From the 18th, a women-only car was introduced on the Toei Oedo Line during the morning rush hour to prevent molestation on the train.

Women-only cars were introduced on the Toei Oedo Line, which operates during the morning rush hour on weekdays.



Specifically,


trains departing from Hikarigaoka Station between 7:00 and 8:30 in the morning for Roppongi and Daimon, and


▽ trains for Iidabashi and Ryogoku between 7:15 and 8:10 in the morning. This train departs from Tochomae Station, and the 4th car of the 8-car train is exclusively for women.



On the morning of the 18th, at Tochomae Station, female commuters were getting on and off immediately, and station staff were guiding passengers.



According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau, out of the four metropolitan subways, only the Shinjuku line has introduced women-only cars so far, but due to the ease of congestion in the train due to the corona crisis, it is the most used. It means that we decided to introduce it on the Oedo Line, which has many customers.



Regarding the Asakusa Line and Mita Line, which have not yet been introduced, we will continue discussions with the railway companies that have mutual connections.

Group that has requested "Society as a whole to take measures against molestation"

Regarding the introduction of women-only cars on the Toei Oedo Line, members of an organization that has requested the Tokyo metropolitan government and the metropolitan assembly to introduce them have voiced their desire for society as a whole to take measures against molestation. was



The Japan Youth Council, a general incorporated association whose members include high school and university students, has collected online signatures and requested the Cabinet Office and others to strengthen measures against molestation.



Furthermore, in June last year, I submitted a petition to the metropolitan assembly requesting the introduction of women-only cars on all lines of the Toei Subway so that women can use public transportation with peace of mind.



The petition was unanimously adopted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly in October last year, and after that, the metropolitan government announced that it would introduce women-only cars on the Toei Oedo Line.



Runa Serigano, 20, a member of the team who was involved in the request for the introduction of the Oedo Line and who attends a university in Tokyo, said, "If the train becomes a scary place and you can't use it, it will be a big hindrance to your life. I think the introduction of women-only cars is a big step forward in protecting the right to safe transportation."



On the other hand, in order to eradicate molestation damage, it is necessary to take drastic measures such as instructing perpetrators to prevent recurrence. I urge you to take it seriously.



Serigano said, "I think it's really strange that people are sexually assaulted in their daily lives. Unless everyone changes their mindset, the current situation won't change. If the capital shows its stance, other railway companies and society will I think it will change. I knew that my voice would be heard by petitioning, so I would like to continue petitioning."

Expert `` Women-only cars are shelters, measures to eliminate molesters ''

Yayoi Matsunaga, representative director of Osaka's General Incorporated Association Molestation Prevention Activity Center, which is working on measures against molestation, points out that it is necessary to increase the number of women-only cars on other routes and time slots.



Matsunaga said, "We've heard from high school students that they're having trouble finding women-only cars in the evening, so I'd like them to be introduced not only during the morning rush hour on weekdays, but also during the rush hour to go home." It is ideal to have it on the trains of Tokyo, so we need to increase it on other lines."



On the other hand, some people oppose the introduction of women-only cars, saying that it is discriminatory against men.



Regarding these opinions, he said, ``Some say that women are given preferential treatment or that men are discriminated against, but that is not the case. I want you to look up and understand," he said.



On top of that, he said to railway companies, ``Women-only cars function as shelters and have a certain effect in deterring molestation, but they are not a fundamental solution. We are dealing with it, but I would like you to take the damage of molestation more seriously and think together about measures to actively eliminate molestation."