Big Brother vs. Chikan on the Saikyo line
Years of anti-chikan campaigns and women only train cars have failed to put a stop to the Saikyo line’s molestation problem, so it now looks like they will turn to surveillance cameras:
A set of high-definition security cameras will be installed in the No. 1 cars of Saikyo Line trains, such as in the ceiling and the overhead rack, on a trial basis by the end of this year at the earliest, they said. Most groping cases have been on the No. 1 cars of trains.
JR East and police say they hope the security cameras will provide “evidence” and serve as “deterrence” against molestation. But critics questioned the effectiveness of the cameras, voiced concerns about privacy and said they may be used for other criminal investigations.
The decision to install the cameras was made after police in Tokyo and neighboring prefectures asked metropolitan railway operators for them in late October, as there are no signs of a fall in molestation cases on trains.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the number of groping cases on trains handled by the police total around 1,500 a year. In the first half of 2009, the number of such cases came to 708, of which 75, or about 10 percent, occurred on the Saikyo Line.
In particular, gropers target the No. 1 cars — at the end of the train despite the number — of Tokyo-bound Saikyo Line trains as they are packed full during rush-hour because they are nearest to the stairs at many stations.
Even in the video clip included in the NTV news report embedded in this report, it is difficult to determine who is groping who inside a very packed train car. If any of you out there decide to ride in the first car of a Saikyo line train, I suggest you keep both of your hands within clear view of the cameras…
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
