Is there anything I can legally carry to protect myself in public?

50 comments

1. Next time he grabs you make a scene at the spot and call for the police. If you see him first, get a station attendant to call the police or confront him.

   As for what to carry, I’m not sure anything is advisable as this country is not on board with proactive self defense.

2. Yikes – sorry to hear that.

   What about a personal alarm? [https://www.amazon.co.jp/s?k=personal+alarm&__mk_ja_JP=%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8A&crid=2WD205A2V7DK5&sprefix=personal+alarm%2Caps%2C204&ref=nb_sb_noss_1](https://www.amazon.co.jp/s?k=personal+alarm&__mk_ja_JP=%E3%82%AB%E3%82%BF%E3%82%AB%E3%83%8A&crid=2WD205A2V7DK5&sprefix=personal+alarm%2Caps%2C204&ref=nb_sb_noss_1)

3. In your pocket is a Gaijin card. Never forget these no matter how adjusted you become to Japan.

   Next time he grabs you demand money from him in a loud English voice for touching you. Call him a Chikan and make a huge scene.

   Essentially use your gaijin card. However that May come through for you

4. Omg I think I’ve met the same guy. Shinagawa station, last week. He didn’t grab me thank god, but he very forcefully asked where I was going, which train I was getting on, where I lived, more and more forcefully as if I didn’t understand him. He attempted to give me shitty directions (I’ve taken the same trains for 4 years) and then asked for money. He gave me major bad vibes so I just said I didn’t carry cash and walked away.

   I’m so sorry this happened to you! Honestly have no idea what I would’ve done if he had grabbed me.

5. Same guy has done it twice to me as well. He’s creepy as hell and targets Gaijin. If there are lot of people around don’t be afraid, just raise your voice. He backs off quickly once you raise your voice.

6. I live in Yokohama and think I (47M) met this guy once when I was putting money in one of my kid’s suica. Same sort of thing, he came up grabbed my shoulder, asking for money in English and acting aggressive. I quickly pivoted around to put myself between him and my kid, got aggressive back toward him, and he hobbled off muttering.

   If it is the same person, I have been here for 14 years and only had that one encounter.

   I say this just because, if it is the same person, I can’t imagine the police don’t know who he is if I recognize him from your description of his actions…. do go to the police and make sure you talk to the police in the koban in front of the station or go to a station employee and ask them to call the police for you.

   In regards to what to do going forward, the good thing is there are a lot of people in the station and, as someone else stated, do cause a scene if it happens again and don’t be afraid to raise your voice quickly.

   I have seen people ignore the personal alarms (kids set them off by accident), but it is much more difficult to ignore someone yelling, but you can always get one and yell as well.

7. [deleted]

8. Pretty sure I used to run into this same guy every so often when I worked near Shinagawa station – like 4-5 times over a few years. If it’s the same guy he’s creepy and annoying, but he’s not dangerous – raise your voice or get in his face and he scarpers away pretty quick. Suprised he hasn’t been banned from JR stations yet.

9. So sorry to hear you’ve experienced that 🙁 as someone else said, probably the most you can do is some kind of alarm that would make a very loud noise if he approached you again. If you have anything that could potentially be a weapon, and you use it on him especially if he’s “only” (not my opinion, but likely the opinion of the police) grabbed you, you could get in a lot of trouble for assault yourself. So, I think either get the alarm or scream and cry and yell and make a big scene.

10. Self defense is not protected in Japan unfortunately so anything to protect yourself like mace or whatever will do more harm than good.

11. What does this guy look like?

12. Yo I know that guy too, My first encounter with him was In January 2020, He Is always wearing the same dark blue jacket, he has the bandages everywhere And a lot in his hands, he always carries a hand bag and Hes kinda creppy, And only targets foreigners, He says hes hungry in a broken English, And I have encountered him many times.

    He usually used to help tourists to get a ticket for train and then Ask them for money, But now no tourist so he gotta change strategy.

    Funny guy. I don’t recommend “Defending yourself” with something tho most probably you’ll be charged with assault. What I usually say Is a simple and awkward “no thanks” and just walk away.

13. Was he maybe mid-50s? Sounds like a fellow who accosted me in Shinjuku station about 18 months ago. I was surprised because by Tokyo standards he was very aggressive and spoke English after trying to direct me onto the wrong train. Don’t let it rattle you too much, I got the sense that there’s nothing sinister there, I’m 195cm tall and he reached for my arm as well. I’d say his judgment is off more than anything.

14. I met this guy too. As he grabbed me I just kept walking and said “wakarimasen” and kept walking away then he left me alone

15. I honestly feel like Japan literally wouldn’t function without female police. I am a male, and every story I have ever heard of a police officer doing their job was a female cop.

16. I think I saw the same guy at Shin Okubo Station a few months back. I reported it to the staff at the time, and I’m not sure what happened after that. He seemed drunk and started off hitting on me asking what country I was from. When I just asked why in return, he said he thought I was from the most beautiful country, then he was complaining he needed 500 yen for food.

    Edit: he insisted on speaking English at me for part of it too even though I gave no indication I understood

17. In the situation you described, self-defence sounds a bit overkill. Either in English or Japanese, yell at him to “fuck off” very loudly – cause a scene. He will scurry away.

    Mace is legal, but I think you need decent justification to use it if and when you are stopped by the cops – like someone trying to rape you. Harrassing you for money? Probably not justified. I don’t recommend you go around macing people that give you shit in a train station. That shit will potentially hurt others.

    You can ask passers by for help if you are seriously feeling threatened. There are also train station staff that can assist and get the police involved.

18. Hat/hair pin.

19. [removed]

20. Omg that’s awful I hope the police do something

21. Haha this is funny cause I just got sketched out walking home today which is rare cause I’m from LA and I’m not scared of anyone out here lol but today this one person scared me a little

22. i can tell you from experience that a box cutter is right off the table. The experience being the cops taking mine, then sitting me down for about 3hours of questioning. With follow-up questioning tomorrow.

    i’m probably never getting that box cutter back.

23. This guy is pretty well know.

    He backs off if you scream at him.

    The police might do something if he has been getting physical with people now though.

24. If you have to hit him, make sure it’s open handed.

25. Personal defence weapons and items will generally get you fucked. I’d suggest a personal alarm, or learning some martial arts. Actually using martial arts might get you in trouble defending yourself, but it’ll build your confidence in situations with idiots like this. They prey on a lack of confidence and showing you’re not prey will quickly make them back off.

26. Record it with your phone. You’re inside a station with a thousand cameras in it. This guy is already famous on Reddit so an actual video of him genuinely harassing you would be worth the Karma at least. If he’s after nothing more than money then at least record him pestering you. If he was planning to rape you I’m sure he would have already been arrested for trying it on with the other 10,000 or so women that he’s harassed this year at least.. he’s a mosquito.. pesky and annoying! but most probably will not kill you. Japan has its fair share of crazies. Record it and post it on here! I’d say that the only thing you need is your smartphone camera and a challenging attitude!

27. West, East side? Weekends, evenings?

28. I don’t know this guy but there used to be a woman in Shinjuku doing the exact same thing.. she always targeted foreigners and asked for money, really aggressive behavior and so annoying. She followed me and grabbed me by the shoulder and I said “hey, don’t touch me!”

    Then she started to mock me “don’t touch me, don’t touch me!”

    Extremely annoying.. hope you won’t meet that guy again.

29. I’m almost positive I have ran into this same guy in Yokosuka. The targets Gaijin. I rode past him one time on my bike and he chased me down the street yelling “suimasen!” I stopped because I thought maybe I dropped something or he needed help. But he had some pre-written out page in English that he showed me saying his dad was an American sailor and his mom is Japanese and he is homeless, and he wants money hoping you’ll see that he is part American and feel bad. He was very persistent and bizarre.

30. Is he bald and slightly chubby?

31. I bumped into this guy a couple years back. Right as COVID was starting to take off. Sternly and somewhat loudly told him to get fucked. Followed me for a bit until I got pretty uppity. Just get mad.

32. Any pictures

33. Any pictures

34. Red stamp his face next time he tried to grab you.

    Edit: used to be a red stamp, but I guess maybe it’s now a black light stamp

    https://soranews24.com/2019/08/28/new-black-light-train-groper-stamps-sell-out-in-japan-on-their-first-day-on-the-market/

35. Nihongo nomimasen.

    Jokes aside, I’m sorry that happened to you. What about those loud alarms for kids that make sound when you pull on it?

    Defending yourself with a ‘tool’ is mostly illegal, so do what works in Japan. Being a woman is a strong weapon. Man touching a woman? Scream chikan! And ask nearby anyone for help. I know it’s easier said than done, but I think it’s smarter than you trying to carry something to defend yourself.

36. These guns *kisses bicep*

    *dies of cringe*

37. When my youngest son was small there was an older man that chased him on his bicycle a couple of times. I tried to find him but was unable to. I would have drug his sorry ass to the koban and reported him. There is a mental health crisis in this country that results in a lot of unstable people out in society. If you can, take his photo next time and report the incident. For women and children, especially, having a crusty dude chase you is disconcerting at best and terrifying at worst. I’m sorry that this has happened to you. Don’t let it upset you too much. It will end.

38. This is one of the few things I hate about Japan. You can’t carry any self-defense stuff besides maybe an alarm. No taser, no pepper spray, nothing. Laws for self-defense are stupid here. Even if you get attacked and fight back, you’re most likely gonna face repercussions (especially as a foreigner). Your best bet is to make a scene and hope they’ll make a run for it or just make a run for it yourself

39. What an asshole. I hope the bandages are the result of someone beating him up.

40. Yeah. Screaming “chikan!” at the top of your voice is probably your best option! I think there are some people who would come running to help.

41. Get those alarm key chains. You can get them at the 100 yen store.

42. I think I met that same guy infront of Seibu Shinjuku station on Friday afternoon.
    Cheek bandage and no mask too.

    He tapped me on the arm a few times so I told him to “fuck off don’t touch me” and he just walked off.

43. Although you can’t carry anything harmful, I would highly recommend studying martial arts. I know that the solution isn’t to hurt the guy, but as somebody who once felt shaken up and in tears over the feeling of insecurity against a freak like this, I personally felt much safer once I learned how to restrain people. I don’t want this to come across as if I’m suggesting violence as an answer – it’s more for the sake of protection and feeling secure even when nothing can be carried with you. Even if nothing else ever happens to you, you will feel safer in your own skin when this type of thing happens, and if you start to encounter him again just strap a GoPro to your chest so that if push comes to shove you can prove yourself and get this freak reported to the police with 100% evidence.

44. They don’t register complaints because unreported crimes help to maintain the safety index. Safest city in the world

45. Please remember people that there are no good Samaritan laws in this country.

    For example, you see someone being attacked and you step in and punch the aggressor. The victim does not press charges but the aggressor presses charges against you for hitting them.

    You’ll be sent to jail for assault even though you were trying to protect someone. Only get involved if you know the victim personally.

    This is why throughout most of Asia people do not get involved.

46. The thing that’s always worked for me is to start yelling in English. “What in the FUCK do you want?” usually works pretty good. The main thing is to stay in public. Worst case scenario, you get in a fight, but that’s extremely rare in public places. If you carry any form of weapon, on the other hand, you WILL be arrested.

    If you’re not comfortable with that, it’s best to just ignore him and walk to a koban or find an ekiinsan.

47. Carry an umbrella. Any type is helpful but the ones that pop open quickly with a button have an additional surprise factor. It puts space between you anyone trying to touch you and can’t be considered a weapon as long as you aren’t trying to stab him with it or anything.

48. My sister goes through this all the time in her city, on a near daily basis. You have to scream NO very clearly and I mean SCREAM if they touch you like your life depends on it. She advised this to my wife who unfortunately has had a number of similar things when we visit her city. People follow both of them even when doing this

    Whatever the rules and laws are here, carry a can of pepper spray or bear spray. It’s better to deal with the legal system from a situation you can walk away from later than not

49. God I’m happy to be a very large man in Japan.

    Like, I have a crazy guy who harasses foreigners in my area too. Yelling 来るな！！！ to him gets him to fuck off every time. Last time I did it an older woman glared at me.

    👏気違い👏を👏相手👏に👏する👏の👏は👏俺👏の👏責任👏じゃない👏

50. Some self-defense advice:

    The best self-defense is not being there. If you can avoid this person, or the kind of situation where these kind of people hang out then that’s the best choice. Keep getting robbed at 2am outside a dodgy nightclub? Don’t go to dodgy nightclubs at 2am. Of course, a station on your commute is going to be harder to avoid.

    Running away is a great self-defense move. Being aware of your surroundings and ready to run (not absorbed in a book/phone) definitely helps.

    Making a lot of noise/a big scene can help, but as you experienced, it’s not as easy as it might sound. It’s easy to freeze up in a self-defense situation. One word: *practice*. It will probably feel silly, but imagine the scenario of running into this guy again. Imagine how you will feel. Practice the actions that you are going to take “Yelling 近づかないで！”, pull your alarm, running away etc. For it to count as practice you have to actually do it, no “Oh, I’ll do it when it happens.” Do the actions exactly as you would in the real situation. That way if it really happens again you can go into auto-pilot for your self defense plan.