necoandjeff wrote:
> Does anyone know the origin of driving on the left side of the street in
> Japan? I seem to recall hearing from someone a long time ago (it may have
> even been my Iaido buddies) that it was actually an established custom long
> before automobiles, and that passing on the left had to do with drawing
> one's sword (if you were to pass on the right it would be difficult to draw
> your sword and strike in the event you are attacked since you draw from left
> to right.) A friend, on the other hand, seems to think it was a more recent
> development and had to do with an early association between Japan and
> British motor car companies. I did a quick Google search and didn't come up
> with much.
> 
Did a Yahoo! search for [japan driving on the left why] (no brackets), 
and came up with ample results. The first one I checked out was 
Japan-Guide, which led to http://www.2pass.co.uk/japan.htm. Confirms the 
samurai theory, with some historical notes from folks who witnessed the 
behavior.

I always thought a lot of the automobile and other related engineering 
came from Germany. What I've always found interesting is that people 
tend to walk on the right side of the sidewalk, escalators, etc.; I'd 
expect it to parallel driving (for some reason).

John W.