Train of Thought

It only happens on the Yamanote line, which is arguably the most popular and used line in Tokyo. There are small screens above the doors in each subway car. One offers a map of stations on the line, in both English and Japanese. The other plays little ads, one minute quizzes sponsored by Sapporo beer (because if you are shown an orange, a cat and a bridge and can't figure out which is the odd one out, then you haven't drunk enough beer) and one minute English lessons.

The English lessons change weekly. They're introduced by the same lame blonde chick and mostly they teach business English. Last week the Japanese got taught the essential English phrase "clear the decks". It's probably not apparent in the pics, but the etymology was offered, complete with pictures of 19th century sailors clearing the decks.

My only concern is that the example they use is a bit odd: the boss is coming, lets clear the decks. I hope they managed to differentiate the words decks and desks. I can just see office workers all over Tokyo completely clearing off their desks every time the boss shows up because a little screen on the Yamanote line train told them to do it. Of course "decks" is one vowel away from another English word, the widespread clearing of which could prove painful for the male population of Tokyo.