Chikan train gropers targeted by JR East
Bad news for all those who enjoy a nice grope in the morning rush hour.
JR East has installed CCTV cameras on all 32 trains on the Saikyo line, which runs from Osaki station in Tokyo to Omiya in Saitama. The line is the most notorious for groping, with 173 incidents last year, a monthly average of 14.4.
JR started putting in cameras on a trial basis last December. After setting up just six cameras on two 10-car trains reported groping incidents dropped to “just” 15 in January and February — less than half the monthly average in camera-less days! Clearly it was working as a deterrent.
Groping (or “chikan”) is a huge phenomenon in Japan, with the crowded rush hour trains particularly popular places for unscrupulous men to have a good feel of some nearby female flesh. There have been women-only carriages on trains for years, though not all female passengers can squeeze on of course. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police have said that there are 1,500 incidents a year of groping on trains (and 10% of the incidents in the first half of 2009 were apparently on the Saikyo line alone) — and these are just the reported ones of course!
This might not seem such a big deal, or even just a case of “atari-mae” (common sense). However, us Japanese people always make a fuss about privacy. We are astounded by how many CCTV cameras there are in London — and it still does not prevent terrorism!
This is the first time that commuter trains have had security cameras installed, though there are already some on decks or cargo spaces of some bullet trains (Shinkansen) on the Tokaido and Sanyo lines and other expensive limited express trains.
JR also previously worked in September 2009 with the police to introduce a patrol system on the Saikyo trains, with 150 female police officers walking through carriages to check on suspicious activities (obviously this is not practical in the morning rush hour where any kind of movement is a luxury, let alone walking!).
So, chikan-philes, be warned! Now someone is watching you!
