The Vomit Bomb

Raise your hand if you ever walked out of the train covered in someone elses vomit. Or if you tripped on a vomit while boarding the train. I can add one more to this unfortunate list of disgusting episodes, witnessing a drunk commuter choking on his own vomit while trying to keep it in till the next stop. Wait! one more! Stepping on vomit with your new shoes resulting in you throwing them away because you just cant stand the smell.

Yes! Vomit bomb is a common sight in Tokyo. Let me just explain the reason the Japanese always ends up puking their guts out before the night is out. Genetically, all Japanese are not too good with alcohol beverages, there is no shame in that, seriously. We Solomon Islanders (Yes! We, there is no exception here) tend to be more aggresive when drunk.  Second the Japanese eat while drinking, its not a bad thing but it helps in preventing the vomit bomb or contributes greatly to the famous Vomit Bomb. 

With that said I will just share my very unfortunate experiences. It started way back in Osaka, I was doing this part time Job at a friends office so catching the last train became a nightly practise. And walking home I always spot a vomit here and there but never actually caught a person in the act of vomiting. 

Then I moved to Tokyo and I felt like this is the home of the great vomitters of all time. Tokyo is notorious for drunk and annoying commuters. I use to live in Kameari and coming home late is a pain, I always have to be very careful not to step on vomit. Then in the morning on my way to school the stench is gutting! I stop eating breakfast before leaving the house because sometimes I end up feeling nauseted and wanting to vomit myself. One day as I was about to step out of the train I nearly tripped on what looks like a pasta dish left out on the platform. At first I thought someone dropped their luch but on closer inspection it was a vomit. Just think of bolognese pasta set in front of you at a restaurant. Thats exactly how it looks, undigested pasta. That left a lasting image in my mind, which I always like to bring up wheneve the topic of Japanese vomiting is brought up. 

Moving out of Kameari was one of the best things that happen in my life in Tokyo. At last I dont have to deal with the daily smell and sight of vomit. What I didnt realise is that arguably, more drunks live along the seibu line that on any other line in Tokyo. By 10pm on any given day, the trains are packed with drunk workers going home. Most of them carry a mixture of cheap cologne, sake, smoke and sweat.
One night on my way home I happen to be standing within half meter away from a very drunk commuter. Suddenly this guy just puked on himself but because of the very crowded train I too who stood a good meter away got some slimy looking thing on my suit. Gross! the worst thing was I didnt even realise it til I had to put it on again the next day. That got me thinking about the other commuters standing right in front of him.
That very same week I witness a young woman tripping on vomit while entering the train, an officer cleaning out vomit on the platform and a drunk commuter rushing out of the train as soon as it stops only to throw up on the platform.
Fortunately, the Japanese people are very understanding and seem to be tolerating such awful incidents. Instead of being pissed off by the awful stench and sight they are more concerned about the drunk person. Some people might be annoyed but what else can he do? If vomitting or falling down ( the stairs) brings out some reaction, good or bad, then I guess its a good thing where human interaction is concern.