Why were the terms 外回り and 内回り chosen for the directions on Yamanote line
(railway) rather than the more straigntforward 時計回り and 反時計回り? Is it expected
that people should know which matches which?
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2012-08-01T04:49:08.523
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2012-08-01T15:21:27.513
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words
外回り, 内回り instead of 時計回り, 反時計回り
In addition to what Chris said about not knowing which side ran clockwise or
counter-clockwise (there might not be a train in the station, or it might have
an engine on either end and be standing still), another advantage of the
[concept](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inner/outer_directions#Concept) is
explained on Wikipedia:

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/eEGGs.png)  
_In nations where automobiles drive on the right side of a road, traffic
traveling in a clockwise direction around a loop will always be in the "inner"
lane(s) (assuming that there is no lane crossing)._

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/OARwd.png)  
_Likewise, in nations where automobiles drive on the left side of the road,
traffic traveling in a clockwise direction will always be in the "outer"
lane(s)._
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2012-08-01T05:53:49.473
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2012-08-01T05:53:49.473
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