Living in Japan isn't all about games. Just mostly 
.
.I Hate Japan... Sometimes.
Posted 05-02-2009 at 03:43 PM by Chris_D
Usually I can find a lot to appreciate about this great country but one thing in particular has been making me furious recently: Sexual harassment. Sexual harassment occurs in every country, and in fact, according to this 1997 article in the New York Times:
However, low level sexual harassment, such as groping on trains, looking up skirts using mirrors, or stalking, is shockingly frequent and usually goes unreported. I can't speak personally for the women affected, but I'm sure that these experiences can be very traumatic despite being classified as only minor crimes.
When I lived in Australia, I was lucky that neither myself or any friends or family members experienced incidents of sexual harrassment (that I was aware of). However, since coming to Japan, a number of people I know have experienced sexual harassment.
A former co-worker, American, was followed into her home by an unknown Japanese man. She was able to get him to leave at that time but following that incident he would come by regularly and ejaculate on her door. Another ex co-worker, also American, had a customer who would always wait outside for her at the end of her shift. It was basically stalking but the police were unable to act directly in this case. The company organized an instructor to give her private self defense lessons.
Finally, the source of my recent fury. My girlfriend, despite being close to me in age, is quite petite, and can seem around 19-22, even to other Japanese. Perhaps because of this, she draws more of the wrong kind of attention than some. One incident had a strange old man following her closely and pushing up against her on the escalator. She quickly retreated into the grocery store and did her shopping. She left about twenty minutes later to find him standing outside waiting for her. At that point she sped walk off and lost him.
Also, recently we were at the local pool together. While she was swimming in one of the lanes, an older man moved in front of her and may have dropped his swimwear. However, she reflexively closed her eyes so she couldn't be sure if the later had occurred, or even if the entire action had been deliberate. I gave him an evil glare later (after she told me) and he may have been guilty, I couldn't tell. Either way, I elbowed him and kicked him a few times as I swam in the lane with him (and made sure my girlfriend was in the lane farthest away).
It's quite frustrating that this kind of behavior seems so pervasive and even somewhat accepted in Japanese culture. I still like to believe that it's only the minority of Japanese men who behave like this. For them though, I wish they'd grow up and act like real men!
It may be more than ten years old, but I recommend reading this article if you're interested in why Japanese men are so fascinated with young girls:
The New York Times - A Plain School Uniform as the Latest Aphrodisiac
Quote:
While there is doubt about the reporting, only about one-thirtieth as many rapes are reported per capita in Japan as in America
When I lived in Australia, I was lucky that neither myself or any friends or family members experienced incidents of sexual harrassment (that I was aware of). However, since coming to Japan, a number of people I know have experienced sexual harassment.
A former co-worker, American, was followed into her home by an unknown Japanese man. She was able to get him to leave at that time but following that incident he would come by regularly and ejaculate on her door. Another ex co-worker, also American, had a customer who would always wait outside for her at the end of her shift. It was basically stalking but the police were unable to act directly in this case. The company organized an instructor to give her private self defense lessons.
Finally, the source of my recent fury. My girlfriend, despite being close to me in age, is quite petite, and can seem around 19-22, even to other Japanese. Perhaps because of this, she draws more of the wrong kind of attention than some. One incident had a strange old man following her closely and pushing up against her on the escalator. She quickly retreated into the grocery store and did her shopping. She left about twenty minutes later to find him standing outside waiting for her. At that point she sped walk off and lost him.
Also, recently we were at the local pool together. While she was swimming in one of the lanes, an older man moved in front of her and may have dropped his swimwear. However, she reflexively closed her eyes so she couldn't be sure if the later had occurred, or even if the entire action had been deliberate. I gave him an evil glare later (after she told me) and he may have been guilty, I couldn't tell. Either way, I elbowed him and kicked him a few times as I swam in the lane with him (and made sure my girlfriend was in the lane farthest away).
It's quite frustrating that this kind of behavior seems so pervasive and even somewhat accepted in Japanese culture. I still like to believe that it's only the minority of Japanese men who behave like this. For them though, I wish they'd grow up and act like real men!
It may be more than ten years old, but I recommend reading this article if you're interested in why Japanese men are so fascinated with young girls:
The New York Times - A Plain School Uniform as the Latest Aphrodisiac
Quote:
What is the appeal of very young girls?
''Lots of Japanese men feel very threatened by adult women,'' said Masao Miyamoto, a male psychiatrist and the author of a best-selling analysis of Japanese society. ''But a 15-year-old girl would not be threatening. It's not so much sexual as psychological.''
Dr. Miyamoto and others say the discomfort that many men have with women their own age is in part a consequence of the growing sophistication of Japanese women. While most men slave over their jobs and take almost no vacation, a growing number of young women find they have the time to travel abroad, to read books, to go to concerts or to take evening classes.
A result is that while several decades ago most middle-aged men still felt more worldly than the women they encountered, now the opposite is often true. So to seek comfort and relaxation, the analysts say, the men turn to the only females over whom they can still plausibly feel some edge -- schoolgirls.
''In associating with young girls, men want to behave in an overbearing way,'' said Rika Kayama, a female psychiatrist and social commentator. ''They want to position themselves as superior to the girls.''
Several decades ago, sexual fantasies centered on ''office ladies'' in their 20's. Then the focus became college women, and a few years ago it shifted to high-school girls.
Now the focus is on junior-high-school girls.
''Lots of Japanese men feel very threatened by adult women,'' said Masao Miyamoto, a male psychiatrist and the author of a best-selling analysis of Japanese society. ''But a 15-year-old girl would not be threatening. It's not so much sexual as psychological.''
Dr. Miyamoto and others say the discomfort that many men have with women their own age is in part a consequence of the growing sophistication of Japanese women. While most men slave over their jobs and take almost no vacation, a growing number of young women find they have the time to travel abroad, to read books, to go to concerts or to take evening classes.
A result is that while several decades ago most middle-aged men still felt more worldly than the women they encountered, now the opposite is often true. So to seek comfort and relaxation, the analysts say, the men turn to the only females over whom they can still plausibly feel some edge -- schoolgirls.
''In associating with young girls, men want to behave in an overbearing way,'' said Rika Kayama, a female psychiatrist and social commentator. ''They want to position themselves as superior to the girls.''
Several decades ago, sexual fantasies centered on ''office ladies'' in their 20's. Then the focus became college women, and a few years ago it shifted to high-school girls.
Now the focus is on junior-high-school girls.
Total Comments 3
Comments
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This is something I always found odd in Japanese culture. I've never been to Japan to witness it myself, but much of Japanese anime and film portrays this as normal behavior, especially in Jr. High and High School settings. I'm curious if it's related to the older Japanese custom where women held a lower status in society (much as was the case in Europe and the US).
Now that women have more rights it seems Japanese men feel threatened by them living free and fruitful lives while most of them do nothing more than work, drink, and sleep. The real bothersome part is that general Japanese society seems to accept this as normal and just shrug it off as "some pervert" where in the US, if you ejactulated on someone's door you'd be in jail faster than you can say, "invasion of privacy". I feel for you ChrisD. It has to be a stressful thing to worry about, especially for your female friends and your own girlfriend. I suggest pepper spray.  |
Posted 05-04-2009 at 02:57 PM by shunoshi
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Like shunoshi said, get her some mace of pepper spray. Women should be spray dudes down like roaches.
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Posted 05-04-2009 at 10:51 PM by Xerxes
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Thanks for the posts guys. I'm not sure about the pepper spray, or other weapons, maybe they're not accepted in Japan? At least I haven't heard of anyone carrying them. I'm thinking of suggesting that she should take self defense lessons. Also, I told her if the situation at the store happens again she should go immediately to store security (they always have 1-2 guys on duty). They can escort her safely out of the building or to a taxi. For the pool, well we always go together so at least I'm around but I hope nothing like that happens again.
I'm becoming more paranoid now. For example, we were going home together on a really crowded bus and a guy got on and ended up jammed (relatively) close up behind her (through no fault of his own though). But, I ended up watching his free hand for the rest of the journey just to make sure it didn't find it's way into any dodgy places. I almost feel a little guilty myself as I used to enjoy those kinds of fan service anime when I was young and even now I still admire cute high school girls in their adorable uniforms (both boys and girls wear so many different types of uniforms over here! So much more attractive than what I had to wear in school). It's interesting the way the article discusses it, Japanese men want to control women but yet they themselves are becoming more introverted and reclusive than before. Meanwhile, Japanese women are becoming the opposite. Hell, I had a 6 y.o girl tell me to shut up and also say what the f*ck (in Japanese). Maybe she wouldn't try that on her home room teacher though. |
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Posted 05-05-2009 at 03:02 AM by Chris_D
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