A Japanese woman who was groped on the train for six long years just published a book that chronicled her horrifying harassment experiences.
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.
#Tchikan #harcelement #sexuel #train #city #tokyo #enfant #kid #sexual #harrassment #littlegirls #school #ecole #danslarue #stopAuxfrotteurs pic.twitter.com/xzvjbHEvW4
— Kumi Sasaki (@KumiS_TCHIKAN) October 27, 2017
She recalled her first chikan incident (translation via SoraNews24):
“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.”
#TCHIKAN
「山手線で6年間、痴漢に遭い続けた私の#MeToo」 #日本人女性 が #フランス で“#チカン”本を出版し、現地で大反響を呼んでいる https://t.co/vW15mo0i7g— person (@baezjoansong) January 17, 2018
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.
「6年間ほぼ毎日電車で痴漢被害を受けた」という佐々木くみさん。私なら痴漢にあった次の日からジーンズを履いて行くか、車両を変えるか、親に送ってもらうか、バス通学にしますね。出した本がフランスで大反響だそうです。日本人女性は自立心が無さ過ぎるという驚き。#MeToo pic.twitter.com/Ef8bdOWGhB
— ？ (@Makio35Pon) January 20, 2018
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!
The title, co-authored by French writer Emmanuel Arnaud, is available on Amazon France.
Featured Image via Twitter / Makio35Pon