Disturbing Acts: Gropers Target Women, Stripping Underwear and Touching Inappropriately

Why is the daily occurrence of groping being neglected?

The issue of groping has periodically become a social problem, yet comprehensive measures have not been taken, leaving many women to continue suffering as victims. In particular, the JR Saikyo Line, known for its severe congestion, has experienced incidents of groping for several decades.

While measures such as announcements in stations and on trains, the establishment of women-only cars, and the installation of security cameras on trains have been implemented, their effectiveness seems minimal.

In fact, when a reporter from this magazine boarded the first car of the Saikyo Line’s rush-hour commuter express train (to Kawagoe) at 6:16 PM on a weekday, they witnessed men placing their hands on women’s buttocks and cross-dressed men exposing themselves or reaching towards the lower bodies of surrounding men.

Why has the situation of rampant groping been allowed to persist? It seems that unique circumstances specific to the Saikyo Line have created a scenario where such behavior goes unchecked.

“The Saikyo Line experiences extreme congestion during the morning and evening commuter express trains, particularly in the front cars, where the proximity to the stairs leading to the platform at terminal stations like Shinjuku and Ikebukuro increases the likelihood of being packed in. As a result, it creates an environment where gropers can easily target victims.

Moreover, women who become victims often feel it’s an unavoidable circumstance due to the crowding, making it difficult for them to speak out. Even if bystanders catch a man groping, the victim may react with confusion, saying, ‘I’m not sure if I was really groped,’” explained a social department reporter from a national newspaper.

Upon experiencing the train firsthand, the reporter found that there was almost no space between passengers, causing their bodies to naturally press against each other. This situation makes it easy for those committing groping or exposure acts to target victims without being easily noticed.

H, who has been commuting on the Saikyo Line for decades and pays attention when witnessing groping incidents, commented on the current state of affairs: 

“I think there are more people who specifically target women for groping on the Saikyo Line rather than those who impulsively commit the act. They follow women dressed in revealing clothes on the platform or cut in line to sit near timid-looking women.

Some even gather in groups through online forums to surround a woman, pulling down her underwear or reaching under her clothes. Most of the gropers are men in their 30s to 40s, and even if they are caught and handed over to station staff, they often return and continue their behavior.”

According to a crime white paper published by the Ministry of Justice in 2015, the recidivism rate for groping stands at 44.7%, which is higher compared to other sexual crimes, likely due to the conditions that make groping easier and less detectable.

The influence of private arrests? The deployment of police officers on platforms as well.

During the period when private arrest YouTubers, such as Gutsch and Funaimu, gained popularity, the number of incidents reportedly decreased significantly. The aforementioned H氏 explained the reasons:

“When private arrest YouTubers appeared on the platforms, the perpetrators shared information on online bulletin boards. They were riding the trains almost daily in search of content, which led to a reduction in the number of people committing molestation during that time.

Moreover, when they sent inquiries to JR East regarding anti-molestation measures and women-only cars, police officers patrolled the platforms for a few weeks afterward. However, since they did not board the trains, the effectiveness was limited.”

Molestation constitutes a violation of the anti-nuisance ordinance and the crime of non-consensual indecency, both of which are unacceptable acts that violate the dignity of individuals. Nevertheless, it is absolutely unacceptable for women using the trains to become victims of molestation simply by boarding cars that are close to the stairs leading to the platform.

While the disruptive measures taken by some extreme private arrest YouTubers are out of the question, there is a call for more comprehensive and effective strategies to combat this issue.