On 30/04/2023 10:25, RichA wrote:
> I saw a picture of a Tokyo subway car. Molded plastic unpadded
> seats.

Evidence? Cite.

I suspect if true it may be a response to Covid paranoia which is still
fairly rampant in Japan. Fabric is just too difficult to sterilise.

They have only very recently stopped enforcing the wearing of masks
indoors and allowing venues to operate at near to full capacity.

> No more comfortable padding. Know why? Because the vermin
> vandalized the padding, cutting it. Just one more way the
> lower-class make things worse for people.

Your evidence for this wild speculative claim is what exactly?

When I lived there the bank machines could be taken apart by anyone with
the right sort of screwdriver from the outside of the bank. They also
shutdown at 8pm which was somewhat annoying. I expect that has improved.

All the photos I see of Tokyo underground train seats today look much as
I remember them but with more effort made at stations to prevent people
from falling or jumping onto the rails.

If anything it was typically the trust fund rich kids in Japan who made
something of a nuisance of themselves. The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo
Drift wasn't too far off the mark. Certain locations were known for it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463985/

--
Martin Brown