"Men Also Face Sexual Harassment on Subways": Shocking Survey Results in Japan

[Financial News] A new survey has found that a significant number of men using subways and trains in Tokyo have experienced sexual harassment.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 22nd, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) announced survey results showing that one in six men who use trains and stations in Tokyo said they had been sexually harassed.
The survey is part of an effort by Tokyo Metropolis, launched in 2023, to more accurately gauge the scale of sexual violence on public transportation. A previous survey had found that about 20% of women and less than 10% of men had experienced groping, but the latest results show a sharp increase in victimization for both women and men.
In the new survey, 54.3% of women said they had experienced inappropriate physical contact on subways or in stations. Among men, 15.1% reported having been victimized.
Experts described the figures as "unexpectedly high" and said the findings challenge the common belief that sexual harassment on crowded public transportation targets only women.
Harada Takayuki, a professor at the Institute of Human Sciences at the University of Tsukuba, said, "I was very surprised by the figure of 15%. In similar surveys previously conducted by the Japanese government on experiences using public transportation, the numbers were consistently low," adding, "They were usually around 5%, and there were no cases where the figure exceeded 10%."
Professor Harada suggested that several factors may have contributed to the rise in reported victimization. He noted, "In recent years, awareness of sexual violence has been growing in Japan, so people may have become more willing to report incidents to the police."
He also pointed out that, especially after the 2023 revelations that major entertainment producer Johnny Kitagawa had been a serial sexual abuser, public sentiment has shifted toward refusing to tolerate abuse.
Some observers argue that measures to eradicate groping on public transportation have focused mainly on protecting female passengers. As a result, they say, gender stereotypes have been reinforced that "women are vulnerable and must receive special protection, while men should be able to endure on their own."
moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter