take the local or express both just as slow (rushing into the station the last 500 feet doesn’t count as express), dimly lit stations, get the train doors shut right in front of face, crews not helpful, rude passengers rushing in (while you try to get out) to get a seat, customer service non existence. Hearing “train is delay sorry for any inconvenience” daily is the norm.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

Japan's systems are a HELLUVA lot newer than NYC's, btw....

[@joshjenkins2985]

It's pretty simple, Japan is clean and safe. In New York it's dirty and dangerous.

[@matthewjohnbornholt648]

This video is very very bad. Mostly because they asked the wrong "expert" (Sorensen wrote a very bad book where he mostly complained Japanese planning didn't conform to his NIMBY Torontoite standards and didn't talk about transport planning at all). New York has actually spent way more on its system over the last 30 years than Tokyo has, Tokyo's profitable not just because it has higher fares but because it lower operating costs (no conductors, regular maintenance because no 24 hour service) and construction costs are somewhere between a sixth and quarter the cost per kilometer of NY projects like 2nd avenue subway or East Side Access. Urban Japanese railways only get subsidies for capital project not operations and usually have to cough up fare revenue to pay the debt the state incurred to build those projects. Also Tokyo invested consistently not so much because they were wise magic Asians but because Japan has a more market oriented land market than the US, you can built apartments and supermarkets next to train stations in Japan, not in the US*. Trains are only successful if you have the necessary densities along the rail corridors. And most of Tokyo's rail corridors are run by private rail corporations who are also real estate/commercial development conglomerates. Tokyo metro is built around helping those companies succeed. (Weird the WSJ doesn't talk about that given its a business paper, but Sorensen got his PHD ignoring them). This meant there was always a business-passenger lobby that campaigned for more investment. In the US the political establishment imposed a car oriented social model backed by tax and zoning system that encouraged sprawl and killed off the passenger rail companies. It helps not having poisonous "urban" politics. *America on land and transport is the most socialist major economy. The PRC is more market oriented. Hilariously Japan is actually not a world leader necessarily on fare integration, the IC card system are seamless to use but actually charge you for changing between transport operators. Its Central Europe that leads on integrated fares. Furthermore the governance issue misses that Japan is actually much more complicated, the wider Tokyo area has more than 20 rail operators including 8 large private rail companies, two High speed rail operators, 3 subway systems and a host of government owned commuter lines, spread over 9 prefectures with over 100 municipalities. By that standard the MTA's feuding agencies, the Mayor vs state, the tension between the 3 NY area states are actually quite simple. Did I mention that all the relevant governments are the "same party". Tokyo urban area is a multi-party system.

[@longiusaescius2537]

Do you have a website or somewhere to post more about this?

[@matthewjohnbornholt648]

@@longiusaescius2537 Nope sorry, but I got a lot of this from people like Alon Levy (Pedestrian Observations), Stephen Smith (Market Urbanism) and Joe McReynolds (Emergent Tokyo).

[@longiusaescius2537]

@@matthewjohnbornholt648 sad

[@longiusaescius2537]

@@matthewjohnbornholt648 at least you have names to look into

[@maplefreak64]

As someone who likes to travel to the United States, it was a big news for me that the LIRR arrived at Grand Central Station. Travelers are happy to be able to go to the center in 30 minutes from JFK and at an affordable price. The pleasure of going to the eastern part of Long Island has also increased. I am looking forward to visiting New York. However, the completion of rail transit in Los Angeles and Honolulu is still delayed. I feel like I've been waiting another light year...

[@bikeyoshiro]

I spent about 15 years in Tokyo as well as in Kanagawa Province without buying any cars. You can use the most efficient transportation system: trains, buses, subways and very local and slow trains for local residents. A few abandoned local railway stations have turned themselves into new tourist attractions, too. I miss that local slow trains service. You should ask a fan of Japanese Anime:Slam Dunk: where do you wanna go to Japan???!Thank you. 😊

[@PumpkinPie1926]

Japanese person here. I’ve been living in the states for almost a decade. 2:03 I do wish if more things were organised by the national level as opposed to each state. Not just the metro system, but in general, like the insurance system. It’s definitely more of a hassle when you move to a different state and you have to switch to a doctor licensed in that state. It used to make me wonder how American people tolerated inconveniences like that.🤔

[@lqr824]

American with 20 years in Japan here! Yeah, people think of the US as a relatively "new country" but in fact the government is one of the oldest in the world. The current rules date from 1789 and haven't changed much, whereas nearly everywhere in Europe and Asia has updated things in just the last 75 years. Germany is also a federal country, though, with many similar problems. I lived in Switzerland for six years and while health is nation, many other things aren't. Each canton is VERY different.

[@soccer.547]

The reason is simple. Japan invested heavily in public transit and infrastructure while the USA choose to invest in the military industrial complex. As a result, Japan has the best public transportation in the world and the USA has the most aircraft carriers in the world.

[@punchkicker3837]

USA invested in promoting pedophilia by being car centric. China invested in its military and transit.

[@qolspony]

Best military in the world.

[@dj0-]

a fairer comparison would be the US interstate system and its maintenance, but people don't usually think about how much that costs.

[@jumbomuffin1316]

@@qolsponyhow does it help Bob that has to drive to work and sit in traffic for an hour?

[@qolspony]

@@jumbomuffin1316 according to the U.S. government, the military keeps us safe from terrorists and allows us to live a higher quality of life.

[@captain_context9991]

Its hte wrong question toask. HOW did Japan get that far ahead..... The correct question would be... Why is there ZERO development in the US.

[@glennsriyousefbaun-cueto9287]

Why is there ZERO development in the so-called US of A? Because all the money is going to funding its overhyped military complex

[@whyamiwastingmytimeonthis]

Reason: car & oil industries’ lobby, and NIMBYs blocking development of anything but two-story drywall boxes 20 miles away from the city

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

Blame the automotive and airline industries, energy corporations, and gullible, moronic politicians supported by, and benefitting from, the aforementioned concerns.

[@API-Beast]

Is it just me or did the video not answer the question of the title at all?

[@cherylrleigh1912]

The MTA representative displayed a complete lack of concern regarding the outdated state of the NYC subway system when compared to Japan's impeccable infrastructure. Unfortunately, this issue extends beyond just the subway system and reflects the overall sorry state of US infrastructure, making us a laughing stock among wealthy nations.

[@RX552VBK]

You noticed that too? It was like he was "proud" that NYC train was so old with obsolete switches and signals.

[@deedelta9263]

I didn't get that impression. I think it was moreso that he was just trying to be positive about a situation that isn't going to be fixed anytime soon, even if he had all the guilt and sorrow in the world. As the guy at the end said, it will likely take well over a decade to make the improvements necessary to significantly improve NYC transit. He's gonna be miserable for a VERY long time, if he holds any of other attitude. There's a difference between being dismissive and being hopeful

[@VEEGUS324]

America can't fix its infrastructure cause we give and support the rest of the world.

[@yussef18]

​@deedelta9263 and the american people are cost adverse...they don't like price increases or taxes...and all of the improvements need money

[@scottmac]

I didn’t get that impression, I think he’s just being realistic that the improvement in on-time service is impressive given the age of the system. Also, the majority of the upgrades that the MTA is currently doing is to modernize signals.

[@specialk9999]

NYC and Tokyo are my 2 home cities. Having ridden both systems, the NYC system has easier maps to follow but overall the Tokyo (and Japan’s) system is much, much better. Tokyo’s is much cleaner, more on time, safer (not perfectly), and more efficient.

[@Hans-gb4mv]

Google maps is the only map you really need ;)

[@specialk9999]

@@Hans-gb4mv yeah I guess that would work. I should have specified in my post that my experience riding both systems were in the 80s and 90s. I haven’t been on either one since 2001 but I assume or hope that they would both be improved by now.

[@linuxman7777]

Been to Tokyo, never been to NYC, but the Tokyo metro, JR Lines etc all just seemed so expensive compared to the US. To go 38mi on a bus here in my city will run me about $3 but in Japan I could only go under 5mi for that much, needless to say I used my JR pass alot

[@specialk9999]

@@linuxman7777 yeah it can be pricey but most people in Tokyo don’t own cars so they don’t have that expense. Your comparison of a bus to the train isn’t really much of a comparison. The train is much faster than a bus so you are paying to get somewhere faster.

[@linuxman7777]

@@specialk9999 True, but i still respect the Bus for serving the poor, and being very versatile where trains arent

[@ram_apologist]

Now compare Toronto's system to literally anywhere 💀

[@user-tq9bw3tv4n]

I literally just came back from Japan last night and the transit system there is bar none. It is always on time, always clean , always quiet, always safe. In fact driving in Tokyo can take more time depending on the traffic situation. As a Canadian, I was in complete awe of what they have built. Hong Kong also has an excellent transit system. New York needs to learn a lot from both countries. Banning performers on the train will be a first good step… this is not a race thing either. I am black and I find it annoying.

[@AlCatSplat]

performers are what make the subway fun tho

[@xxDxxism]

@@AlCatSplat nah i just want peace

[@natenae8635]

Maybe they can get in station permits.

[@robertlunderwood]

I thinking cleaning up the system, cracking down on crime, and clearing out the homeless is a good first step. The performers are part of the culture.

[@TheJhtlag]

@@natenae8635 They do get in station permits, they have some sort of auditions and winners get to perform in select stations or passageways etc. That might have changed post covid but...

[@Czechbound]

In Prague, CZ, my annual travel card ( covering buses, trains, trams, and the metro up to about 10km from the centre ) costs *annually* $160. You don't need a car here. And if you want one for, say, driving to Germany for a weekend, you can hire one. Easy !

[@archlab007]

Well...someone is taking up the slack on the Low-Cost for your (subsidised) transit.

[@Peglegkickboxer]

The best trams I've ever been on were in Krakow and Prague. I still have yet to visit Hungary and Austria.

[@cmelle]

also, another random tidbit, is the fact that the length of japan is similar to the length of the us east coast. so the fact that japan has multiple and various railways that services, not just tokyo itself, but all throughout the entire length of their country but the us has limited options just going from one state to the next is just... mind boggling lol

[@magicknight13]

Great video about infrastructure thank you so much!!

[@kellymoses8566]

The real scandal is how the richest city in the world still has 100 year old switching systems in its subway.

[@FirstLastOne]

I can use my Suica card in the Tokyo area and then board the Shinkansen and head down to Osaka or Kyoto and use it on local buses or even in the 7-11 to buy food or pay my electrical, water or gas bill. Then again, you can do that with your smartphone as well. And that's not new, it's been around for over a decade and half.

[@toastedonion]

One major issue is employee pay. MTA workers on average make more than double what Tokyo Metro employees make, in some cases is 3 times as much. When you started that around thousands of employees, that makes a huge difference

[@reyantm]

5:27 I love that statement 😊

[@arthurzetes]

As someone who has been to NYC many times and lives in Tokyo (I havent seen the video yet) this is my take 1. Tokyo subways are mostly privately owned. 2. there are ads literally everywhere 3. you pay based on distance traveled and the monthly passes are extremely limited and only make sense if you commute 5days a week or more. 4.wages are lower in Tokyo than NYC

[@babbleboyquito]

Another area where Japan leads the US is toilet sanitation. For a first world country, it’s crazy how the US does not have bidets.

[@thomasgrabkowski8283]

Japan is only country that widely used bidets

[@mattwardpictures]

Word.

[@garryferrington811]

Toto, the Japanese toilet company, has revolutionized the toilet. They should be selling them by the millions here. I wonder if they've been blocked out of the US market.

[@4daluvofnikki]

Interesting to see the differences. Tokyo has the funding they need. NYC does not and that is why there is such a huge disparity. It seems the Tokyo system does not heavily rely on ridership for funding whereas NYC does. But I also say bureaucratic red tape holds up much of the funding that NYC has. I have felt for years MTA brass have mishandled the funding they have gotten.

[@mx338]

Berlins system also is structured in a very similar and is probably the best in Germany. But because of full ownership by the government on all levels traveling the Berlin public transport system is also significantly cheaper than in Tokyo and New York.

[@dreamchaser4822]

In my opinion, Japan has a national strategy to develop the railway from the late 19th century backed by private sector participation. This has continued to develop for over 150 years. The private railway companies have long diversified into real estate and city development, amassing wealth to reinvest into continuous improvement. On top of these is the Japanese’ emphasis on organization and precision, which is critical to run a transportation system.

[@paranoidhumanoid]

The organization and precision is also a product of a society that values and emphasizes quality education, which the US lacks. The workers who would build the infrastructure could never attain that level of precision and executive management. It would fall apart in months.

[@taichii1120]

A major reason for the development of Japan's railroad business was private-sector opposition to government policies! Originally, Japan planned to build railroads under the government's leadership, but companies interested in temple and shrine tourism and real estate development developed their own railroads, resulting in a competitive relationship that gradually turned into a business. These railroad business styles were perfected by the South Manchuria Railway, which proved that railroad companies were important to state operations by making the most of the knowledge gained in the private sector! The South Manchuria Railway has caused many problems, but it is certainly an entity that can never be overtaken in terms of software and hardware for Japanese railroads!

[@What-is-your-purpose]

I know there’s always an argument about car dependency, but having other means of transportation would actually be a plus for a lot of people, while some people might just want to stay in their cars. Others would rather take the train and that’s OK it would be pretty cool to see a high speed rail road train here in America so I could take a train from Atlanta to Cali so I hope we stop talking about it and really be about it 🫶🏾✌🏾🫶🏾

[@wolfbountygameryt1404]

Some states are building right now like california

[@love2CUsmile86]

The train station and trains in Japan are clean and orderly. I was very impressed. Before talking about infrastructure, let’s talk about culture because that is the most impressive.

[@TimurTripp2]

It's unacceptable that all of these agencies haven't standardized on a single payment / ticketing system for the entire metro area. I remember going from Denver, a city with only one option (RTD), to Seattle, a city with two (King County Metro, Sound Transit) and it felt really confusing to me that I couldn't just buy an RTD-style day pass to use on both while I was there! Same thing in San Francisco - BART and MUNI are segregated heavily, thankfully I only needed MUNI while I was there but still, why design it that way...

[@kjorlaug1]

Two biggest reasons: 1. Cultural. Japan is just different in terms of how they care for things. 2. They charge you for how long you travel, not just one fare to enter the system

[@KoushiroIzumi85]

There are some key points that WSJ missed about public transportation in Tokyo. Aside from Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway, there are seven other railway companies that operate within the metropolis that are privatized and that includes JR East. They are are for-profit entities and make money by not only charging fare based on distance (where you have to tap a card at the station you start at and tap again at the station of your destination) but they also lease retail space in their stations that some actually look like shopping malls, they also own commercial properties around their stations and lease office space, and at least one of those companies owns and operates a chain of convenience stores. Privatized for-profit companies can work wonderfully as public transportation operators but unfortunately, in the West, so many people live in an ideological bubble that they can't fathom the thought of for-profit private entities providing a level of service that publicly funded transit agencies in the West can't be bothered to offer.

[@axipont8383]

Most of the railways in the US are privatized. I think it would be more popular in the US to have private Rail companies than to have public ones. The issue is not ideological, but with how much power homeowners and local governments have in English speaking countries. Just a few complaints can halt an entire project, and something of that scale would evict people who would complain, maybe even sue. California's high speed rail is actually so infamously expensive in part due to those lawsuits (and local governments mostly just representing the interests of local NIMBY homeowners repeatedly getting in the way in other ways), and I don't think a company would be willing to pay hundreds of billions to build that. If a company were, it would already have been built. Where I live (in Australia not the US, but similar problems apply), the airport couldn't be expanded because nobody could successfully evict residents, and companies have tried to build rail but then stopped because the power of local homeowners is just too much, and they don't like the noise or the evictions.

[@DIAC1987]

The problem is, the free market culture of the United States results in catastrophic scenarios when related to essential services. Your ideological bubble isn't much better, just look at what's happened to the health care system or the prison system. Could the New York subway system fare better with for-profit stations and trains? Of course, but it would also require regulations that American corporations just aren't used to nor are willing to abide by.

[@patrickbueno3279]

@@axipont8383 it's very different in Asian countries where, some wants to have subway stations because it will increase their estates prices, if they are not directly affected by it of course.

[@franciscogodoy9158]

Private transportation companies in Japan are possible because of high ridership and high ticket prices. By law, they are allowed to make profits from real estate and other businesses, but selling their land is a very complicated process so it happens very rarely. Privately owned companies are not allowed to get any government subsidies for their operation in Japan and that's why low ridership lines end up in the hands of the state or local authorities. Even the lower ridership JR companies (Hokkaido and Shikoku) are state-owned. Tokyo Metro is publicly owned (not a private company). The US has a much lower population density than Japan (and most European countries too). NYC has lower population than Tokyo. While I personally hate how inefficient (and overstaffed) the NYC MTA is, I don't think the Japanese model has much of a chance of success in there.

[@JasonOvalles]

Another thing they really missed the mark on: transfers. I'm literally at the airport right now leaving Tokyo after a two week trip (I've been watching a lot of videos about Tokyo which is why I guess this popped up on my feed!). Almost everywhere I went in Tokyo, I had to either take two trains or walk a substantial amount (which, given that it's August in Tokyo, I usually just went for the transfers). And, because there are multiple railway companies, the transfers were often a pain! I'd have to leave one train station and walk a few minutes to the next one. There are some central stations (like Ueno and Tokyo station) where you can transfer between different companies, but even then you still have to go through a different gate and pay again. Despite what they say in the video, New York City proper only has one subway system: the MTA system. If you're commuting from OUTSIDE of the city, then you'll need to transfer from a different system (a transfer that usually occurs in the same station). In Tokyo, there were multiple train systems, even when just traveling within the city. Dont get me wrong, I wish NYC's subway was more like the Tokyo subway. It was cleaner, cheaper, more organized, more efficient, and a generally more pleasant experience. But this video really missed the mark on what the actual differences are.

[@momoko9967]

Don't just compare subways. In Tokyo, there are more JR and private railways that run on the ground than the metro. This is very different from other major cities. In addition, development around the station is active and all railway companies are making profits. In most countries, railroads are in the red and run as public works.

[@nickhickley1]

The title of this video gets at the root of the issue. Public services are not supposed to be "profitable." They are a service that has a cost. US politicians mix this up all the time when talking about Amtrak or the USPS. I doubt most folks in Tokyo are touting the "profitability" of their system; it's more likely they're discussing the wisdom of the investment and how to reallocate these public funds that are no longer needed in that specific area.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

​@@nickhickley1Note also that stuperhighways aren't, and have never been, profitable at any time.

[@aureliomunozcruz]

I didn’t know that. So interesting and i give my congrulations to the journey.

[@tdb7992]

It's not just Japan who is "so far ahead". It's literally all developed nations, and a lot of developing ones, who have vastly better infrastructure. Americans don't realise how absolutely terrible infrastructure there is. It's so bizarre the way they talk about NY being "so complex", not realising that it isn't anywhere near as complex as most large European and Asian cities. You're not dealing with earthquakes, plague pits, and thousands of years of history below the soil.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

The USA wastes copious amounts of money in oversubsidizing both highways and air travel; because of THAT, there's little money for passenger rail.

[@user-cp3ip3rw7r]

アメリカは郊外化や車依存社会に予算の重点を置きすぎているんですよね。それは確かに良い面もあります。つまりあの素晴らしいアメリカの郊外、大きな家に広い庭、広い道路があってプライベートがあります。それは日本にはありません。

[@hzxswyg]

"It may not be up to Asian standard." LOL. At least he is honest🤣

[@israeldelarosa5461]

I had no IDEA that you need all these different payment cards in New York. That’s like Archaic. In Chicago, we just use one card, that works for both the city and the entire suburbs, Ventra.

[@Rearmostbean]

Now realize the Japanese federal government is spending a mere $813Billion a year. US spends 7 times that. It would be nice if people would wake up to the fact it isn't a funding problem but a competence/grift problem

[@apoc5000]

In the u.s. we like to focus on nonsense issues and throw tax dollars into bottomless pits. By the way, how hard is it to build a barrier so people don't get pushed onto the tracks?

[@atrailmckinley4786]

The NYC subway is old so installing barriers that you see in London would cost a lot a money

[@GlobalVillageTravelChannel]

@@atrailmckinley4786 Both begun operations in 1863 per Wikipedia.

[@atrailmckinley4786]

@@GlobalVillageTravelChannel the nyc subway didn't open in 1863. It opened in the 1900s

[@glennsriyousefbaun-cueto9287]

There are barriers in Singapore MRT too

[@GlobalVillageTravelChannel]

@@atrailmckinley4786 per Wikipedia

[@blaazer9473]

1:43 I would like to point out that the bottom right card is just a metro card. There is no special card for air train. You can use your metro card to pay the fare, while you can't do the same with the air train metro card.

[@bluesbrothers7023]

The train on the right of the thumbnail image is the Inokashira Line, which runs above ground, not the subway. The Inokashira Line is a railway that connects Shibuya to Kichijoji.

[@Jaxymann]

The lack of a single integrated system for ride fares & payments in New York is jaw-dropping for a city that is supposed to be the best in the United States for mass transit. In Tokyo, there are several companies that operate several different railway lines & services from JR East, Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway to the Keisei, Tobu & Odakyu railways to name just a few, but you can use the Suica/Pasmo or literally ANY IC card in Japan with them. There's no messing about with different cards or payment systems for each line, it's all accessible through a single system.

[@Demopans5990]

NYC's subway and buses use the Metrocard, but you do have a point. Would be great if the greater area all used 1 single system, but that requires NJ Transit and the MTA to agree on something

[@Shiromochimochi]

New York → public transport [Open 24 hours] Tokyo → The station space itself is the city (daily life) [Not Open 24 hours Maintenance from midnight every day] There are various facilities in the station. restaurants, bookstore,convenience store, clothing store, hotel ,housing, etc.

[@thebl3mish]

That's unique to NYC - LA, SF, Chicago, Miami all have opening and closing schedules. It is somewhat convenient but in Tokyo if you miss the last train you could probably fetch some cheap accomodation or other forms of transportation.(there are night buses and of course taxi services)

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

​@@thebl3mishI've heard that Boston and Philadelphia operate their systems 24-7-365....

[@RoqueSantosJunior]

There’s a reason why Japan’s subway is better: THEY ARE MORE EDUCATED AND CIVILIZED. They don’t destroy and screw with public transport.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

In fact, the first five years in school wrestling learning how to be CIVIL....

[@Sunlest]

I've also read that a lot of money from owning the land around the stations. These are leased out for restaurants, shops, and more. That makes these stations destinations themselves instead of just a transit stop. If you look at what's below, Tokyo station, you'd be shocked. So many shops. You can find shops, restaurants, grocery stores, it's kind of crazy.

[@RobinSteiner]

There is a difference of perception in USA and Japan. In Japan public spaces are _our_ spaces and we all must work to maintain it, in America public spaces is _my_ space, and I can do whatever I want because _my_ tax dollars pays for it. This of course is not universal, but it's enough to make public infrastructure in the U.S very bad compared to Japan.

[@jacobharmon6162]

WMATA + Arlington Rapid Transit is a fantastic system

[@jameskerner7782]

The New York City Subways were privatized since it opened in 1904 until the city took over the subways in the late 1940's.

[@ChefEarthenware]

The difference is that in Tokyo you buy a house and say "it's ok, I can get the subway to work". In the US you say "oh no, I have to get the subway to work". Everyone knows why.

[@Dynomite611]

Taiwan has a great metro as well. When I was a kid I spent a few years in Taiwan and was there when the train began operating. My dad use to have a car to commute and the metro was so well done. My dad and many of his colleagues got rid of their cars.

[@geoffk777]

The problem isn't just investment; it's culture. Japan's subways are spotlessly clean and totally safe. Because Japan doesnt tolerate lawless and antisocial behavior. NYC does and the subway is a nightmare as a result.

[@campfire87]

Sure the culture is different but I've traveled in many countries with subway systems and they were all better than the US despite not being Japan. Also there are spaces in the US and new york which are clean, maybe not Japan clean but clean. The reason they're clean is because people pay to keep these places clean. In Japan, public transportation is for everyone because it is often the best choice. It became the best way to get around in large part due to the investment up front and then continued investment. In the US, it's seen as something for people with no better options, so why keep it clean? They have to ride it anyway.

[@kawaiidere1023]

Doesn’t the Tokyo Subway get closed down and maintained overnight? No matter how clean someone is, a space needs to be cleaned occasionally for things like dust, litter, tracked dirt, germs, etc

[@geoffk777]

@@kawaiidere1023 Yes the Tokyo subway is closed from around Midnight to 6AM or so. In theory, NY stays open all night, but late night trains are very infrequent.

[@Digger-Nick]

@@campfire87 How many blacks did those places have compared to the US?

[@ShaiyanHossain]

how often do you go outside?@@Digger-Nick

[@Bxu021]

I absolutely love the Japanese rail system, and then I arrive to the US, and then I regret almost everything 😂

[@user-nb5sr7by6y]

Japan features elevated commuter rail, loop lines, along with the shinkansen, in addition to extensive subways in large cities. Concentrate on network and metropole effects, to reap long term profits for rail. Bus lines, bike corrals, and car parks are also integrated into the 'total transit system', as well.

[@shiina29]

The payment cards also work on vending machines and many, many stores across the country. I use it to buy my groceries, books, clothes, etc because it’s so much quicker.

[@kevinw1090]

You can spend money to improve the infrastructure, but you can't change how the riders behave in the subway.

[@kilojoule_kj]

Ask yourself why you don't see such behaviors in airports, shopping malls, etc. Then ponder how Asia's subway stations themselves have retail spaces, coin lockers, vending machines, etc. which generate extra revenue which allows them to hire janitors and security, whereas US subway stations are desolate concrete boxes with nary any additional revenue streams themselves (maybe an ad poster space that's about it).

[@kevinw1090]

@@kilojoule_kj Recently, many nationwide retailers closed their doors in neighborhoods that resembles the subway atmosphere.

[@kilojoule_kj]

@@kevinw1090 The issue there is being lenient on crime, stupid voters getting what they deserve for voting in radical leftist DAs and local politicians who are soft on crime and side with stupid Defund the Police movements. Stuff you don't see either in Asian countries as well.

[@critiqueofthegothgf]

You literally can change that. It's not genetic. Cultural change, respect and empathy for others will change the ridership behavior. I can't stand seeing these moronic comments. Do you think Japanese people have some inherent genetic gene that makes them polite?

[@critiqueofthegothgf]

@@kevinw1090 ahh just using dog whistles now. why not just say, "i cant ride the subway becuz minorities exist muh"

[@xplayman]

I've been to about a dozen countries, rich and poor, with various cities having metro and as a life long New Yorker I'm embarrassed by our system 100% of the time. Even Bangkok was better than ours by safety and cleanliness, but like old NY they have multiple metro companies. Comparing us to Tokyo is unfair. The rail connectivity all over Japan's cities is unbeatable.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

And then there's the issue of "new vs. old"....

[@Andre-mi6fk]

Japan actually cares about giving riders a great experience. MTA workers in NYC don't even care to speak clearly over the intercom.

[@tonytang5452]

Not only in Japan, I think East Asia have so many great subway systems

[@jhca4671]

Japan's system is far better than those of most East Asian countries.

[@gytan2221]

there’s not much difference lol

[@jhca4671]

@Akai Shuichi not really. I've been in each of these countries you mentioned extensively. And that's just not true. Tokyo also has JR and other rails systems. It's just simply unparalleled.

[@jhca4671]

@Akai Shuichi Better than in the West? That's for sure true! We all know that, but still, they aren't quite Japan.

[@bachelbel]

@Akai Shuichi Why not? Taipei and Seoul metros stations are wider and more comfortable than JR, metro and Toei subway. But maybe bceause they are built in relatively recent years, so they anticipated larger density when they built them.

[@dmac7128]

This was just a comparison between the subway systems between Tokyo and New York. But that doesn't even factor all of the regional commuter lines that run through the wider Tokyo metro area. JR is the largest company that operated a whole network of these lines. JR issues the Suica cards which can be used in most places where JR trains run. Other rail companies like Keikyu also run regional commuter rail networks. They issue PASSMO cards. When one compares the regional metro rail networks of NY and Tokyo, Tokyo is several orders of magnitude larger in terms of mileage and number of passengers served. The secret in the on time performance of their trains lies with all of the station attendants as their busy stations. They control access to the trains. About thirty seconds before a train departs, a warning sound is given and the station attendants insure that no one interferes with the closing of the doors so that train can depart on time.

[@JunMukai]

As a Japanese who grew up in Tokyo but now lives in the US, indeed I'm always wondering how the public transportation in the US can be improved like the ones in Japan. But there are some problems of its own. As said in the video, Tolyo railways are so interconnected and the schedule is so dense, so that it is fairly easy to make domino effect of delays. One simple delay on one end of the tokyo area could cause huge trouble in the other end where a completely different rail company operates.

[@mitch9668]

Video completely overlooks the fact that over 80% of employers in Japan pay the fares for transportation to and from work.

[@Rusty_Gold85]

Rest of the World : builds a transport system for everyone USA: builds a system so only a few can make profits from owning it and then doesn't invest in maintenance and improvements

[@rickc.9664]

Not only Tokyo's metro beats NYC... Basically any European metro system does it, Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin, etc. Mid-size and small size systems like Lisbon, Oslo, Amsterdam, Stockholm, Rome, Athens, etc. also beat their US counterparts. Why? Because this is a car-centric country where public transit is seen like wellfare.

[@sebastienc.2257]

London and Tokyo's subways are the only systems comparable in size to NYC among the cities that you have mentioned. And it's not close at all. Heck Japan is about 1/3-1/4 size of London and NYC's subways.

[@someguy5399]

Do we need to ask, i was in japan for a month and never saw one turnstile hopper/ fare cheat. i lived in nyc and if you just stood at one station you could easily see hundreds in a couple of hours.

[@Smithcraft1]

Not sure if I'm misunderstanding, but at 3:51 Sorensen seems to say that you pay after you arrive, but you pay before you get on the train.

[@GENIUSA1A]

Imagine if people actually paid the fare on the subway

[@FindBp]

IC Card in Japan (Suica, Icoca, Sugoca, etc) not only can be used for metro and railways, but also the Bus. Furthermore, you can use those card in almost entire Japan. I used Sugoca for commuting by bus and railways at Fukuoka, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. 5:25 USA is no more the future, Japan is the future right now.

[@YukariAkiyama]

You can also buy snacks, food and other items with IC cards, thats what i did

[@rimun5235]

I personally like omny. It's pretty much just using apple pay with your card. Plus with express transit, I don't even have to have my phone on. Almost every single vendor in the city takes apple pay too so I have many instances of forgetting my wallet. I haven't been to Japan but I've been to a few European countries (Spain, Portugal, France) and the NYC subway system has never looked so convenient. With that said, they all had much smaller systems than the NYC subway.

[@berfae]

One time on an 8th grade trip to New York, my sister was in a train with a homeless man pooping in a box. I think a big part is the cleanliness