This actually happened in front of my eyes this evening.
An old woman with a limp was late in pushing the "get off next" button, and the bus stopped at a traffic light a little past the stop sign.
The old woman said "I'm sorry.” She apologized to the driver, saying, "I was late pressing the button", but the driver did not open the door at all.
She was only a few meters past the stop sign.
Moreover, the light had just turned red and there was more than enough time to drop the old woman off.
The location was just before the pedestrian crossing, and there was not the slightest sign of danger.
Thanks to this, the old woman got off at the next bus stop, which was quite a distance away.
She had to walk at least one extra bus stop to get home.
At last, even bus drivers have become bureaucrats and petty bureaucrats!
I am sure that bus drivers have a set work rule that they are not allowed to let passengers get on and off the bus except at the bus stop.
I guess they are just following the rules....
Instead of helping the crippled old woman, this bus driver chose to protect himself by obeying the rules.
About 10 years ago, buses that you missed at the last minute would stop and pick you up.
Even local trains would wait for you if you were about to miss your ride.
Now, even if you make it just in time, you will be scolded over the train's announcement that you are taking a dangerous risk.
This kind of thing happens every day all over Japan.
Compliance is like a god, and even the slightest deviation from it is a sure sign that a person's future is at risk.
Sooner or later, there will be many compliance shrines and compliance temples in Japan, and all the people will visit them and make many offerings.
Those who do not do so may be deprived of their nationality.