In a train

The train I usually rode left the station as I arrived at the platform. I fought my way onto the next train waiting at the other side of the platform. It was already jammed. I squeezed the side of my body first into between a passenger and another and then turned to the door grabbing a railing. A few passengers came running to force themselves into the train. I was pushed a few steps deeper into the car. I resisted. Holding on to an overhead railing, I chose to stay near the exit. Too far inside would mean a return struggle at the station where I get off the train. I held out against the humankind pressure to stay nearer to the fans to minimize my own sweating. The train was steamed up, was filled with smell of armpits. When the train arrived at my destination, I was almost spit out to the platform.
It was almost 40 years ago. My typical summer day in a commuter train.
Yesterday, the train I took was unusually crowded. But I found it rather comfortable to stand, closely packed among people. I wondered what had changed. First thing that came to my mind was the air-conditioner. It constantly fed us with dry, refreshing air. And the passengers. They were, how can I say, less aggressive, less energetic...yes, elegant to put it in a nice way, yes castrated to put it badly. Then I thought about myself. I didn't feel rushed although I was likely to be late for a meeting. I didn't resist the flow of the people. I just left my body to the movement of the crowd. I didn't struggle to occupy the advantageous area in a train to get off. Maybe I am also castrated... I feel a bit of sadness. I'll try to think of it as "elegant".
In a way Japanese society is matured. But remember, from maturity aging starts off. I hope aging is not a synonym for apathy. Stay elegant.