Notes for Gaijin (外人) #1

[bellinghman]

In Britain, we drive on the left, and overtake on the right. On escalators, we stand on the right, and overtake on the left.
In Japan, they drive on the left, and overtake on the right. On escalators, they stand on the left, and overtake on the right.

Comments

[silly-swordsman.livejournal.com]

Obviously, it's to make it harder for a (right-handed) samurai to dishonourably attack an enemy from behind/beside, thus ensuring that you can stand in peace.

Since there has historically been very few samirai in Britain, that was never a consideration when the custom of escalator-standing developed.