I know it happens all the time to Japanese (boys or girls). But has it happened to any foreigners in this community. I have had it happen to me 2x. It is not a very pleasant experience. Please tell me your stories. Also if you have any good ideas on how to avoid the situation. I know they have girls only trains in Tokyo... some of my friends suggested carrying a pencil in my hand.
Interestingly, Japanese men aren't the only perverted bastards on subways. There was an article about NYC subway chikans in the NY Times recently. And Mexico City has women only carriages as well.
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The New York Times
N.Y./Region
Women Have Seen It All on Subway, Unwillingly
By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS
Published: June 24, 2006
...
"Every girl I know has at least one story," said Barbara Vencebi, 23, a studio photographer standing outside the No. 6 train station at 116th Street in East Harlem yesterday.
It is a crime abetted by the peculiar landscape of the underworld that is the subway system, by the anonymity of a crowded car where everybody is avoiding eye contact. And by the opportunity for a quick escape at the next stop, to disappear behind a pillar, into a tunnel, up an escalator.
An impromptu survey of riders during the morning rush yesterday found that, for many women who have experienced it, the worst part of the crime is the sense of helplessness. What is the right way to react to a humiliating, but not life-threatening, situation? Should you announce to an entire car of strangers that you have just been violated?
Most of the time, the women said, they seethe inwardly but say nothing.
I've only stopped a chikan once. No hitting or anything. I just wedged myself between the chikan-yaro and the woman. From the lady's expression, it was very much appreciated.
I think I've been witness to a couple more women being groped, but I was too far away, the train was packed, and I couldn't really see well enough to judge whether I should do anything about it. I could only see the women were very uncomfortable about something, and I may have been mistaking crammed train discomfort for chikan. But I'm fairly certain it was chikan.
It really isn't just _Japanese_ men. Or even just men.
For sure, it has happened to me in Tokyo. (and I am a bloke, the perverts have been both male and female. I haven't been targetted for years, maybe I am too old for them now. Or maybe I look like I won't be a passive victim.)
But I've also had similar experiences on the tube in London (several times), and in a long distance bus in Germany. All a long time ago, during my childhood and teens.
I think the NYTimes article is on target. My friends from Taiwan and HK also say that it is a problem over there too.
Strange, outside of Japan I think this is very rare. Will be interesting when I move to Japan as I would not just stand in between the chikan and the victim but give him/her a good slap.
I would suggest grabbing your camera, taking a snap and sticking it online.
I just stood between the two because some women prefer having the problem settled quietly without a big fuss or any violence. While I'd like to slug these guys a shot in the nose, women who are groped are frequently uncomfortable with having it loudly advertised. I realise that being disinclined to be vocal or violent often targets some women for chikan, but if I can save the victim some unwanted attention and embarrassment, I'd like to try. If the woman doesn't mind being vocal or violent, then she probably won't be needing my help anyway.
I just talked to my wife about it (she is Japanese) and she said the same thing. People do not wish the attention. She also said she feels sorry for guys as it sometimes happens that they accidentaly bump into a woman who then starts screaming followed by other passengers grabbing him.
She sais a lot of guys keep both hands in clear site to avoid any misunderstanding, wow.
It took me awhile to realise that I was being sexually harassed.. because I didn't think it would happen to me. I was wearing a skirt and I though it was just someones briefcase pushing up against me... but then I felt the fingers moving around... so yucky.
I have also had a stalker before... that was so scary... he knew which trains I used and followed me on to them...
That, and I'd say most men don't make a big deal out of being harrassed by a woman in the train. Should I speak for myself? Okay, I won't make a big deal out of that. :)
I guess it might depend on what the woman looks like...
;-)
(But then, for _some_ female victims, it might be the same)
I say that now as an adult male who is confident of his own ability to defend myself. The psychology can be considerably different when you are still a child/teenager being violated by an adult.
The only sexual harrasing I ever saw in Japan, was some guy harrassing another guy >.<"
I actually took pictures, because I thought..."of all the things to witness in Japan..."
I never expected to see that...
I always kepted my hands in plain view just for that fact.
I never had an issue on the train but the clubs were a different story. On my last trip I was felt up by other guys twice. Needless to say I was not happy. I just didnt cause a scene about it. (especially since the worse was a guy trying to put his hand down the front of my pants but that was a club/film people wrap party in America.)
As far as girls that I know my favorite story was this guy in a train station asking this girl how much she was. She then started yelling at him and slugged him. Hahaha!
This is one of those topics that we never all agree on. Each person is different. The problem is that many women go way over board and over react to even a hint that a guy is looking at them, attracted to them, whatever,
if they are not in the mood, or just not interested in that particular person. I bet that Korean star Yon-sama all the ladies are making a fuss about could stick his hand anywhere he wanted too with 80% of the women on the trains. Some people are just fun loving and enjoy a cheap thrill from time to time. There is nothing wrong with that. When they go too far (male or female)and the victim is too scared to complain or cry out for help that is a personal problem that the victim needs to over come if they want to survive in public. Anyone that harrasses another person and invades their privacy is wrong. But how are they to know unless they are informed. Believe it or not there are some people out there that enjoy hot encounters with strangers.
There is a huge difference between looking at a girl because she is attractive and groping her. You write about it like groping someone is the equivalent to opening someone else's mail.
You know, if these guys want to touch these girls so bad and this topic is so simple and cut and dry in the manner you have written, why don't these guys ask these girls out sometime? Maybe then they will eventually get their chance to touch them. Oh wait, you said it's fro the thrill. It's a sick thing to do for a thrill. It shouldn't be something that people "just have to deal with". There is something wring with people who do that in trains, maybe they didn't get enough hugs or attention when they were little or maybe they are just plain perverts. Either way, it's wrong and it shouldn't be done by anyone to anyone else.
Have you ever had some guy you don't know feel you up on a train? I haven't and I'm sure I wouldn't like it.
I _think_ TokyoOG is saying there are _some_ women who are into getting felt up by strangers.
As a statement, I think that is true.
Of course I would qualify that by saying the total number of such women is likely to be greatly outnumbered by the number of women who do not wish to be sexually assaulted by a complete stranger.
It's like saying some women like to play with animals. I'm sure the vast majority of women do not (in that sense at least), but there are probably a few that do.
I personally think that calling this crime "chikan" and treating it differently to other forms of sexual assault is a problem. Clamp down on sexual offenders, and automatically charge "chikan" with indecent assault, especially if they put their hands inside a person's clothing. It's not like you can put your hand down a woman's blouse or up her skirt _by mistake_, is it. (can we also stop calling "casual" prostitution "enjyo-kosai" while we are it it, too)
Another problem is that chikan can only be arrested at the scene of the crime.
But there is also the problem of hyper-sensitive people who accuse someone wrongfully. Within the confines of a crowded subway train, it can be extremely difficult to prove conclusively who is feeling them up. It seems like it is a lottery for both accuser and accused in these situations, whether there was a crime committed or not. It sort of all depends on which policeman turns up and what kind of mood they're in...
We have to face the facts, some people are just more playful then others. Some are out for a thrill every now and then. Some are frigid! Some are not. Some are Nuns! some are Soap land style hookers! It is wrong to do anything to another person that they don`t agree to. But no one carries a sign saying its ok to feel me up! It just doesn`t happen. But even on this site if you search long enough you can find all kinds of clubs, members etc that do like socially unacceptable activities. That is why the victim has to make it very clear that they are annoyed and that if the touching doesn`t stop someone is going to get hurt or go to jail. I am sure any pervert would stop in his or her tracks if warned correctly. Indecision means "Yes" to a pervert.
Its not easy or advisable to ask a stranger out that you see on the train for the first time. To these people the entire thrill of the moment is because they "don`t know" the other person. Please don`t be completely naive and think no one in the world or on the train enjoys moderate perverse fun at times.
I don't follow. What has playfullness got to do with this?
I know people who are into smacking eachothers ass but that does not mean they want a perfect stranger walking up to them and doing it.
There is no excuse to grope a stranger unrequested, none.
Maybe gropers and people who want to be groped should set up a community. Wear a special badge or something that indicates they would like to get groped and leave the rest of us alone.
I have heard from friends that Japanese male friends grope eachother for fun and as a person who does not like any body contact with strangers this really bothers me.
"Maybe gropers and people who want to be groped should set up a community. Wear a special badge or something that indicates they would like to get groped and leave the rest of us alone. "
Too late, sites like that already exist.
Male friends groping eachother? That sounds like a typical English public school. Most of it was consensual, mind.
NEVER should anyone assume that someone wants to be groped without any sign from the counterpart. NEVER.
This has never happened to me, maybe because I'm big by japanese standards (1'87 88Kg or so) . If it happened, I guess I'd do something drastic about it.
Hey! Excuse me sir... did you know some people are into pain? Well I dont know if you are or not but here let me punch you! *smack* Hello Mam.. Nice day isnt it? Did you know some people like heroin? I dont know if you like it or not but here lemme shoot you up! *syringe* Why hello there little boy? some people like cutting themselves... I dont know if you like it or not... but hey. Im not going to do it. Am I too cynical for your party? :)
Well said ウォン I would hate to be felt up and they guy say to me I though you might of liked it... it would make me feel so cheap as in do I look slutty for this guy to pick me?
I think this problem might come from the fact that the male seems to be rather dominant in Japan, or at least seems to think he is.
A lot of Japanese porn, for instance, seems to be centered around some guy giving a inocent virgin like girl unimageable pleasure. Always makes me laugh.
Maybe a very public campain in Japan that shows what these gropers really are, low life sad individuals who are to scared to interface for real in social life and instead cope a feel anonymously.
I dunno ... me being a guy and a New Yorker and all, but if some dude tried to cop a feel of me or my girlfriend if i had one, id probably get arrested for tearing the guy to shreds. Thats just me. =/
I can happily say that's never happened to me, but it's not something that happens to guys as much I think. I'm not sure exactly how I would respond to that, but I can assure you I wouldn't quietly accept it.
In America someone would likely be arrested for doing something like that to some random woman, caught at the scene or not.
>Beth
First, I'm so sorry that you had such a dreadful experiences.
Luckily, I have not groped in a train--Perhaps it might be because I live in Kyushu and trains are not so crowd as Tokyo-- but I can imagine how terrible and painful when you felt someone's finger on your body.
I don't know the groper was a Japanese or man from abroad, but as a woman, I'm on your side. It's not your fault. I hope you'll recover from the shock soon, though it might be hard. I say again, IT'S NOT YOUR FAULT.
Victims who're groped, or even raped, are not always a young, sexually attracitve women. If they're plain, if they wore manish suits, sometimes they're picked on. There is a case in Fukuoka that a highschool boy raped more than 10 woman, from teenager girl to housewife who was in their 50's. I don't think all victims wore sexual clothes when he had an eye to them. And, either men or women, whatever they wore, no one would feels comfortable being touched by unknown person without permission.
To Mr.Tokyo OG
>the victim has to make it very clear that they are annoyed and that if the touching doesn`t stop someone is going to get hurt or go to jail.
You're right, but once the victims did so, there must be so many people(both men and women) who blame her, like "She must put on a attractive,sexual clothes" or "SHE has the responsibilty for the crime". For the victim, it's as if the second/third sexual harrassment with word.
She was scared and hurt by being groped, and hit hard by such words when she said it aloud, what would she do?
That is why many victims keep silent. It's not a rare case. I think this problem would never be resolved if people(especially men) don't understand this vicious cycle.
Stabbing someone and slapping someone is totally different. Just like Groping someone and Raping someone is not the same. I am sorry, I just don`t think you can group both of these wrong acts together. That is an extreme rationalization. The law separates illegal acts like, Murder in the first degree and Second degree. Even murderers get some brakes depending on the circumstances. IF you get groped either take it quietly, or make a scene. No one is stopping the victim from doing anything. Saying I was too afraid to move is bullshit! Now if its a group of guys surrounding a school girl on the train of course that is a major crime and they should be arrested. But if its just one pervert and you, than dammit just say something! If I heard a lady complain and I could help, I would and I bet other men would too. Everyone needs to stop over reacting. There are much worse things that could happen to you than a tap on your precious ass! Give me a brake!
No one is saying these guys are not sick perverts because of course they are! But they are not alone by any means. And this " Frozen like a Deer by the head lights mentality" is just making things easy for them. Stop the self pity, stop worrying what others are going to think and stop the " I am a poor victim crap " and make a difference if you feel that strongly about it.
When I read what I wrote again, I realized it might give an wrong impression I accused you yourself.
The opinions I gave an examples were the very thing I heard from men when an acquintance experienced a sexual harassment(not the rape case I mentioned,though). She had to fight with not only the perpetrator
but also invisible victimizers.
But I should have translated it into another expressions. I'm sorry.
It's true that the law distinguishs between groping and raping,but it doesn't mean the damage from groping is less serious than the one from raping.
I felt it is an encouraging support when I read your response, but there are still those who think so. It might be a bad aspect of being smaller city..but it's not the subject here.
my friend's wife was sexually harrassed by an old guy on the train, but little did the he know that my friend's wife is a western raised japanese. so when the train door opened, she dragged him out of the train with his arms behind his back and the train security were able to hold him long enough til the police came. the accused is a high level executive with wife and kids earning a tonne of cash and he will lose his job over it.amazing...
I know groping is not as bad as a rape for me. But I know some people would find groping just as bad as rape depending on past circumstances. For me personally I get nervous now when getting onto a crowded train... I cannot wear skirts anymore if I know I am going to be on a train during rush hour.... I always try to have a woman standing behind me... So I think it has affected me a lot.
If people want to satisfy their sexual urges of doing it with a stranger there are special bars designed for that.
I am pretty sure that a real rape victim could answer this question for you really easy. Everything is not always just black and white. There is gray. And train groping is in the gray area. A bump or slight touch with the back of the hand can be a mistake. IT just happens in a crowded situation. That can not be considered groping. Groping is obvious and consistant. If there is no doubt that it is happening the victim should speak out and do something.
Train groping is not gray for me at all. It is bad. Period.
There are worse things out there, sure. But that doesn't make it gray. Okay rape is worse, so what? murder is worse than rape. Then he could rape her THEN kill her. Or maybe he could suicide bomb and kill everybody on the train - then we have to be thankful the guy just raped and killed one woman. Nice guy.
Hi all
I'am all new in this thing, sorry if I say unappropriate things.
First of all, I am a guy.
I just would like to apply a point on the gray zone.
I do think there is a grey zone, especially on Tokyo rush hour trains or subways.
I have been working for only 2 months there, but every morning I found myself in this incredible croud of people pushing all around.
Now, people like me who work in company usually have business bags. And business bags cannot be worn on your shoulder, neither can you put it on the "shelf" ( sorry don't know how you call it ) when you are in the middle of the crowd.
There were some cases where there was accidently a women in front of me. There were also some cases where because it is so crowded that each time the train moves a little my hand holding my bag accidentlty touched the women's "dangerous area ".
Therefore, this is what I would like to call the gray zone...
But what I disagree on TokyoOG is that people who don't raise their voice when they get groped have their reasons. ( I think especially for Japanese women, not at all of course to be racist. )
P.S. Nice to meet you all by the way^^ Hope to make lots of friends ;)
Ok, groping, touching and brushing your hand are very different things. Groping is grabbing or fondeling a body part in a sexual manner. There is no grey area!
If you can't handle a hand brushing against your body you should not be going on public transport, it can not be avoided. Btw, I would take a good grope over stinking armpits shoved into my face any day!
Oh almost forgot, groping is also prefered over the nice man in the 3 piece business suite splattering his dinner with to much booze all over my shoes!