Talent and DJ Runa Shimotsuki, a former adult video actress, says she received a direct message from a person claiming to be one of the passengers involved in a Shinkansen “Green Car” manners controversy she had posted about days earlier, and publicly questioned the sender’s motives, asking what they were trying to accomplish and whether they were simply looking to farm engagement online.
The saga began on August 10, when Shimotsuki shared photos taken aboard a bullet train’s Green Car, the premium first-class-style carriage. According to her posts, nearby passengers were watching a movie at loud volume without headphones while talking and laughing loudly enough to disturb other riders. Her photos showed one passenger holding up a phone while another had fully reclined their seat, lowered the fold-down tray table, and propped both feet up on it.
Shimotsuki said she asked the group to quiet down, and that they stopped talking loudly and watching video without headphones. However, she said they continued resting their feet on the tray table, and that when the train reached its destination, they left a used hand towel and trash on the floor rather than disposing of it properly. She added that if the group had genuinely felt remorseful, their behavior would not have continued the way it did.
In a follow-up post on August 12, Shimotsuki said she had received many questions from followers and confirmed that the passengers in question were Japanese, not foreign tourists. She then revealed that a person claiming to be one of the passengers involved had sent her a direct message. Shimotsuki shared a screenshot of the exchange and responded pointedly, asking the sender what exactly they were hoping to achieve and suggesting the message looked like an attempt to generate attention or impressions on social media.
Who is Runa Shimotsuki?
Runa Shimotsuki (霜月るな) is a Japanese personality who first became known as an adult video actress before transitioning into a broader career as a talent and DJ. She remains active on social media, where she regularly shares commentary and everyday observations with her followers.
Author’s Comment
Ah yes, the great Shinkansen Green Car showdown, proof once again that spending extra yen for a quiet seat guarantees you absolutely nothing in this country. I love that Runa actually said something instead of just seething silently like the rest of us pretend saints do. But that DM afterward? Classic. Nothing says "I’ve truly reflected on my actions" quite like sliding into the DMs of the person who called you out, presumably hoping for a redemption arc slash content opportunity. Japanese social media loves nothing more than a good manners scandal followed by an even better meta-scandal about the scandal. Grab your popcorn, folks, this one’s got at least two more chapters in it.
