Japan is organized!

Tokyo rivals Mexico City in size (depending on who is counting, one of those is the largest in the world) but they have almost nothing else in common. Both are very crowded, but the Japanese seem to have organization in their blood. In Mexico City, there is a desperate sense of "squishing" that takes some time to get used to. After years of watching out for rogue cars, buses, pedestrians, motorcycles, and even dogs, I was shocked to see this:

Yes, it's a huge intersection, but do you notice anything else? Look again.

Everyone is waiting. This is the largest, busiest intersection in the world, and people actually follow the rules. Thousands of people wait for the pedestrian crossing light, when they actually cross at the marked crossing, and deliberately do not push anyone near them. The cars wait patiently behind the lines and some even stop on the yellow light, so that they are not in the pedestrians' way. I was completely shocked.

Also, when waiting for the metro, the Japanese will line up and wait their turn. When the doors open, they patiently wait for those on the train to come off (in an organized line) and then the line of people waiting calmly enters the train. The line enters calmly, with those in front moving to the middle of the car.

I'm not kidding.

Kindergarten teachers in Japan must be very proud. Although, on second thought, maybe the students have to already know this kind of polite consideration in order to start school here?