In Japan elevator door close buttons are used the majority of the the time, and they really work. If you don't press the door close button, the door can stay op

In Japan elevator door close buttons are used the majority of the the time, and they really work. If you don't press the door close button, the door can stay open for an uncomfortably long time. Since returning from Japan, I've noticed that many door close buttons in the US are actually functional which surprised me (I had always believed they were placebos). Also, many elevators in the US will close the door as soon as a floor is selected, which in most cases eliminates any need to press door close. In Japan you can press a floor button right away even if others are entering, and as I have discovered by habit, not polite here :)