Another Japanese mystery has been solved for me ! I have often wondered why people in Tokyo walk up an escalator on the right side while people in Osaka walk up an escalator on the left side...Here is the explanation that I found in the Dutch photographer Guus Rijven's delightful book (TOKAIDO MAKE-OVER) :"These customs can be traced back to the original residents. Merchants, who predominantly lived in the Kansai (Osaka ), would protect their wares from thieves in this way when climbinga steep hill or going upstairs. The many samurai in Edo, in contrast, kept to the left to draw their swords quickly and effectively, thereby preventing anyone approaching them from touching their sword, which was considered an insult.