The work day in Tokyo generally starts with a ride through the world’s busiest subway system. About 20 million people take the train in Japan’s capital every day.

It’s a stressful process as harried commuters rush in all directions. On the platform, everyone shuffles into tight formation beside the train doors to avoid obstructing disembarking passengers, then rushes in, albeit in crowd-enforced slow motion.

Those who squeeze on board find movement is near impossible; feet sometimes don’t touch the ground. And yet, even in these packed trains, resigned silence reigns.

Calm and orderly behaviour tends to be characteristic of even the biggest crowds in Japan. Visitors from abroad are often surprised by people’s willingness to wait patiently for transport, brand launches and, for example, aid and assistance after the devastating Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, which occurred eight years ago last week.

But considerable effort goes into maintaining this outward order: in Japan, this effort is known as ‘gaman’.