Tokyo Metro has been making “subway manners” posters since 1974 to promote a harmonious riding experience. These posters have focused on just a handful of rules: don’t apply cosmetics on the train, don’t take up too much space, don’t play loud music. But they always seem to avoid the subject of this guy or for that matter this fella, or this chap.

So when the latest round of clever posters came out, this time with a creepy little salaryman silently passing judgment on all, us gaijin couldn’t help ourselves

Spot-on illustration by Office of Mesker