Dear Alice, Until recently I lived in Tokyo and commuted on the JR Chuo Sobu Line from Kameido Station. I made it a practice to ride in the last compartment of the train, just so I could enjoy the spectacle of the driver making those sincere hand gestures at each and every station. I’ve seen the same thing on other train and subway lines, so I’m sure there is a very good reason they do this. But what the heck is it?

Madhu S., Chennai, India

Dear Madhu,

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