Latest news with #DigiPolice
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
Japan's maid cafe staff join fight against groping: ‘we won't tolerate it'
Authorities in Japan are facing mounting pressure to curb groping in public places as complaints from victims, including maid cafe staff and high school students, continue to soar. On Sunday, Tokyo Metropolitan Police launched a campaign against chikan – a Japanese term referring to groping or sexual harassment – targeting assaults in crowded public spaces such as trains. Maid cafe staff and students were recently spotted in Tokyo distributing flyers denouncing groping outside the train station in Akihabara, the centre of Japanese anime, manga and gaming culture. 'We won't tolerate groping,' a group of maid cafe workers told news station TBS. The police have designated the first two weeks of June as a special enforcement period to combat molestation, introducing a safety app to enable victims to discreetly report harassment. Many victims typically hesitate to report such incidents due to fear and other barriers, authorities have said. 'If you experience groping or voyeurism, speak up with courage,' said Toyoda Noriaki, a police station chief in Tokyo. 'And if you can't speak, please use the DigiPolice app.' According to police statistics, 2,000 to 3,000 groping cases are reported in Japan each year. Last year, police recorded 725 groping cases across Tokyo, with over 70 per cent occurring in trains or at stations, according to public broadcaster NHK. About half of the victims were in their 20s, while teenagers numbered more than 200.
NHK
5 days ago
- General
- NHK
Tokyo police appeal to public to help stop train gropers
Tokyo police have appealed to the public for help to stop the problem of groping in trains and other places at an event near the capital's Shibuya Station. Police have set June 1 to 15 as a period for a campaign to tackle the problem ahead of the summer when molestation cases tend to increase. Last year, police uncovered 725 groping cases in Tokyo. More than 70 percent of these took place inside trains or stations. Police says many victims find it difficult to seek help because they are afraid, among other reasons. The event organizers explained how to use an anti-groping smartphone app developed by the Tokyo police. The Digi Police app can display a message asking other people for help and blast a voice telling the molester to stop. Flyers were also distributed to commuters and passersby. They call on people to offer help if they spot any potential victims. Actress Imoto Ayaka is encouraging people to download the app. She says the app is easy to use even when it's difficult for victims to raise their voices.
