Sexual damage of Japanese students The perpetrators are expatriates What happened in a strange land ... February 17, 12:00

"I was sexually assaulted by a local Japanese expatriate I was relying on."

"

I was called to a party of the Japanese Association at a different time and suffered sexual violence."

Voices of people who have been victims of sexual violence at their study abroad destination.

When an organization made up of university students who have studied abroad conducted a questionnaire survey, more than 200 cases of sexual damage at the study abroad destination were received, and a serious situation became clear.

Many students give up studying abroad due to the influence of the new coronavirus, so that no one will give up their dreams for unreasonable reasons.

We interviewed the students who stood up.

(Atsuko Shinto, Reporter, Faculty of Science and Culture)

* This article contains a specific description of sexual violence.

Studying abroad with a dream From a trusted expatriate to sexual violence

Kaho (a pseudonym in her early twenties), who attends a university in Tokyo, studied abroad in Europe for a year until the summer, hoping to learn a language in order to be involved in conflict resolution and humanitarian assistance in the future.

Shortly after arriving at the site, I was approached by a Japanese man as I was walking around the city.

A representative who was dispatched from a major company and is staying with his wife and children.

He was fluent in languages ​​and was told, "If you have any problems, please tell me anytime", and Kaho thought that he might be able to learn about his career.

A week later, Kaho was invited to a meal.

The expatriate enthusiastically asked me why I chose to study abroad and my dreams for the future, and encouraged me, "I'm in business, but I was inspired. I'll support you."

After that, he taught me how to avoid troubles with local people and supermarkets that handle Japanese food.

In addition, the children of the expatriates attended a Japanese language school where Kaho works part-time, and they often met each other during the transfer, so they were completely trusted.

Mr. Kaho (pseudonym)

"I'm glad that the Japanese expatriates who are active overseas are affirming me. I'm glad that other Japanese people are going back and forth between my homestay and the university. I didn't have the opportunity to get to know him, and as I was contacted regularly, I was the only one I could rely on at my study abroad destination. "

It's been four months since I met, and the end of the year.

"I'm making Japanese food, so come and eat. You can watch Japanese TV," he invites me to my house.

Knowing that it was time for her wife and children to return to Japan temporarily, Kaho suggested, "Why don't you go to an outside restaurant?", But she is said to have been invited many times.

Kaho couldn't refuse, fearing that future relationships would be cracked.

Then, when he visited his home, he suddenly said, "I'm okay, so trust me," and he was forced to have sexual intercourse as if he had become a different person.

Even if Kaho cried "Please stop", he was not accepted as "I will get used to it after a while".

The expatriates did not even try to use contraception because they were going out, and Kaho was afraid that the other person would become more violent and could not escape.

He said he thought it was the best way to endure until the end and return as soon as the other person was satisfied.

Mr. Kaho (pseudonym)

"I was desperately thinking not to reverse the other person on the spot. No matter how much I cried, I couldn't reach the other person at all. I tried to tell myself that it wasn't a big deal, but I also felt guilty about the other child. I made my dad a bad person. I should have refused it properly. I was full of regrets. "

Sexual harassment damage from other expatriates

At the beginning of the year, a New Year party was held at the Japanese Embassy with the participation of local Japanese people.

Mr. Kaho who participated in wanting to make a connection with Japanese people other than the expatriate who perpetrated.

Expatriates in their 40s and 50s were encouraged to introduce themselves and talked about their dreams for the future and the purpose of studying abroad.

However, Kaho is shocked there.

He was forced to drink, saying, "I don't care about such serious things," and he was touched by me, saying, "Take care of my uncles every night," and was thrown with humble words.

She felt it was sexual harassment.

There were many people there, such as embassy staff and expatriate wives, and there were women, but none of them helped, and one woman said, "You can be young." ..

For the first time, Kaho realized that this was strange.

Mr. Kaho (pseudonym)

"I feel like I have only value as a'young woman'. I thought that such harassment is in the old values ​​that are commonplace, so I can do that kind of thing. I finally realized that I was only looking at women as things. "

Kaho told an older Japanese woman she met locally that she was not good at the expatriate community.

Then, the woman gave the name of the expatriate who forced Kaho to have sexual intercourse and said, "I ran away because I was invited by rice and was about to be kissed. That person is dangerous, so be careful." I told you.

Kaho, who learned that the expatriate was repeating the same thing, confessed the damage to her woman.

She then asked her to go to the hospital because she asked her, "Is she menstruating?" And she also needed a venereal disease test.

She said, "It could lead to infertility in the future. Just in case you were pregnant." It is said that he was full of confusion and anxiety.

Mr. Kaho (pseudonym)

"I realized for the first time that there was a danger to my body because of the strong persuasion of a woman. I sincerely think that there is no such thing. "

The actual situation of sexual damage at the study abroad destination highlighted by the questionnaire survey

Kaho felt that he couldn't do it as it was, and when he posted the sexual damage he suffered and the unreasonable situation on SNS where international students gather, about 100 people sent messages.

There were many voices saying, "You are not bad" and "Getting proper counseling," as well as "I suffered similar damage."

I want to clarify the actual situation of sexual violence at the study abroad destination.

Approximately 10 people who have studied abroad, including Mr. Kaho, gathered and conducted a questionnaire survey on the Internet from May to July.

<Details of the questionnaire survey can be read here>

* Leave the NHK site

516 people, including international students and those who have studied abroad, responded.

There were 157 cases of sexual damage at the study abroad destination, and 216 cases were reported including the cases of seeing and hearing the damage.

It was also revealed that the damage is occurring all over the world, and that the number of damages is higher than the number of international students in Europe, Latin America and Africa.

More than half of the Japanese perpetrators are "expatriates" from companies, trading companies, and international organizations.

Next were "friends / acquaintances" and "local employment".

In addition, nearly 60% of the victims answered that "there was no one to rely on."

In many cases, there are no acquaintances or close friends at the study abroad destination, and it has become clear that it is easy to solve problems when faced with them.

In addition, many urgent voices were written in the free text box.

"I was put in a weak position as a young international student who knew nothing."

"Even if I told them about the damage, I couldn't get them to deal with it."

"A local foreigner told me that Asians are sex workers. I was touched by my ass. "

" I was sexually harassed by my host family. "

Kaho and his colleagues say that they read each and every one of the descriptions with the feeling that their chest was tightened.

Azusa Saito, a certified public psychologist who conducts research on sexual violence damage and supports victims, and a full-time lecturer at Mejiro University, points out that the perpetrators are using their social status and relationships.

Certified Public Psychologist Azusa Saito, Full-time Lecturer at Mejiro University

"It's hard to guess how lonely and uneasy I was overseas when I don't understand the language. It is natural that there is a difference in relationships and it is not possible to refuse. Immediate measures are required to protect international students. There are many compositions in which the perpetrators take advantage of their own advantages and use relationships that are difficult to refuse. I don't agree with sexual activity, even if I go home. Please don't blame yourself for the victims. "

Creation of "Sexual Violence Countermeasure Manual for International Students"

Kaho and his colleagues created the "Sexual Violence Countermeasures Manual for International Students" based on the various voices received in the questionnaire.

It was because I wanted to protect as many international students as possible from the damage of sexual violence without wasting the voices gathered.

<Details of the manual can be read here>

* Leave the NHK site

▽ Sexual violence from

Japanese people "Do not trust the other person too much because you are Japanese and keep a proper sense of distance"

▽ Sexual violence from foreigners

"What country do you dislike in Japan?" I don't like it even if it's done. "

" Clearly say NO, it's okay to run away. "

On top of that, it is important to inspect immediately when sexual violence occurs, to have multiple people who can consult, and if the perpetrator is punished as "the perpetrator can be punished", dignity will be restored and society will be trusted. Introducing what you can do.

In addition, we advise you to find out about the contact information of Japanese-speaking medical facilities, university study abroad support offices, and after-pills at your study abroad destination, which you can contact immediately in case of emergency.

Mr. Kaho consulted with a Japanese lawyer, and after several months of negotiations, he received a compensation from a representative.

The expatriate admitted that he had invited him to sexual intercourse, but said he was still uncertain about his consent.

She then apologized, "I'm sorry for the hurt."

Kaho (pseudonym)

"I didn't want to fall asleep, and after going through the procedures, I thought I wasn't bad, but I'm disappointed that I had to spend an important time studying abroad."

I haven't been able to tell any of the damage to my family who were worried about studying abroad.

Kaho is trying to move forward because he has a hard time and still does not want to give up his dream of working in the field of humanitarian aid.

I also passed the language test I was aiming for.

I want no one to have the same feelings as me.

Kaho and his colleagues wrote at the beginning of the manual:

We international students study abroad with courage and determination.

No matter where you live, your dignity is guaranteed and you have the right to live as a human being.

We, who suffered damage while studying abroad, have a message that we would like to convey to you before traveling to the world.

I want you to know that there is malicious sexual violence that can occur while studying abroad.

So that young people who will lead the future can study abroad safely.

Atsuko Shinto , a

reporter at the Ministry of Science and Culture

,

joined the company in 2009

.