This is an article from The Japan Times, the international English version of one of the main national newspapers. It cracked me up, particularly because it was on the second page, along with news about North Korean abductees and Japan being on high missle alert due to current world events.

Express Train Lets Off Girl Late For Entrance Exam

CHIBA: An express train made an unscheduled stop Monday so that a girl who had mistakenly boarded it could get to her high school entrance examination on time, according to railway officials.
The Chiba branch of East Japan Railway Co. said Wednesday that the girl, in her final year of junior high school, boarded the train at Soga Station in Chiba at around 7:45 a.m. Monday. She soon realized, however, that she was on the wrong train.
Other passengers noticed her distress and helped her make her way through the jam-packed train to the conductor's compartment at the back. The conductor then contacted the office and informed the passengers of the situation.
The train made the unscheduled stop at about 8:10 a.m. at Shin-Kiba Station in Koto Ward, Tokyo. The girl emerged onto the platform from the conductor's compartment while the other train doors stayed closed, the office said.
From Shin-Kiba, she was able to take trains to Nishi-Chiba Station and arrived at the exam site in time for the test, a little after 9 a.m., according to the office.
Train officials at Shin-Kiba Station reportedly received a phone call from the girl's parents later in the day, thanking them for their special consideration.

Just gives you a glimpse at just how seriously this country takes both their trains and their tests. My third grade students are under the same pressure right now. I'm actually quite surprised to hear that the train stopped... I wouldn't have been able to guess which would win. The trains are never late here, and as my friend Heather can tell you, it is a major felony to hold up a train. In fact, if you should choose to committ suicide by jumping in front of a train, your family will end up in monetary debt to JR (Japan Railways) for many years due to fines. Just thought you'd like to know.. ;)