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A man accused of groping a woman aboard a train attempted to flee by jumping onto the tracks and was hit and killed by a train at Aobadai Station in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Monday night.
According to police, the incident occurred at around 8:15 p.m. Fuji TV reported that a female office worker in her 30s accused the man, also in his 30s, of groping her while she was heading home on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line. The woman confronted the man and, with the help of another passenger, took him off the train at Aobadai Station.
Police said a station employee came to help. The suspect denied touching the woman, broke free and jumped onto the tracks. At that moment, a train arriving at the station hit the man from behind. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Media quoted one eyewitness on the train as saying, “I heard the woman let out a scream behind me and when I turned around, she was holding onto a man’s sleeve. Another commuter helped the woman take him off the train at the station, where a station employee detained him. But he got free on the platform and jumped onto the tracks.”
Train services were delayed for about two hours after the incident.
Since March, there have been at least eight cases in the Kanto region in which accused gropers jumped onto the tracks to escape, police said.
© Japan Today
52 Comments
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thepersoniamnow
Cameras in trains! They are everywhere already. I do not want my life ruined by a false accuser.
sensei258
I would I would think the way she screamed and grabbed the guy, that it was a legitimate complaint. If so, he was stupid for doing it, and even more stupid for not looking before jumping. Not worth dying just to grab a handful of somebody's butt.
smithinjapan
Gosh... these guys... I understand sexual desire and finding someone attractive. I do NOT understand not being able to control it, and being dumb enough to think you can just grab someone or otherwise assault them. Then, even dumber still to jump onto active train tracks? I doubt this is what the guy was thinking his day would be like in the morning. These people need to THINK!
Goodlucktoyou
Playing too many games and reading manga can damage your social skills to the extent, being on a crowded train is your only social event. Anable to grasp normal human inter social norms and behavior, they grasp for something else...
sensei258
IIf you really can't get over the desire to grab somebody's butt, there are plenty of establishments where you pay a cover charge for drinks and the company, which would include the groping, just sayin
jcapan
"I do NOT understand not being able to control it"
But you probably have regular unpaid contact with women. And I trust you haven't spent a decade or more consuming vast quantities of chikan manga/porn. Add a few after-work pints and an extremely crowded train to the mix and behold the impaired judgment.
Blacklabel
Well I guess that should be the end of this new technique to escape. I do think some of these charges are true, some are incidental contact and some are straight up false. But no way to really know without cameras in all trains. I feel sorry for people falsely accused as that is really hard to fight to prove you didnt do it. But I hope this ends the jumping on the tracks and delaying everyone's train for hours phenomena of recent weeks.
Harry_Gatto
Assuming of course that he was the guilty party and not the guy standing next to / behind him. High-mounted cameras would have hard time spotting a groper on a really crowded commuter train.
yokohamarides
More reasons to ride your bike to work.
pacint
Maybe he read JT and followed the advice 'to run if accused of groping'.
Feel sorry for everyone involved.
nakanoguy01
this was bound to happen. a copycat fleeing groper was eventually going to get run over and killed. maybe now these idiots will stop jumping onto the darn tracks.
smithinjapan
jcapan: "But you probably have regular unpaid contact with women. And I trust you haven't spent a decade or more consuming vast quantities of chikan manga/porn. Add a few after-work pints and an extremely crowded train to the mix and behold the impaired judgment."
How does any of that make it fathomable? They have choices every single step of the way for the choices you mention (save perhaps the unpaid contact with women). I understand the justifications they might give, and the ills of society here that sometimes lead to such things, but the "I can't understand" means cannot fathom why.
gogogo
TThey wonder why, there was an article in Friday magazine that was also translated for JT from a JP lawyer that recommended to run.
jcapan
smith, you really struggle with irony bro. I'll leave you alone in the future.
goldorak
What a sad way to leave this world (no headstone epitaph I guess). This is why running is ALWAYS a bad option, even/especially if you haven't done anything wrong.
If you have, well man up and take it on the chin. As for police officers and/or station employees who happen to be on the scene, time to hit the gym and tighten their grip perhaps. I mean how often do we see the alleged accused break free and jump onto the tracks!? It's not if like they didn't know the bloke is going to run/jump.
sandiegoluv
That is sad. If he was guilty or innocent, he was in trouble anyway. As has been often times been suggested, you better run for it if you are innocent, cause the court will throw you in jail otherwise just on the word of the woman involved which is not right.
If he did do it, it is just incredible. How sick can you be to touch anyone just because YOU find them attractive? Truly sick!
If he did it or not, the punishment is still too severe. Once again, I am going to say, that they have to put barriers on the platforms so that people can not get on to the tracks by free will or by falling. It is their responsibility to protect, everyone, including the sick gropers who should go to jail if they are guilty.
dcog9065
Yeah I think we need cameras on all trains going forward. This guy I'd say looks guilty with his fleeing, a tactic espoused previously by some suspect JT posters. Be vigilant and don't allow the groper to get away with his perversions
itsonlyrocknroll
If the man molested this woman judicial process should be observed.
Up until that point this man has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. It follows that he should be treated with respect and dignity.
Did he panic though guilt or through fear that summary justice was about to be dispensed? His death, the sorrow and loss to his family is beyond doubt the most unjust consequence of all.
katsu78
If you can't stop yourself from groping a random train passenger, you can't stop yourself from committing assault. Sexual assault is still assault.
And if you can't stop yourself from committing assault, you need to be institutionalized for your own and society's safety.
Toasted Heretic
Reading manga comics and playing games is hardly damaging. The individuals are probably off kilter to begin with.
Disillusioned
Cameras would not work in packed trains, unless they were on the floor, of course. (Sarcasm)
the incidents of groping seems to be on the increase or, as with child abuse, it could just be many more being reported. Sometimes it is difficult to avoid indiscretions on crowded trains. I always make a concentrated effort to make sure my hands are up high and clearly visible. I do not want to be falsely accused for an accidental indiscretion, which I'm sure many cases are. I have noticed that many women are getting hypersensitive over being pushed and shoved on crowded trains. I had a woman screaming at me this morning because her bag got stuck behind my back as a crowd pushed on at a station. She span around and just started screaming at me. She then slapped me on the shoulder. Thankfully my hands were held high so there was no chance of a false groping accusation. I just changed carriages at the next stop
I think the only way to avoid these incidents is to separate the genders I'm quite sure the incidents of groping would dramatically decrease in a make only carriage
Strangerland
I wonder if this guy jumped in front of the train on purpose and committed suicide rather than go to jail.
Assuming she got the right guy. But actually the way I read it was that she screamed after he got hit by the train.
Danny Bloom
Another winner of the Darwin awards. He will not be missed.
Goodlucktoyou
@Disillusioned I think all busy train lines should have women only carriages. Not compulsory like in say Cairo, where I accidentally got on a women's carriage and was assaulted all the way to the next stop. It should be an option though.
888naff
Maybe we need men only carriages, so men can ride in peace and protect men:
... from incorrect or false accusations from women,
extortion,
dodgy police that can keep your for days/weeks (criticized at UN – Japanese diplomat underfire for shouting),
treated guilty until proven innocent,
loose your job in the process,
THAT’S WHY lawyers for some time tell you to RUN if falsely accused.WA4TKG
I once had a GIRL do this to ME (Male).....you didn't hear me scream. :)
Mlodinow
Running makes you look guilty no matter what. And unless you've "planned" it well (in which case, you're guilty of course) you'll likely be filmed by station platform cameras, not to mention all the other cctv cameras dotted around the place. If the police come knocking on your door later on you'll fare much worse than protesting your innocence from the start.
I'm not sure why almost half the posters here keep harping on about false accusations. False accusations will happen, but the women who pluck up the courage to ask for help at the time are probably grabbing the hand while it is still groping them rather than simply picking a guy at random and shouting at him. Grow up.
katsu78
Evidence that this actually happens?
"Some" lawyers? I believe you mean "a lawyer". If I recall, not even a lawyer with particular expertise in this field.
888naff
Its been recommended controversially but for good reason ( well bad reason because it a bad system) for some years now. I’m sure Jt has an article on one from several years back, let alone the more recent one you may be just thinking of.
tiger_tanaka
It is very sad that this man was killed by a train. Whether he did grope the female or not no one deserves to die this way.
Sparky Santos
"Clever way to eliminate a business rival" was what I first thought.
Death by train is harsh if this late soul was guilty, and I assume all are innocent until guilt is proven.
pacint
Tiger.
I agree looks like the train hit him from behind.
albaleo
Not disagreeing, but that would raise other problems such as what to do when a mixed group (couples, workmates, whatever) are traveling together. Reducing overcrowding would seem the only real solution, but what would that take?
pacint
Separating the genders don't work.
Right now those cars are either at 1st or last carriage during rush-hour only( mostly morning).
No male child over the age of 12 can ride with their mother in the women only cars.
Many women don't like riding in them.
Groping happens during all hours of the day and in all countries, most of which don't have those cars.
Groping here is not as big a problem as in other countries like India(source femals friends), etc.
Strangerland
I want male-only carriages. Though I suspect they'd be packed to the brim. I hate always having to keep my hands visible when the train is packed.
Jalapeno
Yokohamarides - I tried riding my mamachari to my office once. Took an hour, and I'm more likely to get smacked by a trucker. But I'd be fit as heck, sure.
Strangerland - I second the motion for a male-only carriage. But what if a guy accuses me of chikan-ing him?
sandiegoluv
@Educator60 - I agree with most of what you said, but I have not seen anything yet that suggest that the system has changed very much at all. I certainly hope you are right though.
@Mlodinow - The reason that so many of us are, as you say, "harping on about false accusations" is simply because we have lived her long enough to know that it does happen. It was a very big thing of the past where suddenly a supposed victim of groping's boyfriend suddenly appeared out of nowhere and demanded money. There are cases where men were wrongly accused and there was even a movie about it. It has happened quite a lot of times in the past. Also, just because a woman says she was groped is not enough grounds to believe it. We need proof for all other criminal offenses, but not for groping? That seems strange and unlawful.
You are also assuming that they always grab the hand that is groping them. I don't think you should assume as much.
Grow up? It really is not a matter of growing up or not. It is a matter of proof. Just cause she said this or he said that does not make it true nor should it be accepted as a fact by a court without some kind of proof. Don't get me wrong, groupers should be institutionalized. I don't like them and wish the worst for them.
Frankly, I feel this way because the whole male staff, (15 men) were once accused of sexual harassment over a three year period by one woman who continued to pay for our services but never, ever raised a complaint. All she wanted was her money. You gotta have proof. It was a very, very hard time for us. It still gives me the shivers to think about what happened to us so long ago. You never forget being falsely accused of something like that. Gotta have proof.
Toasted Heretic
Yeah; always good for a laugh, that whole sexual assault lark.
lucabrasi
@Kniknak
Great for two-thirds of the year, but I wouldn't fancy it from June to September. Don't think anyone would want to sit near me, either!
gogogo
Whether you did it or not, if you are accused you are going to have to pay money, no mater what, it is why people run. If I am ever falsely accused I've already decided to start yelling at the person making the claim until they recant their lie.
tiger_tanaka
We still do not know the exact circumstances of what has been reported in this article but I believe that the problem of false accusations from women stems from inequality between the man and woman in Japan. In Japan women are not given the same opportunities as men to earn and for this reason a small minority will resort to extorting money. I believe the problems of false groping accusations will go away by creating a fairer society but it will take time.
afanofjapan
I see a few people accusing gropers of doing it because they cant get a woman normally or doing it because they couldnt resist such a beautiful woman. But i am pretty sure this is nothing about physical attraction or no other outlet. The times i have seen someone get accused (not going to dwell on whether they did it or not, because it doesnt matter here), it was never a beautiful young woman. Its always middle aged women (though this might be because they now have the courage, i'm not sure)
Anyway, my take on it is that it is that they do it for a thrill, and the target is less of a concern than the enjoyment they get out of the risk of being caught. Similar to Kleptomaniacs who steal, even though they can actually afford the things they are taking. In that case it is somewhat of a mental illness, which needs to be treated as such.
On peak hour I ride the train with both hands visible, and i always put my bag in front of me, lest i get mashed up against a woman. As disgusting as it sounds i feel much more comfortable when i am surrounded by guys!!
Toasted Heretic
Why does it sound "disgusting"?
Groping is not the sole preserve of Japanese public transport; it happens all around the world. It just seems to make the news here. Not that anyone should be complacent over the issue, natch.
jcapan
Searched the page for the word "false." 18 so far. Wonder how you guys will feel if it's ever you wife or daughter coming home after being groped. Did the guy run? Are you sure it wasn't accidental? Were you dressed provocatively?
afanofjapan
Toasted heretic in general as a heterosexual male, I prefer to be body-to-body with a pretty female. Something hardwired inside my brain makes me not enjoy being body-to-body with a middle aged business man.
My previous comment was in reference to the peak hour rush, where you are completely pressed against other passengers in all directions. This happens every single morning on my train.
Makkun70
I could hear the unmistakable refrain of the Doobie Brothers as I read this..
frenchosa
If you have access to a shower it isn't all that bad. I enjoyed biking in the rain more than taking a crowded bus and than transferring to a train. If you have multiple transfers, chances are that if you commute by bike it will be very similar in time. If you have the right gear, riding in the rain is fun because there is way less people biking than normal.
sandiegoluv
@jcapan - I don't think that really has anything at all to do with it. Naturally, if our daughters and or wives are not liars we will believe them. . . And if they are not. . . well then, there you go.
I do trust my wife and daughter so I will ask. . .
Did the guy run? Yeah, I will ask that. I want to know where he ran to so I can give him a beating, but that is beside the point, just like the question.
Are you sure it wasn't accidental? Um, I think everyone knows the difference between accidental or not. But still has nothing to do with men being accused of a crime that could ruin his life.
Were you dressed provocatively? Um, only morons would ask that question. Just because a woman is dressed in a certain way, does not EVER give a man a right to touch her. Heck, she could be strutting her stuff down the street naked, and it still wouldn't give you the right to touch her. That is just a stupid excuse that right wing nut jobs give because they are so uptight and want to blame the woman.
My point is this. . . just because a woman SAYS it happened does not mean a thing. You have to have proof for any other crime, the same should also go for groping which is a despicable thing to do. It is so despicable that the person who has done it, either has no shame whatsoever, hence, dirtbag, or the person who hasn't done it but been accused of it, will feel shame the rest of his life if convicted with no proof whatsoever besides a woman's word. Jobs are lost and families are destroyed because it is THAT despicable.
Don't get me wrong... and man who does this is a low-down dirty, despicable and pathetic excuse for a man and deserves to get what is coming. But word is not enough. Like I posted earlier, I and 14 other guys were accused of doing things that we never fathomed of doing. Especially with the person that we were accused of doing it to. She was looking for money and pity and had no conscience whatsoever. We suffered interview after interview for weeks by her lawyers. It was extremely embarrassing for us all. None of it was true and in the end, her lawyers advised her against continuing because things didn't add up. Gotta have proof.
Alphaape
I wonder have these numbers fallen since this guy got hit by the train. If they have, then they have found their perp in those cases.