The world raves about Japan’s passion for punctuality. The trains run on time in what seems like an unbelievably effortless routine. But there will be days when there are accidents or someone has dropped their smartphone on the train tracks resulting in delays.
The “Chien Shomeisho”: Your Proof of Lateness
If you’re running late for work or school due to a train delay, you are expected to present a 遅延証明書 “Chien Shomeisho” (literally, certificate of lateness), shortened to “chiensho.” The eki-in (駅員), station employee, at the ticket gates hand these over to those who need to produce them as proof in order to avoid a “late” penalty.
Types of Delay Certificates
Over the years, the style of these certificates has evolved. In the past, they were often small slips of paper with red or blue ink indicating the date and the length of the delay (sometimes marked in increments of 10 or 30 minutes).
One of the more shocking versions occasionally seen on social media is a certificate for a 420-minute delay! While rare, these physical slips are becoming “retro” artifacts as the system shifts toward more modern, digital solutions.
在 Instagram 查看這則貼文
在 Instagram 查看這則貼文
在 Instagram 查看這則貼文
Digital Certificates
In 2026, while you can still sometimes find paper slips at smaller stations or during major disruptions, most commuters have moved to digital certificates. If you find yourself in a delay, you no longer need to wait in line at the ticket gate. You can simply access the railway company’s website or app to download or screenshot a certificate.
You can print an online version!
For Japan Railways: http://traininfo.jreast.co.jp/delay_certificate/
For Tokyo Metro: https://www.tokyometro.jp/lang_en/index.html#
The Japanese Culture of Apology
Whenever a train is delayed, you will notice a unique cultural phenomenon: constant, polite announcements. Railway staff will repeatedly apologize for the inconvenience and provide detailed information about the cause and estimated restart time. They will also guide you to alternative routes (furikae yuso), where your original ticket or IC card may be honored by a different train line to help you get to your destination.
