By Wonsuh Song
Recently, I was quite surprised to hear an announcement on a Japanese train asking passengers to “actively cooperate in eliminating groping.” Normally, the wording used in these announcements is more indirect, such as “Please refrain from any contact or unpleasant behavior.” This time, however, the term “groping” was explicitly mentioned, prompting me to wonder, “Is this issue really that serious? Why a sudden campaign?”
Curiosity got the better of me, so I looked up various materials and discovered that the scope of “groping” in Japan is surprisingly broad. Across prefectures, groping is defined under local ordinances known as the “Public Nuisance Prevention Ordinance.” This includes not only direct or over-clothes physical contact but also a wide range of sexually offensive language and actions. For instance, it extends beyond touching or pressing one’s body against another; smelling someone, deliberately pushing a camera or bag against someone, or sending obscene images via AirDrop or other devices also fall under the definition.
In other words, not just contact-based groping but non-contact, covert-photo, and online forms are all covered by these ordinances.
With such an expanded definition, the actual incidents of groping on trains have also become quite diverse. Even unimaginable acts like putting trash in a victim’s bag are considered groping, causing trains to come to a stop or leading to wrongful accusations. Confronted with these complexities, many passengers now ride with both hands raised to grip overhead straps—a familiar sight reflecting heightened societal vigilance.
The perception that Japan has a high number of groping incidents is not solely due to the country’s large population. A combination of factors—many people commuting long distances, trains being crowded at rush hour, and prolonged travel times—creates a situation where groping crimes are more likely to occur.
It is also worth noting that victims are not limited to women alone. According to a recent Tokyo Metropolitan Government survey, about half of women and just under 10 percent of men reported having experienced groping. Across all age groups combined, roughly one in three people have been victimized. In other words, groping is a social problem that can affect anyone.
Despite this, when confronted with groping, 40 percent of victims said they “endured it or did nothing,” and over 60 percent did not inform anyone afterward. These figures reflect the fear, shock, and societal indifference that often force victims to suffer silently. It clearly shows that the responsibility for dealing with these incidents should not rest on victims alone.
On the other hand, about half of those who have witnessed groping actually took some form of action. Even more striking is that over 90 percent of gropers stop when bystanders intervene. Among those who did not intervene, about 30 percent said it was because they “weren’t sure” about what they had seen. This underscores that active involvement from bystanders can be a powerful deterrent.
Beginning in 2023, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has taken this issue seriously enough to publish a regular “Survey Report on Groping Incidents.” The latest edition is 137 pages long and meticulously covers age, gender, time of day, types of incidents, in-depth case studies, responses, and policy recommendations. The extensive detail indicates just how committed the city is to tackling this issue.
Ultimately, groping is not a problem that impacts only a certain group or gender—it is a challenge society at large must recognize and prevent. There is a limit to what victims alone can do. True “elimination of groping” can only be approached when the concern and actions of bystanders are combined with persistent investigation and policymaking from both local and national governments.
Wonsuh Song (Ph.D.)
Full-time Lecturer, Shumei University / NKNGO Forum Representative
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