Is Japan Safe for Women? Harassment Issues

Is Japan safe for women? Is there harassment in Japan? The Japanese have a reputation for being perverted, and some reports also generate a negative reputation regarding women’s safety. In this article, we will talk a little about this subject.

Table of Contents

Do women face harassment in Japan?

In terms of serious crimes, such as rape and murder, Japan can be considered an extremely safe country with low crime rates. However, regarding minor offenses, such as sexual harassment, groping, and other acts of molestation, the chances are a bit higher.

For example, many women claim to have been groped at some point in Japan, likely on crowded trains. There are many reports of older men trying to peek, grope, and undress some women, including young schoolgirls.

Some men and young people shamelessly ask women to go to a hotel with them, offering money for sex, even when such women are not wearing any provocative clothing or implying that they provide such services.

Not even men escape; I remember being in an onsen in Tokyo, and a man started coming towards me and put his hand on my leg. Of course, I left and moved away immediately. If this happens to men, imagine women?

Some men intentionally squat on trains to see under skirts or simply bump into women to feel their bodies. Some even tend to stalk and follow women or masturbate while looking at them.

It may seem strange, but fortunately, this is the limit that many perverted Japanese reach. They usually do not resort to aggression or rape because they know the heavy and strict laws of the country. At most, they will steal a pair of panties from a clothesline.

Why are many women harassed in Japan?

What are the reasons for such frequent offenses in Japan? This happens frequently in Japan due to the heavy use of public transportation, while in the West we heavily rely on private means of transport like cars.

Generally, the Japanese are extremely pacifist and do not like any type of conflict. Due to this cultural nature, it may be easier for women to endure harassment than to draw negative attention to themselves by confronting the aggressor.

This shyness and culture end up encouraging aggressors, who over time increase the frequency and intensity of their crimes. Despite these minor offenses, there is no need to worry too much about harassment in Japan.

It is worth mentioning that foreign women are not usually targeted as much by perverted Japanese, both due to the notion that they are more aggressive and do not let things slide, as well as personal preference of the Japanese.

A woman commented on Quora that despite such events, fortunately, women are not usually called cat, hot, busty, and other shameless compliments like in Brazil. At least we have a positive point!

Statistics for Women to Feel Safe

Statistically, when comparing the annual numbers of rapes worldwide, it is estimated that South Africa has 500,000 rapes, Egypt 200,000, China 32,000, Brazil 65,000, and the USA approximately 85,000 (this is just the reported cases).

In Japan, the annual average of rapes is around 1,200 cases. This means that if you are in the USA or Brazil, your chance of being raped is up to 30 times higher than in Japan. This means you do not need to be afraid to travel to the country.

It is also important to mention that the rate of rape crimes has been constantly decreasing each year, similar to the suicide rate. It is impressive how Japan manages to decrease while the rest of the world increases the numbers.

However, these statistics cannot be entirely reliable, as they only consider cases reported to the police. It is very likely that many victims do not speak out due to fear of their assailant or ruining their reputation. Especially in Japan, where shyness and reputation are important.

Below I will share another list showing the average number of rapes per 100,000 inhabitants in some countries:

Australia 91
Sweden 58
United States 28
Brazil 27
Belgium 26
Northern Ireland 23
Israel 17
France 16
Chile 13
Finland 12
Austria 9.3
Germany 8
Switzerland 8
Italy 7
Czech Republic 4.6
Poland 4.0
Portugal 3
Hungary 2
Turkey 1.5
Japan 1.1

How can women avoid harassment in Japan?

Most railway companies in Japan offer a women-only car during peak hours; try to use them to avoid harassment on trains. Even if there are no such cars, we recommend the first or last car to stay close to the conductor.

When boarding public transportation, always try to face a wall or flat surface so that no one can stand behind you. If there are no walls available, try to stand in front of other women.

If you believe you are being harassed or see another person being victimized, shout CHIKAN so that others become aware of the situation and to scare the aggressor into stopping. You can call 110 and say “chikan” for the police to move to the location.

If you are walking down the street and think you are being followed by a suspicious man, just look for a koban [交番], a type of police box that is spread throughout neighborhoods in Japan. Look for a place with red lights.

Be cautious with escalators; it is inevitable that you may encounter the underside of a skirt just by looking up in buildings with multiple floors of escalators. Try to wear shorts or position yourself in a way that prevents visibility.

Japan’s Efforts to Improve Women’s Safety

The women-only train cars are some of the means by which Japanese society protects women from perverts. Another example is mobile phones that are programmed to make an audible sound when the camera is used, even when on silent.

These measures prevent men from groping women on trains or taking secret photos from under women’s skirts. Thanks to the efforts of the feminist movement in Japan, the country has seen various changes that contribute to women’s safety.

There are hotels and places that are exclusive to women, which can help avoid problems in some capsule hotels, internet cafes, or unisex hostels. At least look for a floor in the hotel that is exclusive to women; also avoid mixed onsens alone.

Some apartments recommend the ground floor and first floor for women to facilitate any issues with elevators, stairs, or when arriving home. Be aware of cultural issues to avoid any embarrassing situations.

Be Careful with Japanese Invitations

If someone you are working with or have met says you are welcome to spend the night at their house and you say yes or that’s fine or thank you, they may interpret this as meaning you agree to have sex with them.

If you go to their house and say no, you did not agree, they may force you. Since you agreed to go to the man’s residence, you effectively agreed to have sex, according to cultural expectations. This is the reality.

No amount of argumentation will convince the police or the jury that you were “tricked.” This is an interesting fact even in other cultures. Whether in Japan or Brazil, be cautious with the invitations you receive from men.

The Dangers are in Big Cities

Japan is one of the safest countries in the world to travel to, for anyone. The most notable incidents occur in large cities like Tokyo, with a large number of drunk people in nightlife areas, club scams, bars, and deserted alleys.

It is worth mentioning that Japan also performs poorly on gender equality indicators, but this does not extend to the country’s safety. Japan is a safe place for women, so just take precautions as you would anywhere in the world.

Men are not the only perverts; I have been attacked by women, some lifted their skirts on trains to show their panties and were giggling. Other women pretend to be attacked to extort some innocent men.

In fact, Japan is safer than almost anywhere in the world. As with anywhere, of course, stay in well-lit and populated areas and behave normally. Be polite, respectful, and not intrusive.