I don't want to wrongly accuse anyone of anything, and I'm thinking there's an explanation for this.
But it's something I felt was happening, then I started to notice other foreigners living in Japan complaining of the same thing, and then I see a lot of complaints about it on Reddit. So I think it's definitely a thing and not just me being grumpy.
Here's my explanation for it:
Higher population density means you're far more likely to have this happen to you, and it's nothing particular to Japan/Tokyo
Having said that, there's definitely a cultural difference at play. I'm British and I think it's a country where generally we like to show consideration to other people (true despite plenty of counter-examples) and I'm sure the same is true for other European countries, North America etc. Here, it's fine if you just miss bumping into someone at the last moment, but where I'm from people like to make it very obvious as a show of consideration and friendliness.
So for example, back home, you might wait to the side of a narrow passage or single door to let someone through, rather than turning it into a game of chicken. The other person might do the same, and you get the "no, you first, please" situation. The next person would notice you've been waiting so would stop to let you go through. If you do that in Japan, there's a possibility that you'll be there all day, with some people walking past looking at you as if you're weird lol
I mentioned it to an ex-gf (Japanese) who agreed people get in the way but she said it's because in Tokyo, everyone's from the countryside (she was from the countryside herself though)
Any thoughts?
by AGPartridge007