"... most men, even good caring men, have no clue what we go through on a daily basis..."

[MicaelS]

157. I'm speaking as an American man...

Who has never been to Japan, but likes aspects of Japanese culture. So I don't hate Japan.

From what I have read, and heard from friends who have visited Japan, some Japanese men have a real problem keeping their hands to themselves. Men groping women in the crowded subway cars is a real problem, and that is why the women's only cars were introduced.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women-only_passenger_car

Groping in crowded commuter trains has been a problem in Japan; according to a survey conducted by Tokyo Metropolitan Police and East Japan Railway Company, two-thirds of female passengers in their twenties and thirties reported that they had been groped on trains, and the majority had been victimized frequently. Authorities have been unable to control groping activities, as trains are too crowded to identify the perpetrators, courts have traditionally been lenient, and victims are too often ashamed to come forward. The police and railway companies responded with poster campaigns to raise awareness and tougher sentences, but have been unable to reverse the trend. In 2004, the Tokyo police reported a threefold increase in reported cases of groping on public transportation over eight years.

Women-only cars have received positive reaction from some men and some women. Women cited safety from gropers, as well as not having to tolerate various smells. Men cited not having to worry about false accusation of being a groper.

However, passengers complained about further overcrowding in mixed cars, and feared that women who ride mixed cars would be putting themselves at more risk than before.

http://www.odditycentral.com/pics/japans-anti-groping-women-only-train-cars.html

It’s a known fact that Tokyo is overcrowded and that is most obvious during rush hour, when professional pushers shove people into train cars so the doors can close properly. Unfortunately this is the kind of environment where perverts thrive. Usually most people mind their own business, reading a magazine, checking their email or talking on the phone, but some men prefer to talk dirty to the women next to them and groping them. This kind of molestation or “chikan” as the Japanese call it, happens every day in Japanese major cities, and lost of women choose to be quiet and bear it, because of the way male-dominated Japanese society functions. But ever since Japanese railway stations introduced the women-only train cars, they don’t have to, anymore.

With groping being so popular, the first female-only cars were apparently first introduced in 1912 on the present Chuo Mine Line to prevent men from Looking at the beautiful faces of young female students, but it was discontinued in 1973. Modern-day women-only train cars were introduced in December 2000 in response to complaints about drunk men groping women during the “bonekai”party season. It proved effective to some extent and other companies followed the example introducing their own special cars. Some operate throughout the day, some just during rush hour and are generally found on rapid service trains with longer distance between stops. Unfortunately, not all women fit in the crowded train car during busy intervals, and some have to ride in the normal ones, where the threat of groping still looms. Apparently the best way to handle a groping situation is to grab the pervert’s wrist, jerk his hand and scream “chikan” since this kind of embarrassment tactic is very effective in Japanese society. However, gropers know most Japanese women are too ashamed to react in public. Small children, senior citizens and men with disabilities are the only ones allowed on the women-only cars.

That, and the fact some middle aged Japanese men like to read manga like The Rapeman in public, probably does not help to inspire confidence in Japanese men.