2025 ARTICLE
The Great Train Station Toilet Paper Heist
In 2015, a major train station in Tokyo faced a bizarre problem: toilet paper was disappearing faster than trains arrived.
At first, station staff thought it was just a supply glitch. But after installing security cameras, they discovered the culprit—a group of office workers sneaking into the restroom with shopping bags, armed with stealth and determination, hoarding entire rolls of toilet paper!
Why? Because those fancy, soft Japanese toilet papers were considered a luxury at home.
When confronted, one worker shrugged and said, “We just want to stay soft and clean during overtime.”
The station decided to fight back by installing a voice-activated dispenser that only gives one sheet at a time—with a polite but firm message: “Please don’t take more than you need. Japan thanks you.”
The workers adapted quickly, learning to whisper their “please” to get extra sheets.
And the station? It became famous for having the politest toilet paper heist in Tokyo history.