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Chikan (body contact)

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A typical form of chikan
A sign outside of a bicycle parking lot in Chiba, Japan, warns "Beware of Chikan!"

Chikan (痴漢, チカン, or ちかん) is a Japanese term for sexual harassment or other obscene acts conducted against the victim's will, or a person who commits such an act.[1] The term is frequently used to describe men[2] who take advantage of the crowded conditions on the public transit systems to grope women and occasionally also men.[3] While the term is not defined in the Japanese legal system, vernacular use describes acts that violate several laws. The corresponding neologism referring to female molesters is chijo.

In clinical psychology, the desire is called frotteurism. While women on crowded trains in Japan are the most frequent targets of chikan, sexual predators in Japan can take advantage of people in other situations as well. One such situation (warned against in the sign pictured) is bicycle parking lots, where a molester will wait until a victim is bent over, unlocking their bicycle lock, and then grope them from behind. Chikan often features in Japanese pornography, along with other non-consensual themes.[4] As part of the effort to combat chikan, some railway companies have designated women-only passenger cars.[5][6][7]

In FY2024, there were 2,254 arrests for molestation, of which 1,321 were in stations and trains, and 1,203 arrests for voyeurism, including 1,000 on escalators and stairs in stations.[8] Victims of molestation may be inhibited from reporting their victimization, psychologically unable to ride the train, and other ongoing harms.[9]

Description

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Chikan is the act of touching or hugging someone on a train, in an elevator, or on a street at night, or of exhibitionism of the lower half of one's body and enjoying seeing the other person's reaction, which is a sex crime.[10] Basically means non-lethal sexual assault, sexual violence, and the person who commits it.[11][12]

BBC News reports that the word chikan has spread around the world, so much so that foreign molestation and voyeurism groups are targeting Japanese trains.[13]

While some countries publish country-specific travel advice, the British government has posted for its citizens traveling to Japan, “Female passengers travelling on commuter trains have experienced inappropriate behaviour. This includes touching and upskirting – taking photos or videos from below when women walk or stand nearby. ” and the Canadian government has posted, "Inappropriate physical contact may occur on busy subways and trains."[14][15]

On the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line, an 18-year-old girl was raped on a platform in 2019 as a result of escalating molestation on the train.[16] On this train, there was also a rape case in 1988 due to an accusation of molestation and recrimination.[17]

In Japan, when someone is groped on a train, the police recommend squatting to prevent further harm, raising one's voice to attract attention, and calling 110.[18][19] The Metropolitan Police Department has a system that can receive video if a 110 is made, depending on the situation[20] It is also recommended to drop an item or flash a smartphone to attract attention. This crime often targets younger individuals, with many victims experiencing it first during middle or high school.[21]

In March 2023, the government announced a "Policy Package to Eradicate Groping," which included more detailed investigations and analysis of such crimes, guidance to prevent repeat offenses, promotion of the national consultation hotline "#8103," and accommodations for students who are late or absent from school or exams due to victimization. The summary clearly stated: "Groping is a serious crime. It is an act that tramples on personal dignity and must never be tolerated".[22][23][24]

Since July 2023, any non-consensual physical contact has been criminalized as (crime of) indecent assault, and arrests have been made via emergency calls from trains.[25]

More than half of such crimes occur on trains. Railway companies encourage passengers to use the emergency alert system without hesitation if groping occurs.[26] In some cases, perpetrators who flee onto train tracks are arrested for both (crime of) indecent assault and obstruction of business by force.[27] Some repeat offenders have also been found traveling back and forth in crowded cars, committing both groping and fare evasion.[28]

During the January exam season, a trend of social media posts inciting sexual violence against test-takers—referred to as "Chikan Chance Day"—prompted the Minister of Gender Equality to announce in January 2024 that victims could take makeup exams and dress casually. The minister also urged victims to speak up without hesitation (Common test molestation festival).[29] In March 2024, a man was referred to prosecutors for repeatedly posting inciting messages on social media despite police warnings.[30] Some victims reported being so shaken by being groped on the way to exams that they failed and had to repeat a year.[31]

A woman who had suffered habitual molestation from her second day in high school created a “Chikan Prevention Badge".[32] The organization distributing these badges, the “Chikan Prevention Action Center,” publishes key facts and precautions about groping specifically for students.[33]

Molestation has also been reported at live music venues,[34][35] prompting some organizers to introduce gender-segregated areas to prevent such incidents.[36]

In October 2017, a woman residing in France published a novel titled TCHIKAN, based on her experiences of being groped during her junior high school years in Japan. She shared that the sexual violence she endured while commuting to school caused severe psychological distress, leading to self-harm and suicidal thoughts.[37]

Statistics

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The National Police Agency reports that about 2,000 to 3,000 chikans are arrested each year.[38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Catching the men who sell subway groping videos". BBC News. June 7, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  2. ^ Daijirin dictionary entry for chikan
  3. ^ Zhu, Lingfeng (2023). "Criminal remedies for sexual rights of male in Japan and China". Tokyo Metropolitan University Journal of Law and Politics (in Japanese). 63 (2): 423–458. hdl:10748/00013415. ISSN 1880-7615.
  4. ^ WuDunn, Sheryl (December 17, 1995). "On Tokyo's Packed Trains, Molesters Are Brazen". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  5. ^ The His and Hers Subway Archived December 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Japan Tries Women-Only Train Cars to Stop Groping". ABC News.
  7. ^ "Women-Only Cars on Commuter Trains Cause Controversy in Japan". Archived from the original on November 13, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2005.
  8. ^ "Results of Arrests for Molestation and Voyeurism in 2023" (PDF). Metropolitan Police Department. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  9. ^ "痴漢にあった女の子の涙 警察は「被害届出すの？ 時間かかるよ」 加害者への「広告」に絶句 北原みのり". AERA. April 23, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  10. ^ 上田基編著『命のたいせつさを学ぶ性教育』ミネルヴァ書房、2008年、ISBN 4623051021、86頁
  11. ^ 痴漢は性暴力に入りますか?(小川たまか) - 個人 - Yahoo!ニュース|access-date=5 July 2021
  12. ^ 痴漢から女性を守る会 著『満員電車は危険がいっぱい』マイクロマガジン社、2007年、ISBN 4896372514、p.23
  13. ^ "Catching the men who sell subway groping videos". BBC. June 8, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  14. ^ "Foreign travel advice Japan". GOV.UK. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  15. ^ "Japan travel advice". GOV.CANADA. November 16, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  16. ^ 机美鈴 (June 23, 2020). "駅のホームで強制性交 社会は痴漢と向き合ってきたか". 朝日新聞. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  17. ^ "News Up もし、あなたの大切な人が…女性専用車両を考える". NHKニュース. Japan national broadcasting company. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  18. ^ 埼玉県警察 (November 17, 2020). "痴漢被害に遭ってしまったら・・・". 埼玉県警 (in Japanese). Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  19. ^ ""痴漢"という性暴力 目の前で痴漢が…そのときどうすれば？＃本気で痴漢なくすプロジェクトNO.4". NHK. April 18, 2022. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  20. ^ "110番映像通報システム". Metropolitan Police Department. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  21. ^ "痴漢被害者の半数 初めての被害は中高生のとき 周囲の大人ができることは". NHK (in Japanese). April 10, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Yuki MUROHASHI (April 10, 2023). "100年続く痴漢問題、撲滅なるか？政府が 痴漢撲滅に向けた政策パッケージ を公表". yahoo news. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  23. ^ "痴漢撲滅に向けた政策パッケージ（概要）" (PDF). 男女共同参画局. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  24. ^ "痴漢撲滅に向けた政策パッケージ" (PDF). Gender Equality Bureau. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  25. ^ "初の不同意わいせつ容疑適用 走行中列車で女性の体触ったか 下野署、自称配送業の男逮捕". simotuke NEWSPAPER. August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  26. ^ "痴漢された人が「電車」止めたら迷惑？ JR東「躊躇せずSOSボタン押して」 受験シーズン迎えて対策本格化". 弁護士ドットコムニュース. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  27. ^ "「やばいと思って…」線路に飛び降りて逃走 山手線大崎駅 不同意わいせつ、威力業務妨害の疑いで男を逮捕". 東京新聞. July 19, 2024. Archived from the original on July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  28. ^ "キセル乗車で痴漢を繰り返したか…10代女性への"痴漢"行為と"キセル"乗車の疑いで20歳男を逮捕「繰り返していたので覚えていない」 新潟市". NIGATA NEWS. February 26, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
  29. ^ "受験生への痴漢「許されない」 被害、共通テスト追試対象に―加藤担当相化". JIJI.com. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  30. ^ "受験生狙った痴漢あおる文章投稿の疑いで書類送検 愛知県警". NHK. March 25, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  31. ^ "共通テスト当日に痴漢にあって動揺し浪人した 声を上げられない試験日の受験生狙う痴漢 周りの人が"目配り"し声をかけるだけでも受験生を守れる。電車の中での自衛策も". FNN. January 7, 2025. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
  32. ^ "痴漢から受験生どう守る 被害者が語る対策 電車に乗るときは？ 警察は警戒強化#本気で痴漢なくすプロジェクトNO.13". NHK. January 12, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  33. ^ "【特設ページ】学生に知ってほしい痴漢の真実". 一般社団法人痴漢抑止活動センター. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  34. ^ "被害に気付かれにくい「ライブ会場」の痴漢逮捕、人気バンド「ヤバT」が公表…犯人の「特定」どうやった？". 弁護士ドットコムニュース. February 8, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  35. ^ "ラランド・サーヤ 運営会社反論で泥沼化のライブ痴漢騒動を謝罪「全く女性を守れなかった」". 東スポweb. March 19, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  36. ^ "粗品 ５月開催のワンマンライブは〝男女別〟に 痴漢防止のため「１番やったらあかんこと」". 東スポweb. April 3, 2025. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  37. ^ 小川たまか (November 16, 2017). "「真面目に通学していただけで、なぜあんな目に」 日本人女性がパリで「痴漢」本を出版". YAHOO NEWS. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  38. ^ 令和3年警察白書 統計資料 2-41 痴漢事犯の検挙状況等の推移 (in Japanese). National Police Agency. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
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