"Don't Want to Be Misunderstood as Sexual Harassment" Men-Only Tram Sparks Debate in Japan

Japan Yakja Male Center operates 'Men-Only' Tram
"Male-Centered Society" Criticism... "Fear of False Accusations"

A tram line in Japan recently made headlines by operating a 'men-only' car for one day.

A man who boarded the 'men-only' tram operated for one day on the 18th.
[Photo by stain_7, X (formerly Twitter)]

On the 18th, the Japan Vulnerable Men’s Center rented the Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) to operate a tram exclusively for men. The organization also held the same event on World Men’s Day last November and Father’s Day on June 16 this year.

The Japan Vulnerable Men’s Center, established in 2019, is a nonprofit organization that highlights false accusations of sexual crimes targeting men and supports socially vulnerable men.

The 'men-only train' operated that day carried 12 participants and 25 people including the press, departing from Minowabashi Station and running for about 50 minutes to the terminal Waseda Station.

The participants discussed the necessity of men-only trains and gender equality. Among them, Mr. A, who boarded the train, said, "People should know that a considerable number of men ride this train out of fear of false accusations of sexual crimes," adding, "Molesters don’t ride men-only cars, so even if false accusations increase, molesters ultimately do not decrease."

The public relations officer told the Sankei Shimbun, "We have been appealing not for female or male preference but to eliminate discrimination, and finally our intent has been understood." They also stated plans to hold similar events in the future and to request railway companies to introduce 'men-only trains.'

The Herbivore Men Phenomenon Deepens in Japan... About 40% Are 'Motesolro'

A sign indicating the operation of a 'men-only' tram for one day on the 18th.
[Photo by stain_7, X (formerly Twitter)]

Recently in Japan, terms like 'vulnerable men' and 'herbivore men (Soushoku-dan)' have started trending. Searching 'vulnerable men' on social networking services (SNS) reveals numerous posts certifying 'vulnerable men,' such as "Women feel like imaginary beings from anime" and "I have never dated a woman even once."

According to the 'White Paper on Gender Equality' released last year by the Japanese Cabinet Office, 39.8% of Japanese men in their 20s responded that they have had zero dating partners, meaning they have no experience in romantic relationships and are 'motesolro' (never dated). Among men in their 30s, 34.1% responded similarly.

The Cabinet Office white paper also states that currently over 30% of single male households and over 50% of single female households in Japan earn less than 3 million yen (approximately 29 million KRW) annually. Especially among those in their 20s, the proportion of unemployed or non-regular workers is higher than in their 30s and 40s, resulting in many struggling financially. Experts analyze that this leads to a tendency to view marriage and even dating as luxuries.

Meanwhile, when the center first planned to operate the 'men-only train' last November, it faced criticism such as "promoting a male-centered society" and "neglecting women."

In response, the center rebutted, saying, "There are sexual crimes where women are perpetrators and men are victims," and "People should also know that a considerable number of men ride this train out of fear of false accusations of sexual crimes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.