TOKYO (SCMP): Passengers in Japan who pay an extra 5,000 yen (US$34) can expect a dramatic drop-off as their taxi drivers transform into bodyguards or ninjas.
Sanwa Koutsu, a Japanese taxi company with a 59-year history, offers this special customised driver service.
Dressed in black suits and sunglasses, like we often see in Hollywood films, drivers role-play as bodyguards, driving and escorting passengers with stern, expressionless faces.
Throughout the journey, they pretend to communicate with security “headquarters” using wireless devices in the taxi, reporting on the route.
As passengers alight from the vehicle, the “bodyguard” driver pulls out water guns and a supposedly bulletproof briefcase to shield their protected passenger, simulating a sniper attack scenario.
Some drivers wear ninja attire and carry shurikens or hidden daggers, also known as “throwing stars”. They communicate with passengers using de gozaru, an old-fashioned Japanese term used at the end of a sentence to reflect humility and politeness – a style of language commonly practised by ninjas.
Ninjas, who were active between the 15th and 19th centuries, are real-life spies and a significant cultural symbol of Japan.
A company spokesperson mentioned that the ninja drivers provide airport shuttle services.
“We believe that tourists coming to Japan would be thrilled to see ninjas waiting for them at the airport,” they said.
Japanese IT Media reported that the special protection-themed service targets foreign tourists interested in Japanese culture, and drivers are happy to take photos with passengers.
Passengers also have the option to spice up their ride with a horror-themed taxi experience.
Another taxi company, Sride, launched the Sadako Taxi, where the rear window was converted into a projection screen displaying videos of Sadako.
Sadako is the ghost character from the Japanese supernatural horror film Ring (1998), famous for her white dress and long black hair that covers her face. Her iconic scene of crawling out of a television is a classic in the horror film genre.
The Ring-themed taxi was a Halloween 2022 event in Japan, featuring just 50 cars. Online sources did not specify if there was an extra charge for rides.
Kuroko taxi, another service provided by Sanwa Koutsu, is preferred by passengers who choose not to engage in conversation with their drivers.
Kuroko is probably named after the fact that it means the unseen stagehands in traditional Japanese Kabuki theatre, dressed entirely in black with their faces covered by black cloth to merge seamlessly into the background.
Kuroko drivers maintain silence during rides, communicating with passengers solely through written notes. The silent experience had an additional cost of 5,500 yen (US$37).
Japan’s unique-themed taxi services have garnered widespread attention on social media.
One online observer wrote: “If you want a quick dive into Japanese culture, just take a taxi ride.”
Another remarked: “Passengers who ride the Sadako Taxi at night might be so scared that they will call the police.”
“These fun-themed services attract many tourists and improve business for Japanese taxi drivers,” added a third. - South China Morning Post
