Japan's Nagoya Pays People to Stand Still on Escalators in Bid to Enforce New Etiquette

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Nagoya, a city in Japan, is paying people to stand still on escalators for six hours a day. The initiative is aimed at encouraging riders to remain stationary while going up or down, in line with new national etiquette standards.

Traditionally, Japanese commuters followed an unspoken rule: in Tokyo and eastern Japan, people stood on the left and walked on the right; in Osaka and western Japan, the sides were reversed, but the principle was the same: leave one side open for walkers.

Walking on Escalators Now Considered a Hazard

In recent years, however, cities have grown concerned that walking on escalators poses safety risks, according to Japan Today. Some local governments are now asking people to stand still on both sides.

Nagoya has even passed a city ordinance supporting this. But because walking on an escalator is seen as no different from using stairs, not everyone agrees it's dangerous. As a result, some people still walk on the right side when it's clear.

Nagoya Stand and Stop Corps

To address this, the city of Nagoya created the "Stand and Stop Corps," a team whose job is simply to stand still.

Each team consists of three people per location. They position themselves on the right side of the escalator wearing shirts that read "Nagoyaka ni STOP shite ne," or "Please stop calmly." By blocking the walking side, they enforce the rule indirectly.

The corps works six-hour shifts riding escalators. Despite just standing still, the team leader earns ¥16,000 (Rp1.8 million) per day, which is much higher than typical part-time jobs in shops or restaurants. The two other members each earn ¥6,500 (Rp737,000) per shift.

The Stand and Stop Corps is deployed four to five times a month at 19 train stations around Nagoya. The initiative has been in place since last year. According to the city, more people now stand on both sides, and fewer are walking on escalators.

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