世論 What Japan Thinks

As part of DIMSDRIVE’s 89th Ranking Research they enquired into people’s views on women-only carriages in trains. They asked three questions to women and one to men.

Compared to other bad manners in and around trains, the women-only carriage regulations are surprisingly well-respected, at least on the lines I have frequented, with it being a relatively rare sight to see a man riding on them, even during the rush-hour peak, considering the number who ignore other regulations such as the no mobiles or no talking on the phone signs, or who smoke outside the designated areas.

Also please note that in Q1 the usage may seem to be low, but if one rides outside of peak rush hours, the trains tend to be not so overcrowded so the risk of getting groped is lower, so the figures here should not be taken simply at face value.

There is also a news report from the Mainichi Shimbun via Japan Probe about how groping is down overall in Tokyo, but up on lines with recently-introduced or expanded women-only carriage services.

Q1: Do you use the Ladies Only Carriage on trains? (Sample size=2,352, free answer)

	Votes	Percentage	Available percentage
Always use them (to SQs)	48	2.0%	3.8%
Usually use them (to SQs)	145	6.2%	13.2%
Sometimes use them (to SQs)	511	21.7%	46.5%
Never use them	395	16.8%	35.9%
Trains I use don’t have them	632	26.9%	N/A
Don’t use trains at all	621	26.4%	N/A

The “available percentage” is the percentage for each of the first four answers alone, to highlight usage percentages for those who have the opportunities to ride on these carriages.

Looking at the detailed age breakdown, there is very little variation.

Q1SQ1: Why do you use the Ladies Only Carriage? (Sample size=704, free answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Because it’s safe	191	27.1%
Because there’s space	115	16.3%
No particular reason	81	11.5%
In order to avoid getting groped	42	6.0%
Because it’s just right for my exit	41	5.8%
Because I feel comfortable	33	4.7%
Because I don’t like the aroma of oyaji kusai.	31	4.4%
Because I don’t want to be close to men	25	3.6%

Whether this question was multiple answer is unclear, but I don’t think it is, so perhaps the question was to find out the single top reason women use these carriages.

Q1SQ2: What do you do if a man mistakenly boards the Ladies Only Carriage? (Sample size=704, free answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Glance or glare at him	115	16.3%
Tell him directly	75	10.7%
Inform station staff or conductor, etc	9	1.3%

Older women were slightly more likely to talk directly to the person rather than just casting the evil eye on him.

Now, for the men. The sample was of people who had mistakenly boarded a Ladies Only Carriage.

Q2: When you realised you were in a Ladies Only Carriage, what did you do? (Sample size=319, free answer)

	Votes	Percentage
Soon moved to another carriage	178	55.8%
Got off at the next station	79	24.8%
Just stayed put	42	13.2%