One of the more interesting things about Japan is the rather unusual dynamic between men and women.

So there I was, on the Hibiya Line on my way to meet a friend one day, when I found myself sitting opposite an attractive woman in her 60s, all dressed up looking like she's off to meet her beau.

At Naka-Okachimachi the train stopped. The woman looked behind me through the window and waved at someone on the platform.

A few seconds later, as soon as her "beau," for it was he, reached her, she stood up and relieved him of his two big heavy bags, which he happily handed over.

He then sat down on the seat formerly occupied by the woman, while she held onto the rail with one hand, and her boyfriend's shopping bags with the other.

He pulled out a newspaper and started to read and, as the doors closed and the train left the station, not a word passed between the couple.

And women are said to be equal?! -- Mark in Tokyo

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