Chikan (noun, Japanese): A person who commits continual public acts of molestation, such as groping on a crowded Japanese train. 1. Take 3 seconds to verify it is actually a chikan Trains coming in and out of Tokyo are crowded, especially during the morning and evening rushes. I’ve mistaken a soft man-purse for a hand once or twice. Each time I was hit by a wave of panic – I had to close my eyes, take a deep breath, and turn around to confirm what was actually happening. And both times it was just a small purse or arm pushed up against my butt – but the “offender” had no idea what they were doing. [Note: I have met one man - and heard of another - who were wrongly accused of being a chikan from a terrified woman. That is not fair to them. The man I spoke to expressed his frustration at being labeled a pervert by a woman who mistook his bag for his hand - and talked about his shame and harassment at the hands of the station attendant and police. There are two sides to every story - but it is absolutely IMPERATIVE that you [...]
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