top of page
This site was designed with the
.com
website builder. Create your website today.Start Now

Sexual
Harassment

A

A

  • A

​

Laws in Japan

A

  • A

​

​

  • It can be hard to balance staying safe and being social. Sometimes, you might stop to talk with someone, expecting the usual “where are you from?” and “nihongo jōzu”, but the next thing you know, you’re in front of a pervert or you’re being touched inappropriately.

​

  • We all know what to do in those cases, but what actually happens in a stressful situation can never be predicted. You might freeze up and continue acting natural, and then end up feeling terrible. It’s very important not to blame yourself for your fight‐flight‐freeze reaction. You should not be ashamed of what you end up doing.

​

​

Recommended steps

  1. If you are in a state to do so, get information about the pervert:
    description of the person or their vehicle license plate number, etc.
    Take pictures if it feels safe to do so.

  2. If you are somewhere where this is possible (store, train station, etc.):
    find staff, witnesses or, if you’re comfortable doing so, a koban (police box).

  3. Your mind is likely to be running. Get to a safe place and calm down.
    Take precautions if you’re scared of stalking.

  4. After you are safe, contact your supervisor, school or BOE. They should go with you to the police.
    You can also call 110 directly; they have English support.

​

After

  • Your school will want to know in any case because the students may be targeted as well.

  • If you have information, the police may proceed, but if you don’t, there’s probably nothing much they can do.

  • Do not feel bad if you don’t have any information!

  • Depending on the circumstances (e.g. in cases of train chikan), you may have the opportunity to press charges, but will likely be discouraged to do so. Do not let that affect you if this is the course of action you want to follow.

​

  • Take care of yourself: talk with friends, make yourself safe, talk about your experience with other women or a PA.

  • Don’t blame yourself.

​

​

References: https://ajet.net/resources/counselling/sexual-harassment/, https://tokyojet.wikia.org/wiki/Sexual_Harassment

​

  • Things that chikan and stalkers might do on trains: standing REALLY close behind you (or worse, in front of you or with you in between if there's more than one), smelling/touching your hair, touching your bust with their shoulder, touching your bottom, taking pictures of you (e.g. face, bust, legs, underwear), following you around on the train, etc.

​

  • Women’s train cars were created to avoid this. Unfortunately, men are not actually forbidden from riding them.

  • It’s not unusual to have men read porn on trains and the staff won't do much about it.

​

​

Useful Terms

  • If someone is touching you or someone else on the train, you want to yell “chikan” (molester), which is considered more serious than “hentai” (pervert), and the conductor or another employee should get involved.

​

  • You can buy personal alarms.

​

  • You will stand out and it is likely that everyone will know where you live.

  • This lack of anonymity might not mean anything, but it could also make you an easier target.​​

​

  • Yup, having underwear that’s left to dry stolen is something that might happen.

​

  • You may sometimes hear about pervert sightings in your area through your school.

    • If you’re not sure this is what the teachers are talking about, ask.

  • Some JETs have had experience with stalkers. If you believe you have a stalker, change your routine, tell people and stay aware.

​

​

Useful Terms

  • “Hentai” means “pervert" and “chikan” means “molester”.

    • "Hentai" covers anything from flashing to voyeurism to stealing underwear to masturbating in public.

​

  • It’s likely that the people you will be closest to in Japan are other JETs.

  • Unfortunately, horror stories within the JET community are not unheard of, so use proper caution and don’t expect someone to be fine just because they’re also a foreigner.

​

  • Situations involving other JETs can be very difficult since both sides of the story have to be listened to.

​

  • If you feel threatened, harassed, or intimidated by any associates outside of your contracting organization, you should discuss the issue with your Prefectural Assistant.

​

  • If you are not comfortable speaking with your Prefectural Assistant, you may contact:

    • The AJET Peer Support Group, from 8:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., 365 days a year.

    • Calls can be made anonymously, and are confidential: 050-5534-5566 or Skype name “AJETPSG.”

​

​

  • In Japanese, “sexual harassment” is seku‐hara.

  • In some cases, women can be accused of seku‐hara from dressing “inappropriately” at school, so follow your coworkers’ lead.

    • You may have people ask you if you’re cold if you’re showing more skin than what they are used to.

    • You may also get other comments about your appearance that are supposed to be hints about how to dress.

​

Students

  • Be wary of students who may try to touch you inappropriately, whether it’s kancho, touching your hair or full‐on groping.

  • You, or your JTE, might also get inappropriate comments from some students.

​

  • How you react might stop such things from happening, but of course that will depend on a number of things.

  • Try getting the teacher in charge of discipline on your side.

  • Japan has a strong “boys will be boys” mentality.

  • Girls may also try to touch you... maybe even more so than boys.

​

Coworkers

  • You may notice behaviors that would not fly in your country, especially during enkais.

  • If you don’t feel right about something, try speaking about it with the other women in your office or with your supervisor.

  • Nothing stops you from complaining about someone’s behavior if you don’t find it appropriate.

  • In some cases, your coworkers could be doing nothing about it for a variety of reasons. As someone who’s “outside the system”, you can have more power to change things.

  • However, Japan is a culture of not making waves that still has a more “traditional” and “conservative” mindset to boot, so it might be an uphill battle to change the system. Again, don’t let that discourage you from doing something you think is right.

​

​

  • While Japan is a relatively safe country, it’s no different than other countries in terms of sexual harassment and sexual crimes.

  • Obviously, this does not mean that it’s necessarily dangerous, but you should still take precautions when out about, especially as a foreigner.

​

  • ⚠ Cultural differences DO NOT excuse what would be considered unacceptable behavior at home.

  • ⚠ If it is unacceptable in your home country, it is unacceptable in Japan.

  • ⚠ You may be tempted to keep quiet to preserve good relationships with your coworkers, but your mental health and physical safety are more important.

​

  • Japan is not known to be often supportive of victims, sometimes falling into victim blaming.

    • ​​They might ask you questions such as what kind of clothes you were wearing or if you were drinking, or tell you that you shouldn't have been hanging out that late at night on your own or that you were asking for it (those questions and comments are usually addressed women).

    • They might tell you it was nothing (especially if you don't have any proof), and that it's not possible. (Men can't get sexually harassed, right? *Sarcasm*)

​

  • ​In any case, DO NOT LET THIS STOP YOU FROM GOING TO THE POLICE!!

​

​

Useful Terms

  • “Hentai” means “pervert" and “chikan” means “molester”.

    • "Hentai" covers anything from flashing to voyeurism to stealing underwear to masturbating in public.

  • If someone is touching you or someone else on the train, you want to yell “chikan” (molester), which is considered more serious than “hentai” (pervert), and the conductor or another employee should get involved.

  • In Japanese, “sexual harassment” is seku‐hara.

​

Information for Rape Victims and Verbal Consent in Japan

http://youtu.be/W6e2CMHEoRs

​

​

Discrimination

  • Unfortunately, some people believe that foreigners are “easy” and others idealize or dehumanize us for a variety of reasons.

  • This means getting an array of sudden personal questions or comments from strangers and becoming the target of their attention.

  • Of course, these exchanges are not necessarily sexual in nature, but they may make you feel unsafe or start feeling like microaggressions with time.

  • If this is ever the case, don’t hesitate to speak to others, or even to try to educate the person who’s speaking to you if you have the energy.

  • Gaijin hunters are definitely a thing.

​

​

⚠ Cultural differences

  • Relationships between men, women and even within the LGBTQIA+ community can be very different than where you’re from.

  • People who see you with the "opposite-looking gender" (especially with other foreigners) are likely to think that you’re dating or married.

  • In the same vein, going to someone’s house (or inviting someone to your place), especially alone, can be equated with sex.

  • If you end up alone with someone at either of your places, make sure they know that that is not on the table (unless, you know, it is...).

  • Since Japanese women tend to act demure and say no when they mean yes, you want to be absolutely sure that your intentions are understood.

  • You can say things like “kimochi warui” (I feel bad/it feels bad) or “uzai” (annoying, but this word is very strong) to get the message through if anything starts.

​

​

Comments

  • Many people will feel completely free to comment on your appearance, whether it’s your weight, your height, your bra size, your hair, your clothes (see below).

  • Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about this, but if certain people do it repetitively, you can at least make them aware of how you feel.

​

​

Discrimination

  • Unfortunately, some people believe that foreigners are “easy” and others idealize or dehumanize us for a variety of reasons.

  • This means getting an array of sudden personal questions or comments from strangers and becoming the target of their attention.

  • Of course, these exchanges are not necessarily sexual in nature, but they may make you feel unsafe or start feeling like microaggressions with time.

  • If this is ever the case, don’t hesitate to speak to others, or even to try to educate the person who’s speaking to you if you have the energy.

  • Gaijin hunters are definitely a thing.

​

​

⚠ Cultural differences

  • Relationships between men and women can be very different than where you’re from.

  • People who see you with women (especially with other foreigners) are likely to think that you’re dating or married.

  • In the same vein, going to a woman’s house (or inviting someone to your place), especially alone, can be equated with sex.

  • If you end up alone with a woman at either of your places, make sure she knows that that is not on the table (unless, you know, it is...).

  • Since Japanese women tend to act demure and say no when they mean yes, you want to be absolutely sure that your intentions are understood.

  • You can say things like “kimochi warui” (I feel bad/it feels bad) or “uzai” (annoying, but this word is very strong) to get the message through if anything starts.

​

​

Comments

  • Many people will feel completely free to comment on your appearance, whether it’s your weight, your height, your hair, your clothes (see below).

  • Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about this, but if certain people do it repetitively, you can at least make them aware of how you feel.

​

​

Discrimination

  • Unfortunately, some people believe that foreigners are “easy” and others idealize or dehumanize us for a variety of reasons.

  • This means getting an array of sudden personal questions or comments from strangers and becoming the target of their attention.

  • Of course, these exchanges are not necessarily sexual in nature, but they may make you feel unsafe or start feeling like microaggressions with time.

  • If this is ever the case, don’t hesitate to speak to others, or even to try to educate the person who’s speaking to you if you have the energy.

  • Gaijin hunters are definitely a thing.

​

​

⚠ Cultural differences

  • Relationships between men and women can be very different than where you’re from.

  • People who see you with men (especially with other foreigners) are likely to think that you’re dating or married.

  • In the same vein, going to a man’s house (or inviting someone to your place), especially alone, can be equated with sex.

  • If you end up alone with a man at either of your places, make sure he knows that that is not on the table (unless, you know, it is...).

  • Since Japanese women tend to act demure and say no when they mean yes, you want to be absolutely sure that your intentions are understood.

  • You can say things like “kimochi warui” (I feel bad/it feels bad) or “uzai” (annoying, but this word is very strong) to get the message through if anything starts.

​

​

Comments

  • Many people will feel completely free to comment on your appearance, whether it’s your weight, your height, your bra size, your hair, your clothes (see below).

  • Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about this, but if certain people do it repetitively, you can at least make them aware of how you feel.​​

​

​

Being a Female Foreigner in Japan

Being a Male Foreigner in Japan

Being a Male Foreigner in Japan

Being an LGBTQIA+ Foreigner in Japan

Being an LGBTQIA+ Foreigner in Japan

Perverts/Chikan/Stalkers & Sexual Harassment

Perverts/Chikan/Stalkers & Sexual Harassment

At School

At School

Within the JET Community

Within the JET Community

In the Wild

In the Wild

On Trains

On Trains

What to Do

What to Do

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence

Being a Female Foreigner in Japan

Counseling

​

​

Prefectural Assistant (PA)

Kevin Lavigne

​

Émilie Lamont-Cardinal

​

​

AJET Peer Support Group

​

​

Facebook Groups

  • If you are female or identify as one, you could reach for peers' support on the following groups:

 

JET Ladies +

​

Shiga JET Ladies

​

Futon Party! ‐ A love/dating discussion group for expat women in Japan

​

​

  • For LGBTQIA+ people:

​

Stonewall Japan

​

​

YouTube Videos

Information for Rape Victims and Verbal Consent in Japan

http://youtu.be/W6e2CMHEoRs

​

​

Useful Links & Support

Useful Links & Support

bottom of page