Groped in the subway on the way to school
Men who grope women on crowded trains are called " chikan " in Japanese. They pose a serious problem for Japanese women and children. Various strategies have been devised to protect against Chicanas. From trains, libraries, women-only , to stickers of shame that cannot be washed off. Women can apply them to the attacker's arm during the harassment process.
Anti-chikan cell phone stickers issued by the Saitama Prefectural Police Department. These are stickers you can use to tag a potential Chicana .
Kumi Sasaki was a victim of perverted chikan molesters. She recently published a book about traumatic events in her life. Between the ages of 12 and 18, she was groped by Japanese men almost every day. In public transport, in crowded places, on the way to school and back.
▼ Below are some of the horrific encounters people mentioned on Twitter after the book was published:
- He put a used condom in my bag
- He used one of my headphones while I was listening to music
- He stuck his tongue in my ear
- He took off my bra hooks
- He licked my cheek/neck/face/body
- He grabbed my hands/fingers/forearms
- He touched my chest with his elbows/body
- He brought his crotch closer to my face
- He undid the button on my shirt
- He cut my skirt
- He touched my breasts and buttocks as I was getting off the train.
- He showed me indecent images and videos
- He unclasped my bra
- He put his hand in my panties
- He touched my breasts
- He tried to take my virginity with his finger
- He tried to put my hand in his shorts
- Etc.
▼ Sasaki currently lives in Paris and the book was published in France under the title Chikan.
It is widely accepted that Japan has an unusually high level of harassment, especially on trains and buses, but also in pubs and clubs, workplaces and on the street. Many of these cases go unreported because Japanese victims do not want to draw attention to themselves.
The book was released in November 2021 and has been growing in popularity ever since. Sasaki describes incidents that occurred in middle and high school, all of which were frightening and disgusting.
Currently Tchikan is only available in French.
Sasaki remembers his first incident with a chican. She entered high school and was forced to travel by public transport.
She was 12 years old when she rode a train on the Tokyo Yamanote Line. As soon as she entered the crowded carriage and it began to move, the girl felt the man’s hand touching her body. She recalls:
“The fingers of an unfamiliar hand penetrated the collar of my blouse. Then he touched my back, he touched my legs, my waist, even my ass. The stranger put his hand right under my buttocks, quietly lifting my skirt, just moving his fingers. Then he touched my crotch."
Being still too young and inexperienced, Sasaki did not know what was happening and simply fell into a stupor.
But this is just the beginning. For the next six years, she, like millions of other Japanese women and children, continued to be attacked on trains while traveling to school and to class.
The perpetrators ranged from men in their teens to older men in their seventies. Once, she was even followed home by a married man in his fifties after groping her in a crowded carriage. He told her that he wanted her to have children with him.
Give way
In Japan, young people and even girls give up their seats to elderly people, pregnant women or injured passengers. Each carriage has a special section intended for these people, so such places can only be used if there is a free carriage.
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If a tourist sits on such a place, not giving way to a pregnant woman, then this will always cause indignation among local residents. Pregnant Japanese women carry special badges with them to indicate that they need a place to sit.
Chikan
Sasaki's endless cycle of torture took a toll on her later life. She became depressed and attempted suicide. She was saved by her acquaintance with a young Frenchman. She is now 30 years old and lives outside of Japan. For obvious reasons, she still avoids traveling by public transport.
Due to the prevailing mentality, in most such cases, Japanese children and women prefer to remain silent so as not to publicly disgrace themselves.
A society in which Chicanas are considered a trivial event has left Sasaki isolated and unable to turn to even her parents for help. Chikan can bring .
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Sasaki wrote a book of memoirs, Chikan, to tell the story that Chikans are more dangerous than the Japanese think. She says a lot of people think it's just a small thing.
In Japanese society, the status of women is incredibly low; the state essentially ignores the very existence of women. Submission and service to a man are valued in a Japanese woman. A woman is a servant: first she serves her father or brothers, then her husband, son.
We hope that Sasaki's book will help to hear those children and women who are going through the same traumatic experiences.
Unfortunately, in Japan this is not a rare case, but a constant practice. According to Japanese studies conducted in the 90s, more than 95% of women have been harassed on public transport.
The reasons why Chicanas exist in Japan are many, and it will take many cultural changes for them to stop being a problem. But until then, this book is a necessary first step. Sasaki is an extremely brave girl, not afraid to bring up this topic.
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Follow safety rules
People in Japan are, in most cases, law-abiding citizens who do not break the law. This is what they expect from all tourists. Therefore, you must adhere to the following rules:
- When traveling on the metro, you should pay attention to the lines, as some of these lines cannot be crossed before boarding;
- in carriages you need to hold on to the top rings of the handrails;
- If a person rides standing without holding onto the handrails, then due to sudden stops he may fall or injure another person.
All of the above tips should be studied well before the actual trip, so as not to encounter dissatisfaction with the Japanese.
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Taxi in Japanese
Taxis in Japan are among the most expensive in the world. In central Tokyo, you need to pay over 400 yen per kilometer.
Ordering a car costs 300–400 yen, 1.5 minutes of downtime ─ 80 yen, night surcharge ─ 20%. Payment is accepted in cash and by cards (local banks only). But here they can deliver a passenger to an address written in English.
If the red light is on in the upper left part of the windshield, the car is free and can be stopped by raising your hand. It is worth remembering that the left rear door opens and closes automatically.
Don't talk to other passengers
The Japanese prefer to ride the subway in silence, so they have a negative attitude towards tourists who communicate with each other or try to get an answer from local residents. Therefore, even travelers who travel on the subway in groups must remain quiet. You can communicate, but only in a whisper or in a muffled voice.
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Screaming and loud conversations can be very unpleasant for other passengers. Therefore, it is advisable to travel on the train in silence. You can discuss all important issues directly at the station.
Japanese car rental
Car rental is possible in almost all large and medium-sized cities, as well as at airports and main railway stations.
Russians require international licenses, but local rental companies and police do not recognize them because they drive on the left.
Obtaining a local license requires a Russian driver's license with a certified translation at the consular department of the Russian Embassy, a passport, passing an exam and a vision test.
There are a lot of rental companies, so the prices are the world average. Mandatory conditions include at least 1 year of driving experience and return of the car with a full tank within the strictly specified time frame.
Trains in Japan
Rail transport perhaps the best developed in Japan. Several major railway companies provide connections between Japanese cities. Trains in Japan are comfortable and punctual, you can be sure that the train will arrive and depart exactly on schedule. In Japan, Shinkansen high-speed trains began running for the first time in the world; they reach speeds of up to 300 km/h. In my experience, the maximum we went was 260 km/h. The photo below is just a view of the shinkansen from the outside and inside. Regular trains travel at speeds of up to 130 km/h. Train tickets in Japan can be purchased from special machines at train stations or at ticket offices. You can buy a ticket with or without a seat. Just in case, it is better to find out the route and the desired station in advance. If you consult with the cashier, his/her English may not be enough to discuss the nuances. Japanese people don't speak English very well. Although they will serve you 100% politely and help you in any way they can.
Pay attention to the culture of queuing and boarding transport in Japan. Often on the platforms you can see specially outlined lines to form a queue. The Japanese line up along the line and calmly enter the train, rather than jumping on and jostling with their elbows, as if Judgment Day had arrived, as in the Moscow metro. Trains in Japan are equipped with comfortable seats and garbage bags.
There are express trains from Narita Airport to Tokyo:
The same system for purchasing tickets operates here - at the airport ticket office.
There are also such funny and small trains, inside they resemble a bus or trolleybus, for example, near Kyoto:
We traveled on such a train from Kyoto to Fushimi Inari, and on another day to Nara.
When you get to the city from the airport, you should make yourself a Suica or Pasmo and use it for your health. Essentially, this is an electronic wallet - you put money in and apply it when entering and exiting the metro. Very comfortably!
