crime

Policewoman grabs groper on train

29 Comments
By Casey Baseel

Police in Hyogo Prefecture have arrested a man suspected of being a "chikan" (someone who gropes unsuspecting women on crowded trains). The suspect’s capture wasn’t the result of a sophisticated sting or surveillance operation, though.

As a matter of fact, the arresting officer didn’t even have to chase the man down, as the police claim he was caught red-handed when he grabbed the behind of a fellow passenger who’s also a policewoman.

Part of the reason some chikan get away with their crimes is that Japan’s packed commuter trains can be crowded enough to make identifying and physically apprehending them difficult. On top of that, whether they’re conscious of it or not, the offenders are often exploiting Japanese societal values.

Since conflict is to be avoided, many people won’t raise a ruckus unless they’re absolutely sure someone just copped a feel, and they’re also 100% confident who it was. At the same time, Japanese culture’s emphasis on not causing trouble for others often manifests as not sticking your nose into their disputes, so a woman who decides to confront a chikan can’t always count on her fellow passengers to lend a hand.

According to the arrest report, at around 7:55 a.m. on Dec 3, a 21-year-old policewoman with Hyogo’s Kawanishi police department was riding a limited express train on her way to start her shift. Somewhere between Kobe and Sannomiya stations, two of the busiest stops on the Kobe Line section of the JR Tokaido Line, the officer felt someone touch her behind.

Following the hand to its owner, the officer claims she found 35-year-old Masaaki Ukai, a resident of Himeji City. “You’re a chikan, aren’t you?” she asked Ukai, and took him into custody before he was booked by the prefecture’s Fukiai Precinct.

Media outlets report that upon learning the woman was a police officer, Ukai’s “spirits sank.” A trial date is yet to be set.

Sources: Nico Nico News, Livedoor

Read more stories from RocketNews24 -- Osaka police sergeant arrested for putting smartphone between woman’s legs on train -- Head patrol officer goes on a molesting spree, ‘Just couldn’t forget the soft, tender feeling’ of a woman -- “Women who attract chikan, and women who don’t”: The illustrated guide that’s provoking debate

© RocketNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

29 Comments
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Media outlets report that upon learning the woman was a police officer, Ukai’s “spirits sank.

Wish I could have seen that. The look on his face must have been priceless.

17 ( +17 / -0 )

I think that the National Police Agency should devote more undercover teams of a two females to apprehend these sick individuals and plaster the program ALL over ALL train lines. Show a packed train car and have a caption with

"Can you spot which are Metro COPS? Neither can anyone else!"

10 ( +13 / -3 )

I hope he learned a lesson.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Considering the Japanese legal system, this guy will have a lot of time to think about his misdeed. Also, I'm not sympathetic towards this guy, but I'm curious: will he lose his job? And, if this goes on his record, how will he ever get another job?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

upon learning the woman was a police officer, Ukai’s “spirits sank.”

!!!!!!!!!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

upon learning the woman was a police officer, Ukai’s “spirits sank.

And more that just his spirit sank, says I.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

It would be fiting to classify perverts like that as sex offenders.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

It would be fiting to classify perverts like that as sex offenders.

Aren't they already?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@PaulVulaj - gropers are sex offenders. In the UK they are put on the sex offenders register if convicted.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

As a matter of fact, the arresting officer didn’t even have to chase the man down, as the police claim he was caught red-handed when he grabbed the behind of a fellow passenger who’s also a policewoman.

Oops

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Its about time Japan started a sex offenders register like we have in the UK

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What Mr. Perfect said

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I watched a rather tall and good looking detective take a man out for doing it to a junior high girl. She was crying. This cop was so cool.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

If I were in that position of authority I would've exercised my right in giving him a steel-tipped boot to the you-know-wheres. "Like his hand, my foot just slipped"

Don't you mean he violently attacked the tip of your foot with his groin?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

An epical "oops" moment. Would have loved to see that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Policewoman grabs groper on train

Did she grab him by his butt off to the police station to show him what it feels like

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If I have to stand on a train in Japan I stand at the doors and either hold the strap or face the doors. Last thing I want to do is be blamed for that kind of thing.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I was in Tokyo for a week, and there was only one time where the train was so crowded that I felt it necessary to have BOTH hands on the strap/bar. It's hard to get accused if both your hands are in the air. (Not IMPOSSIBLE to get accused, but it sure makes things more difficult for the accuser.)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

f I were in that position of authority I would've exercised my right in giving him a steel-tipped boot to the you-know-wheres. "Like his hand, my foot just slipped"

Good luck trying to do that in a crowded train with 3" clearance around you. Would be funny to see though :)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It has nothing to do with police woman's size as police women are usually trained to be police. USA has sex offender list and the usualy gave some kind of ancle (leg) tags to let anyone knows he is a sex offender. In my area, they have to report to some kind of office periodically. That was after spending in jai

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@lostrune2DEC. 08, 2014 - 07:10PM JST Policewoman grabs groper on train

Did she grab him by his butt off to the police station to show him what it feels likel.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Unfortunately to your wish she grabbed his hands, to arrest.' She is a police woman, She did not satisfy yiur wish.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

lol. apparently, "Hands up" has a different meaning in Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"I don't know why so many guys like doing this. It's pretty crowded, I'll just try it this one time. Oh crap".

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

If I have to stand on a train in Japan I stand at the doors and either hold the strap or face the doors. Last thing I want to do is be blamed for that kind of thing.

Do ya keep a girl between ya and the doors

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Jason GomezDEC. 09, 2014 - 04:41AM JST lol. apparently, "Hands up" has a different meaning in Japan.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

I don;t know if Japanese cops say Hand Up. (Te-o Agero). like USA where many criminals carry guns, More likely Give me Your hands (Te o Dase) to arrest him.

Tall or short, Japanese female cops are quite athletic, Remind you, Japan is a land of Judo and Kunoichi.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Most of the policewomen I have seen here were quite small. I wonder how it was so easy for her to take him in.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

If I were in that position of authority I would've exercised my right in giving him a steel-tipped boot to the you-know-wheres. "Like his hand, my foot just slipped"

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Good on this police woman for catching the guy, and hope the scumbag gets his. I think they need to have more police women riding the trains during rush hour for this exact purpose, and it would certainly be warranted given the frequencies of chikan groping people on trains. My only surprise in reading this is that the scumbag she nabbed was not a fellow officer doing the groping.

"Since conflict is to be avoided, many people won’t raise a ruckus unless they’re absolutely sure someone just copped a feel, and they’re also 100% confident who it was. At the same time, Japanese culture’s emphasis on not causing trouble for others often manifests as not sticking your nose into their disputes, so a woman who decides to confront a chikan can’t always count on her fellow passengers to lend a hand."

I think that's a mistake often made by people who generalize about Japanese societal norms. It's quite simply a lack of support for women on such crimes, and a history of degrading and searching through the sexual history by men in uniform of those women who DO have the courage to come forward. Fortunately, that's changing, and while there is also the other extreme in that some men not guilty of the crime are automatically guilty until years of trying to prove their innocence (and some are even set up, as we've seen of late) and falsely accused and lives ruined, I hope that more and more women come forward if/when assaulted, and that others don't just sit there and do nothing but at the very least speak up. I once chased a chikan I saw pleasuring himself behind a young woman on an escalator and while he got away from me due to the crowd, you should have seen the absolute look of fear on his face when I called him out and when he bolted.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Policewoman grabs groper on train

Reverse groping?

Hope she had strong fingers.

As a matter of fact, the arresting officer didn’t even have to chase the man down, as the police claim he was caught red-handed when he grabbed the behind of a fellow passenger who’s also a policewoman.

In addition to the red hand, some blue balls would make for a colourful story.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I prefer to stand in the last compartment near guard's cabin window in Tokyo metro. I think thats the safest place save you from become a chikan. and yes don't forgot to turn your face toward Guard.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

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