Chikan (痴漢, チカン, or ちかん) is the term used to refer to sexual harassment in Japan, it can mean ambé in English 'train abusers or molesters'. This crime is practiced worldwide, but each country has the appropriate punishments for such a crime. This is usually committed in places that are overcrowded, such as public transport, mainly during the morning and evening (busiest times in the stations).
Overcrowding, loneliness, and fear: these are the ideal characteristics sought by molesters to find their victims. Cases of abuse committed by chikan are processed by the police under Article 176 of the Penal Code as "forced obscenity" (強制わいせつ). According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, in 2017 alone, about 1,750 cases of abuse and molestation were reported. Data also indicate that half of these cases occurred on trains, while 201 of them occurred at train stations.
People take advantage of the situation to sexually touch others. The word “chikan” in Japanese describes acts that violate various laws. The corresponding expression used to refer to women who practice chikan is chijo.
The chikan is commonly represented in Japanese pornography. The terms 'frotteurismo' or 'toqueirismo' are used to define these desires according to what is used in clinical psychology. Although women are the most vulnerable to suffering from chikan, this happens to both sexes and is practiced by both men and women.
The chikan can be performed anywhere. Unfortunately, extra attention is needed in crowded environments and more isolated places as abusers take advantage of these situations. An example of this is in bicycle parking lots, where the molester waits for the victim to bend over in order to release the bicycle lock and take the opportunity to grope the person from behind.
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chikan practice
Chikan does not just mean inappropriately touching another person, but also showing one's private parts, for example, without permission. the crime is mainly committed in the cities of Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa, Saitama and kobe (large cities that have trains and subways). Of these, Saitama is the city with the highest number of chikan records.
Other tactics used by molesters include: forcing the victim to touch the criminal's intimate parts; taking pictures from under the skirt/dress; sitting next to the victim and pretending to sleep to take advantage; showing or saying obscene things; cutting clothing or unbuttoning. The reality surrounding chikan is not much different than in other countries. Unfortunately, many people (especially women) are afraid to report due to fear. This fear paralyzes them and prevents action to combat the end of this horrendous crime, leading to an increasing number of chikan cases.
The molester looks for very specific places so that he can perform the lewd acts, for example, if the person on the subway is closer to the entrance door, he is more at risk of suffering chikan because it is a difficult place to dodge.
Attackers also have the habit of 'studying' the victim. They start observing even before getting on the train and usually tend to approach people with more fragile, timid, and alone appearances because there is less risk of them saying something that would lead to their being discovered. School-age girls are the most vulnerable to harassers. Unfortunately, it also happens that molestors practice chikan with the same victims as they are sure that they will not report it. And since most have a routine with the same schedules, it becomes more favorable for criminals to know the right moment to strike.
Measures to combat chikan
As it is a crime, Japanese authorities have taken measures to combat this detestable practice by designating carriages solely for women in the subways. The action began in 2002, in the busiest cities of Japan during peak hours. However, such a measure divides opinions since both men and women are susceptible to suffering from chikan in subways.
In Kansai, Osaka and Kobe train companies operate only women's cars throughout the day throughout the week which also do the publicity service with posters near the subways warning about the crime of chikan.
No one deserves to go through situations as they are, but unfortunately if it happens, you have to do everything so that the situation doesn't happen again and you don't have to suffer from it. Say aloud, “Watashi ni sawaruna!” (Don't touch me!) is a way to get attention, make the person stop and ask for help. Other options are: using wagons aimed only at women, avoiding having specific routes, walking with a security bell among other ways.
It's sad to have to write ways to do a text to avoid being harassed in Japan or anywhere as well as ways to act in these situations when the right thing was not to have concerns like these!
And for you, how is it possible to try to alleviate this chikan situation? Have you ever heard of that term before?