Women-Only Trains in Tokyo
It is a well known fact that trains can be extremely crowded in Tokyo during rush hours. Usually, everyone mind their own business as much as possible, by reading a manga magazine or sending email on their mobile phone. Some men however prefer to take the opportunity to touch the lady next to them, who will usually not say anything because of the way the male-dominated Japanese society still operate. “Molestation” is called “Chikan” in Japanese, and it is a part of the everyday routine here, somewhere between green tea and digital cameras.
There is no easy way to stop it, but some steps are being taken to make life easier for women. The JR (Japan Railway) Saikyo Line is famous for having the largest number of molestation cases on a single train line. Last year, 217 cases in which men molested women on trains were reported on the line.
Last Monday, women-only coaches were introduced on the Saikyo Line trains during the morning rush hour to protect women from molesters. Until now, only one carriage on each train on the Saikyo Line between Saitama Prefecture and central Tokyo had been designated as a women-only car and this was available only late at night.
Ten other railway operators in the Kanto region, including major private railways and the subway system run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, will also set some carriages aside exclusively for women during morning rush hours, beginning in May.
- 
July 26th, 2005 at 11:27 pm
I think that is good because most women in japan don’t have a say and even if they said something people or rather men would say the women know that they like it but we actually don’t and we as women thik that it is very direspectfull of men to that to us especially that now their is a women’s only bus ans train. We as women should learn how to stand up for our selfs, beacuse i know no man can desrespect me like asif am a doll u can use and put back on the shelf no and the moment women began to learn how to have there say and teach the male society on how to treat the female society. SAHOULDN’T WE WOMEN HAVE THE SAME THINGS AND RIGHTS RULES AS MEN DO
PRE PRE pls email me if u need to say any thing
July 28th, 2005 at 1:14 am
I hear compliance is voluntary and I am not volunteering. I am a male and I have, and will continue to ride the women only car when it is convenient. The platform guys can tell me “women only” all they want but I’ll still ride.
January 8th, 2006 at 6:16 am
This is a sad fact that this happens in many places. Thankfully, they’ve adopted an Islamic solution. In many Muslim states, they have seperate arrangements for women in public places which is great privilege for us. Cool XD