Tokyo is known as a very clean, respectful, and courteous city, but all the manners in the world can't make the nightmare of the city's rush hour any better.

German photographer Michael Wolf wanted to document the strange vibes he got from the riders every day.

So he sat on the subway platform for days on end...

...snapping pics of riders.

Some of them were aware they were being shot.

(Like this guy.)

(And her.)

But others weren't.

The result is a strangely beautiful...

...but almost horrific look at the people commuting every day.

Wolf called the series "Tokyo Compression."

He wanted to highlight the indignity of the crowded trains...

...and how it runs counter to so much of what Japanese culture stands for.

Yet every day, people line up and pack in to get to where they need to be.

Wolf said to CNN, "You're living life as a sardine — it's horrific. This is not a dignified way of living. It's like looking into a ride in hell."

Those words might sound dramatic, but the expressions on the riders' faces support the assertion.

Of course, the subway is NOT hell, but after a long day at work, it's probably not going to do much to help people decompress.

So you're left with pitiful poses...

...strained expressions...

...and very sad eyes.