Waiting in Line

Being as Japan’s land mass is about the size of California with a population around half that of the entire United States, and the Greater Tokyo Area boasting an estimated 38 million in population, there are lines everywhere. But as of late, I just can’t shake the feeling that I’m waiting in line like never before. The reason being the sudden introduction to a few new American restaurants that are getting all kinds of media attention.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts opening over a year ago in July of last year in Shinjuku. The media went crazy, and created the attention that the little doughnut stand needed. The line out in front of the store was estimated at an hour wait, plus an hour to two hour wait in line just to get in the line in front of the store. A total of a 2-3 hour wait just for a box of doughnuts.

Along with Krispy Kreme, came Burger King. Although this was not Burger King’s first attempt at the Japanese market (they lost out in the price wars a few years ago that left McDonalds to rule the fast food market with no real competition in sight), the media frenzy was there none-the-less. Estimated waiting time, again no less than an hour. The weird part is, the inside of the restaurant is pretty much empty. Everyone eats in the courtyard out in front.

Naturally lines in Japan are not something American restaurants brought with them Black Ship style. This sumer I waited close to 2 hours in line for a 10 minute train ride to go watch fireworks (walking wasn’t an option, because we were going to an island that had a foot bridge, but would have taken much longer to walk to and cross).

Most people would probably laugh at the Japanese for standing in line for such trivial things like doughnuts and burgers or even fireworks, but I can’t — I stood in line just like everyone else. It’s just like when you buy some new gadget at the store, or perhaps a computer game. Everyone opens it in the car on the way home even though you can’t play with it any faster by doing so. It’s new, and you wanna try it out.

What really amazes me, is how civilized the Japanese are in such a situation. I would never wait in line for more than 10 minutes for Burger King in America, not only because no line would ever exist, but because we all know beyond any doubt that our fellow Americans are the most uncivilized group of 1st world citizens around. People would be spitting all over the place, pushing and shoving, complaining and most certainly cutting through the line and causing a scene. Perhaps we can’t understand what drives the Japanese to stand in such lines for something that really isn’t all that special, but we should try to understand what allows them to be so good at it, while we’re so bad.