Commonplace Molestation?

[aquamarine]

For the longest time I've understood that the Japanese are fairly lax as far as nudity on the TV (ie: topless) is along with nudity/sexuality in books/magazines etc, but one thing has always perplexed me. I've began digging through my room-mates authentic japanese phone-book manga (and hentai - thank god for no sticky pages) and I've run across what I would consider too much 'groping' and rape in these books.

For example, what looks to be a schoolgirl gets on a train and is molstested by a man here, gropped by a man there and it only gets worse. Can someone PLEASE tell me that this is not common place, let alone accepted by the Japanese society at large?

Just a thought mind you, but one that I hope isn't true.

[Andocrates]

It's just fantasy, although why Japanese men like this is another story. Manga by it's very nature can't be as sexual as full color photos and computer displays, so they have to titillate with eroticism. i.e. dickgirl manga, tenticle manga etc.

Groping on the train is still pretty common. But you have to experience first hand how crowded trains are here. (tip don't stand in front of the platform or the crowd surge might push you off) Some of the more crowded trains actually have guys who push you more tightly into the train. If there is a girl in front of you she will be pressed tight to you, which is hella uncomfortable in Japanese (and Western society) It's easy to score a free feel in those situations, and 90% of the time the girl is not even aware she has been groped, she might think it's someone briefcase or elbow.

Myself, I don't see the thrill in it but I expect it's related to the social hierarchic of Japan.

[Charles]

I was surprised during my last trip into Tokyo, I got groped by a chijo on the Keisei limited on my first train ride, fresh off the plane on my way into town. It was just a little squeeze of butt, but it caught me off guard. I turned around and there were 3 women just standing there looking innocent. The train wasn't very crowded so it was no accident. I guess thats what I get for being cheap and taking the limited instead of getting a reserved seat on the express.

[Andocrates]

It was just playful from the sounds of it, I wonder how the women could keep a stright face.

Did one of those women look like this?

[aquamarine]

So it's not just women that are groped... I can only dread the day that I feel a hand reaching around between my legs, jumping forward only to turn around and see nothing but men... good lord

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

Its a sad fact that tentacle rape in Japan is all to common these days, but hey if you dont like it, dont hand around with high school nerds, who occasionally turn into octopus/demon monsters.
You have to watch out for those guys, man
If you're afraid that you MAY find somthing here in Japan that doesnt fit in with your narrow North American mind-set, then why not stay at home, where nothing will ever offend you ever again.
A bit harsh maybe, but i've just heard about a American guy on vacation here, who went into an AV store and asked if they would take the magazines out of the window, in case his wife got offended as she walked by.
Hmmmm i wonder if is a big Michael Moore fan?

[Andocrates]

Its a sad fact that tentacle rape in Japan is all to common these days, but hey if you dont like it, dont hand around with high school nerds, who occasionally turn into octopus/demon monsters.
You have to watch out for those guys, man
If you're afraid that you MAY find somthing here in Japan that doesnt fit in with your narrow North American mind-set, then why not stay at home, where nothing will ever offend you ever again.
A bit harsh maybe, but i've just heard about a American guy on vacation here, who went into an AV store and asked if they would take the magazines out of the window, in case his wife got offended as she walked by.
Hmmmm i wonder if is a big Michael Moore fan?

I hardly think a dislike of rape and molestation constitutes a "narrow North American mind-set"

[AssKissinger]

I hardly think a dislike of rape and molestation constitutes a "narrow North American mind-set"

Maybe not but trying push uptight suburban values on people in another culture in another country in another language is pc American arrogance at its worst.

[aquamarine]

Justin: firstly, you sound like a jack-ass so buzz off. I'm not trying to change anyone's values or push mine on you so piss off.

As for the other replies, I have no intention on staying home, I was simply wondering if being GANG-RAPED while riding on a train is normal, but I guess in Justin's mind, it is.

Good enough replies for me though, thanks.

[Jushin-Thunder-Liger]

[Big Booger]

The thing is many Japanese themselves find that kind of shit disgusting.. It's only warped fuckbrains that like that crap anyway. Or teenagers/young men who don't have a clue about the opposite sex.. because they've been isolated since junior high..

I personally don't give two shits about those fuckers reading that crap. Let them read it. I have a problem when it's plastered in my face, the guy next to me is reading it non-discretely, it's sprawled out in the konbi racks in plain view.. I'd have an even bigger issue with it if I had a child and they were exposed to that smut, but that really applies to all porn in general.

But thank god I live in a little boondock town and that kind of shit is really not an issue..

Move to the boonies if you want to get away from that smut in your face all the time ordeal. LOL

[jim katta]

Aquamarine, you asked a perfectly reasonable question, I'll try to answer your question, and hold on attemtping to read all manner of things into the question itself.

Basically, yes, those publications are VERY common and are read by about 60-70 percent of the salary men (read: male office workers) I see riding home on the train. There's one (name escapes me) that is so popular and bound so stylishly, salary men seem to almost take pride in reading it in public. But make no mistake, most of these books are Filled with rape scenes.

I was quite surprised myself when I saw magazines in public stands on the street that appear to feature underage girls posing in skimpy swimsuits. While in most places in the West this kind of thing would raise all kinds of red flags, in japan, it's socially acceptable to sexualize underage girls. I disagree with this, but at the same time, I'm not about to become the crusader of Japan feminism & child protection or something. When and if the women of Japan get fed up with it, truly, they'll make a stand (I'm sure some already are).

The first thing you'll have to get used to in Japan is accepting the fact that Japan is a Man's world, in every way you can imagine. Check the tourism stats of Japanese women coming to the U.S. and you'll find that women leaving Japan outnumber the men about 3-1. Most I've spoken cite their move as being because there aren't that many non-traditional roles made available for women in Japan. Sure Japanese women own shops and run businesses, but mostly, women are encouraged to play a certain subserviant role in Japan's society.

Having said all that, keep in mind that Japan remains one of the safest places in the industrialized world, so they 'are' doing 'something' right sociologically. And just to add a bit of irony, even though I'm a pretty big scary gaijin, I too have been groped by women on the train in Japan. Dude, just accept the weirdness, work your way around the too weird parts, and make your own evaluations. Most of all, smile and have fun, Japan rocks.

[djgizmoe]

Dude, just accept the weirdness, work your way around the too weird parts, and make your own evaluations. Most of all, smile and have fun, Japan rocks.

Great post, Jim. Just wanted to state that sleazy manga is absoulutely not limited to men. Remember, there is a HUGE "Boys Love" comics industry for women. For some reason, some girls here love gay high school boy romance stories, many of which seem to feature younger sempai being harassed and raped by their kohais until they learn to appreciate 'manly' love.
The bottom line is that the stories are COMPLETE fantasy (like tentacle rape for guys), and most Japanese seem to be able to seperate those fantasies from the realities of acceptable human behavior. Unlike the U.S. (do you remember when MTV made Beavis stop saying "Fire!" after that little kid burned downed his house and blamed it on the tv?)...

[Charles]

The bottom line is that the stories are COMPLETE fantasy (like tentacle rape for guys), and most Japanese seem to be able to seperate those fantasies from the realities of acceptable human behavior.

Yeah right. Maybe you can explain that to Seito Sakakibara.

[djgizmoe]

The bottom line is that the stories are COMPLETE fantasy (like tentacle rape for guys), and most Japanese seem to be able to seperate those fantasies from the realities of acceptable human behavior.

Yeah right. Maybe you can explain that to Seito Sakakibara.

Well, it's not like any country is without its criminally insane. And I did say "most Japanese"
I, on the other hand, after seeing Urotsukidoji when I was 19, have quite successfully patterned my sexual habits after Asmodaemonic multi-mega-phallic demi-god behavior, though I have yet to disembowel any nurses or high school girls (unless you're speaking metaphorically, of course ).
Go figure...

[aquamarine]

OK, at least Im prepared now. And as for Justin's latest post, can someone else verify that I'll end up seeing quite a few gang-rapings while I'm there, AND expected not to do anything about it?

"oh lookit that, another girl is being viciously raped by 3-4 guys... oh well, she probably deserved it"

[canman]

Don't talk about small mindedness or narrow North American views in Japan until you have read this article. Its the same thing. I think Aquamarine has a valid point about the popularity or a rather vulgar form of entertainment. There is a place and a time for all things, but for some reason Japanese feel that out in public is the best place for viewing these sexual manga. I can't believe they don't feel the least embarressed, when reading this stuff, especially when there are women and children on the same trains with them.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20040627x1.htm

[jim katta]

I've gotta admit that when I first saw "Urotsukidoji" years ago, I couldn't believe my eyes--I had no idea what I was getting into when I popped that tape in. First I was shocked, then I just laughed at how over the top it was. And the dialogue--funny as sh-t! After seeing that film, I pretty much stopped watching anime because I couldn't imagine seeing anything wilder, I figured I'd seen it all after that.

[maraboutslim]

Don't talk about small mindedness or narrow North American views in Japan until you have read this article. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?fl20040627x1.htm

Well, what I got out of that article is that even if you are a New Yorker and have a masters in English from UC Berkeley, if you live in Japan for 30 years your writing will read like something that has been translated from modern Japanese pop-fiction into English (i.e. very small vocabulary and overly simple sentence structure - think of the translation of Kitchen, for example).

Of course I saw this happening to myself and I only stayed 6 years. But if I were this cat's editor, even at the Japan Times, I'd throw it back at him and tell him to go rewrite it so it sounds like it was written by a grownup.

[gkanai]

Check the tourism stats of Japanese women coming to the U.S. and you'll find that women leaving Japan outnumber the men about 3-1. Most I've spoken cite their move as being because there aren't that many non-traditional roles made available for women in Japan. Sure Japanese women own shops and run businesses, but mostly, women are encouraged to play a certain subserviant role in Japan's society.

Here's the basic overview of that data:
http://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/IB/ib-05.html

Jim is certainly right about the gender imbalance on Japanese leaving Japan though. It's one of the more interesting stats on Japan.

There's other interesting trends too: the majority of "international" marriages are Japanese men from the countryside who marry East, or Southeast Asian women ('cause the Japanese women don't want to work in the fields and have either moved to the city or moved overseas) but that is neither here nor there.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

Another joke thread this is. [yoda voice]

Every country has it own flavour of porn. I myself find some american porn one of the most unplesent in the world[thats not just the lack of creativity either]

THe sexualisation of young girls is universal. Most american porn that totes itself as "teen titties" features women over forty. Truely disturbing "what a con". Plus America is no saint. Take for example the sex tourism that goes on an mexico. They may not be traficing young girls. Instead they take their business out of the country as not to get caught.

What I hate the most is BDSM. How could you inflict damage to another person.

Anyway back to Japanese porn... Some of you people havent a clue. Tentical porn is not because salery men get off to tenticals. Its because of censorship issues. At least of you are going to talk about a topic get your facts right[saying that I know it has become an accepted genre (not as good as ascii art though)]

Besides, nobody here really cares what goes on in Japanese porn. Its only bloody comics. Often Gaijin, because they are not used to looking at japanese women, get confused as to whether the porn is actualy underage or not. Here is a link to a popular Japanese manga website. Take a look and decide for yourself if it is underage or not. Confusing isn't it.

http://www.mandarake.co.jp/english/contents/lolicon/

Again back to american porn. Who ever invented MILF should be shot. I never want to see that crap again.

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

Engrish word of the day: hinky-pinky

[aquamarine]

Good links and good posts. Thanks again folks. I think we are slightly getting off topic though. Although I make reference to anime/manga in my initial post, I was primarily curious as to if this gang-raping, rail-way-rape, and the such actually occur on a regular basis, and as I had also mentioned, I'm not about to start throwing my values or beliefs at anyone here.

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Philip Brophy did a good talk on the sexual overtones of manga at the Melbourne International Film Festival a couple of years back. Can't find the notes for it but did find SONIC - ATOMIC - NEUMONIC: Apocalyptic Echoes in Anime and a piece on Seijun Suzuki that are related to this thread.

Have I seen any four pronged demon rapes in Japan? Not yet.

[mercutio]

Good links and good posts. Thanks again folks. I think we are slightly getting off topic though. Although I make reference to anime/manga in my initial post, I was primarily curious as to if this gang-raping, rail-way-rape, and the such actually occur on a regular basis, and as I had also mentioned, I'm not about to start throwing my values or beliefs at anyone here.

No it doesnt actually happen anymore than it does in the US... probably less than in the US... but there is a clear proclivity for portraying forced sex in various media far more often than is seen in the US.

The only time you'll see a rape on the train will be when its in a manga you read over some salaryman's shoulder...

[GomiGirl]

Good links and good posts. Thanks again folks. I think we are slightly getting off topic though. Although I make reference to anime/manga in my initial post, I was primarily curious as to if this gang-raping, rail-way-rape, and the such actually occur on a regular basis, and as I had also mentioned, I'm not about to start throwing my values or beliefs at anyone here.

I have lived in Japan for around 5 years and I have been travelling to Japan for many years before that starting in 1987. To my knowledge I have never witnessed a gang-rape or rail-way rape. I once saw somebody be groped by a creep and said creep was dragged off the train to the station master and undoubtably to the police by a group of other passengers.

BTW as an Australian I have never seen kangaroos jump down the main streets in Sydney despite the common belief in other countries that this happens.

Sorry that people are making fun of you but please use your common sense. Japan is a developed country with a reasonably effective legal system and a fairly civilised society. Do YOU think that gang rape would be accepted daily behaviour in a civilised country?

[cliffy]

[quote=""GomiGirl
BTW as an Australian I have never seen kangaroos jump down the main streets in Sydney despite the common belief in other countries that this happens. :[/quote"]

Well I have seen Kangaroos bounding down the main street of some rural cities and the only people reacting with a WTF??? were the locals. The visitors all thought it was normal.

It was a local prankster's idea, stupid bastard

[AssKissinger]

younger sempai being harassed and raped by their kohais

Sempai is older. I think you got your terms mixed-up.

BTW, I think it's cool when people openly look at hardcore porn in public places.

[djgizmoe]

Nope, never saw a gang rape in Japan, or even heard of one except for rumors of female bosozoku initiations...and of course our 'super free' friends at Waseda...
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4276&highlight=waseda+rape

[dimwit]

A friend of mine picked a woman who had been ditched in the mountain after a gang rape. She wouldn't go to the cops because she had been threatened:(

I have heard of at least two very reliable stories of passed out women being raped in gaijin bars.

So it is very common, and 99% unreported.