Japanese is famous for their extremely strict punctuality because punctuality is regarded as a virtue in Japan. The most well-known example is the train (電車でんしゃ). The standard error of the train schedule is 1 minute. More amazingly, Shinkansen (新幹線しんかんせん), known as the bullet train, has the standard error of only 15 seconds. Japanese usually get confused and plagued with the “tolerance” and “slowness” of foreign countries’ life pace. For example, my friend told me a story that he contacted the air conditioner company to fix the broken air conditioner in his house, but was told that the technical support would go to his house “between Monday and Wednesday”. That kind of response is absolutely unbelievable and unacceptable in Japan. In contrast, the Japanese punctuality is kind of crazy to foreigners as well.
The question is since when did Japanese start emphasizing the punctuality? Some say Japanese was not punctual in the past. In 明治時代 (めいじじだい, Meiji period), it was normal that the train is late for 30 minutes. Factory workers were usually late as well. From the 1980s, the so-called 科学的管理法(かがくてきかんりほう, Scientific management) was adopted to improve the efficiency of the workplace. One of the main purposes of Scientific management is to quantify the workload by time. It said that since the introduction of the management method in the early part of the 昭和時代(しょうわじだい, Showa era), the delay in public institutions and enterprises and the late arrival of workers have been reduced. In addition, there is also arguments saying that the 武士(ぶし, warriors) would be considered stupid if they are late or absent in the 江戸時代(えどじだい, Edo period). From this residual notion, people are beginning to realize punctuality. I do not know whether it is with the Japanese strict time habits, there will always be a clock in the Japanese parks, shops, buildings and wherever possible.
Punctuality plays a very important role in having a good life in Japan. So please be punctual when you go to Japan.
See you next week.