Man arrested for spitting on woman's clothes inside train car

Hayakawa has denied any knowledge of the event.

... but when pressed by police admitted to feeling unduly stressed of late.

Is this news? Don't the police have more pressing issues to deal with than analyzing saliva to catch someone who spat on a person?

So, next time you are talking to someone, all those bits of saliva flying from your mouth could lend you in jail. I am looking at you, my coworker that just spilled my coffee...

And is spitting a chargeable offence?

Its technically assult

Trivial complaints often result in meaningless and harmful laws being enacted. Hopefully incidents such as this do not cause such a response.

Wow in some articles I read it seems like women can't get a break from the cops who ignore them and their complaints. Now they take DNA from spit samples?? This is futuristic! Now be very careful where you sneeze today people.

Are they testing DNA all the time now?

The problem with out host country is that "shitsurei" or insulting is often the basis of and cause for arguments and conflicts that can result in unwanted actions. What I would interpret as a false sense of pride cased upon "appearance" of oneself in the view of others often result in these frivolous charges. Such thought probably came from those samurai days where status and stature was all so important in a rigid structured society.

A major problem for men in Japan is that the Japanese society has adopted the US concept of "lady" first and the various women's rights laws as a moral, ethical and legal "ideal" where men are "supposed" to be always a "gentleman", an "atarimae" vision. And with the adaptation and interpretation of the similar laws in Japan without consideration of the social impact and differences in culture, the laws were adopted with "idealized" legal interpretations which tend to indicate "benefit" women more than men.

People forget that "rights" are "earned" and that as long as there are "relationships", there are "responsibilities" that are "shared". From fulfilling those responsibilities, an agreed upon rights are earned. The key is in the agreement. That agreement always require a dialog. And dialog require communication.

Are they testing DNA all the time now?

LoL. @Megumi, should you be worried?

Headline is misinforming. -_-

The guy was arrested on something unrelated, and a DNA test found that his spit was on the woman, so they arrested him on this charge.

Headline makes sense to me.

People forget that "rights" are "earned" and that as long as there are "relationships", there are "responsibilities" that are "shared".

You hit the nail on the head @kazetsukai.

And is spitting a chargeable offence?

I would imagine that placing or putting your bodily fluids on anyone with out their consent would be viewed as assault.

And is spitting a chargeable offence?

Spitting on an item of clothing possibly constitutes criminal damage in some jurisdictions.

You don't mind if somebody deliberately spits on you? Only a samurai would? Piffle and nonsense. Women needed stricter laws here especially to protect them on trains. Do you not know why? Spit is maybe the least offensive thing they are likely to find on their cardigan. Better than a hand or semen I suppose. People need to take responsibility for their behaviour in public. Male and female. Men especially though need to stop being abusive though women in Tokyo can be just as rude. What is it with the new fashion/ignorant habit of always wearing your backpack?

technically, the little old lady elbowing you out of the way to get a seat is also assult.

And is spitting a chargeable offence?

Absolutely, he would be charged with assault.

kazetsukai: A man spit on another person for no reason. Even WITH reason, it's still assault. Gender hardly matters here, and most certainly the dinosaur views of old men don't negate the fact that this guy spit on her, and he is being charged as such. Are you suggesting he should be let go because she is a woman? maybe she should be honored and bow at his feet before returning to the kitchen?

@AlgernonF

You don't mind if somebody deliberately spits on you?

I, personally, most certainly WOULD mind - especially here in Japan where it's not just "spit" that men "heave up" from the bottom of their lungs... absolutely revolting !

Thank you all for reading my entry and for the responses. Your no confidence points and comments also indicate that you have seriously considered the contents of what I wrote. That is in itself an honor.

Bio-hazard that "spit" is, is definitely of concern and depending on circumstances may have to be considered. Here the incident was reported almost a year ago and no action taken till recently only because of a DNA test. The problem is in defining intent and actual harm done.

I happened to see it as a matter of hurt pride rather than a criminal case. Simple wiping and washing the garment probably took care of the initial problem as one would have a water puddle being splashed by a passing car. If it was intentional and if there were hazardous material which caused harm, I would not have discussed the controversial issue of certain "bias" that exist in every country that seem to bring up this kind of issues which interpreted from idealistic legal and ethical view, it may be considered otherwise.

Bio-hazard that "spit" is

Hepatitis may be transmitted from saliva- scary.

The question is did he spit on her intentionally in anger, as a fetish, by accident while inebriated or sprayed while yawning or speaking.

Ugh. Nasty. But I think it's a sign of progress in this country. I started my working life in Japan on the horrid subways of Osaka, and I can personally can remember a time when spit itself wasn't a problem, it was something somewhat south of "spit" ... and we still didn't bother going to the police because we knew we wouldn't get taken seriously (I could write a book, really). So I'm glad that women are actually taking action now.

What I would interpret as a false sense of pride cased upon "appearance" of oneself in the view of others often result in these frivolous charges.

So......what you are saying is that the woman reported someone gobbing on her to the police based on a false sense of pride due to the way she looks resulting in a "frivolous charge"??!!!

A major problem for men in Japan is that the Japanese society has adopted the US concept of "lady" first and the various women's rights laws as a moral, ethical and legal "ideal" where men are "supposed" to be always a "gentleman", an "atarimae" vision.

I actually don`t think 99% of Japanese men ever got that memo!

But if you would like to include in the label of being gentlemanly and "atarimae" NOT gobbing up on someone then yes, I think most societies including Japan would agree that`s not a hugely difficult concept for most normal people to grasp.

People forget that "rights" are "earned" and that as long as there are "relationships", there are "responsibilities" that are "shared". From fulfilling those responsibilities, an agreed upon rights are earned. The key is in the agreement. That agreement always require a dialog. And dialog require communication.

Are you sure you live in Japan??! True many "rights" are inherently "earned" (like the right to kick the crap out of your children, the right to bully kohai, and it would appear the right to spit on complete strangers) but there often isnt a lot of the shared responsibilities thing going on. Or should the woman have agreed in advance through dialogue with the fellow train passenger that he wont spit on her in return for...what? Her everlasting gratitude?