Japan Train Operator Apologizes for Leaving Station 25 Seconds Early

In case anyone's forgotten that Japan works very differently from most other places, a train company made a public apology this week after a train left the station 25 seconds early.

The world fell apart when the train conductor, who thought his train was scheduled to leave Notogawa Station on Friday at 7:11, closed his commuter train doors one minute early, pulling out of the station 25 seconds ahead of the actual scheduled time of 7:12. The conductor realized his mistake before departing but didn't see any waiting passengers on the platform, so he carried on with his early departure — and his error.

Unfortunately, he was wrong about the passengers — there were people who still wanted to get on. They complained to the rail operator, JR West, which offered an official apology shortly after.

This was the second incident involving over-zealous departure times in recent history, and the operator admitted that the "great inconvenience we placed upon our customers was truly inexcusable".

If only the MTA would take a page from JR West's book.