Massive Train Service Disruption Blamed on Erik

Hundreds of disgruntled train passengers.  Koizumi blames Erik for the train stoppage.

-- YASU, Japan

For the first time in recent memory, the famously reliable Japan Rail System (JR) was shut down across Shiga Prefecture in central Japan today for about 3 hours.  Eyewitnesses report that Erik was a passenger on the train as it was forced to stop here in Yasu, a heretofore unknown and tiny rural town near Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake.

At a hastily-constructed press conference in Yasu, Erik reported that he "heard some strange announcement from the train conductor," just before the train made it's abrupt and final stop at Yasu Station.  "Then, I found hundreds of people outside, waiting for busses."

The JR busses tried to cope with the large crowd, but unfortunately about 3 people were very upset and, according to Erik, began to "get a little rowdy."  Eyewitnesses report the 3 unhappy people briefly shouted at a JR official, saying that they were "unhappy and dissatisfied" with JR's service.

Moments later, police in riot gear arrived on the scene to quell the 3 unhappy customers.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at first blamed the train problems on an accident involving a truck which damaged the train lines.  Upon hearing that Erik was a passenger caught up in the snarl, however, Koizumi quickly stated: "Oh, that guy was on the train?  Well, clearly, then, this is all a plan to disrupt Japan's economy and cause terror and inconvenience for millions of innocent Japanese citizens."  Erik responded by saying that he thought perhaps the train "hit Koizumi's mother and derailed."

About three hours after the stoppage, JR's trains were back on schedule and Erik was able to successfully head home.

Stay with ENN as we carefully watch Erik's continued attempts to ride the trains in Japan.