Crime 56% of Tokyo women, 15% of men report being groped on trains

[thomas]

A survey conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government revealed that over half of women in Tokyo have experienced "chikan" attacks – sexual harassment on public transportation, an issue that often goes unpunished, leaving victims feeling violated and unsafe.


The 2024 survey involving thousands of commuters found that 56.3% of women and 15.2% of men had been subjected to groping while riding or waiting for trains. The survey also highlighted the positive impact of bystander intervention. Instances where fellow passengers intervened were effective in deterring the perpetrators. A Tokyo Metropolitan Government official emphasized the importance of bystander intervention, urging citizens not to remain passive witnesses to such acts. These findings follow a large-scale online questionnaire conducted in 2023, initiated in response to a series of disturbing incidents of sexual harassment on public transportation.

The latest survey, a follow-up, analyzed responses from 6,315 people aged 16 to 69 who either lived in Tokyo or commuted to work or school in the capital. It found that 18.2 per cent of women and 7.9 per cent of men had fallen victim to groping on trains and in stations during the past year. Most cases, 65.2 per cent, occurred between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., which covers the peak weekday commute period. When asked what happened, the most common response at 59.5 per cent was, "I was looking at a smartphone screen." This was followed by 23.6 per cent to "I was listening to music." The survey found that 39.1 per cent of those who were victimized answered that they either "put up with it" or "could do nothing." This answer was especially common among those aged 16 to 24. On the other hand, 72.6 per cent said that the perpetrator "stopped" what they were doing on the train when the victim moved away or blocked the groper with their belongings. In only 10.5 per cent of all cases, the activity stopped because of intervention from a third party, such as a person around them. Nevertheless, in cases where a third party acted, such as calling out to the victim, 96.8 per cent said that the groping stopped.

56% of Tokyo women and 15% of men groped on trains | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

痴漢撲滅プロジェクト