NextSharkNextShark.com

Japanese Woman Groped on the Train for 6 YEARS as a Teen Writes Book About Experience

Japanese Woman Groped on the Train for 6 YEARS as a Teen Writes Book About Experience

Kumi Sasaki experienced unwanted gropings, or "chikan", from men throughout her teenage years. Once on the verge of suicide, she has now published her harassment tell-all, "Tchikan", to jumpstart the Japanese #MeToo movement.

January 22, 2018
SHARE
A Japanese woman who was
Groping in public transportation, or “chikan”, is an arguably tolerated phenomenon in Japan. Schoolgirls are common victims, usually of overworked men seeking outlets to release stress.
In the aptly-titled “Tchikan,” Kumi Sasaki shared stories of the daily groping she suffered from the ages of 12 to 18 — her middle and high school years, according to Courrier.
View post on Twitter
She recalled her first chikan incident (translation via SoraNews24):
Subscribe to
NextShark's Newsletter

A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories, in under 5 minutes.

Get our collection of Asian America's most essential stories to your inbox daily for free.

Unsure? Check out our Newsletter Archive.

“The fingers of his unfamiliar hand went inside the collar of my blouse. Then he touched my back, he touched my legs, my waist, even my butt. He placed his hand directly under the cheeks, quietly raising up my skirt by just moving his fingers, and he touched my left thigh under my skirt.”
View post on Twitter
That would only be the beginning of Sasaki’s nightmares. Over the next six years, she was groped and by men of all ages, from the late teens to their 70s.
The endless chikan eventually took such an emotional and mental toll on Sasaki that she thought of killing herself; thankfully, she confided in her friend about the harassment, and through their bond she was saved.
View post on Twitter
Sasaki, who now lives in Paris, published the book in French. The title sees a growing success since its launch in October 2017.
She hopes that by putting her book out there, many with similar groping and harassment experiences will be inspired to have courage and finally come forward. It’s her way of starting Japan’s #MeToo movement!
Tchikan
The title, co-authored by French writer Emmanuel Arnaud, is available on Amazon France.
Featured Image via Twitter / Makio35Pon
MOST READ
    HAPPENING NOW
      Carl Samson

      Carl Samson is a Senior Editor for NextShark

      SHARE THIS ARTICLE:

      RELATED STORIES FROM NEXTSHARK

      Support
      NextShark's
      Journalism

      Many people might not know this, but NextShark is a small media startup that runs on no outside funding or loans, and with no paywalls or subscription fees, we rely on help from our community and readers like you.

      Everything you see today is built by Asians, for Asians to help amplify our voices globally and support each other. However, we still face many difficulties in our industry because of our commitment to accessible and informational Asian news coverage.

      We hope you consider making a contribution to NextShark so we can continue to provide you quality journalism that informs, educates, and inspires the Asian community. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. Thank you for supporting NextShark and our community.

      © 2023 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.