Around 4,600 police officers will be on duty this weekend in Japan , 40% more than in 2025, to combat a recurring and unpleasant criminal phenomenon : sexual harassment of female students on their way to exam centers . The phenomenon, known as “ chikan ,” refers specifically to non-consensual groping that occurs in crowded public places—most frequently on trains and subways during rush hour —and is most prevalent during the national university exam session. The massive deployment of law enforcement, notes the Mainichi newspaper, coincides with an increase in the circulation of explicit posts on social media , as is common practice in the run-up to the “Common Test for University Admissions,” containing specific information on the train lines serving women's universities .
Among the posts flagged by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in early 2025, for example, are phrases such as " Exam days are perfect for harassment " or " Lines to women's colleges are ideal targets ." These criminal incitements, the Mainichi emphasizes, are based on cynical considerations: it is assumed that victims, fearing being late, will avoid reporting the attack. Earlier this week, the Japanese capital launched a prevention program with awareness campaigns promoting anti-crime apps—which allow users to sound silent alarms or display help messages directly from their smartphones—while law enforcement officers have stepped up patrols on trains, terminals, and railway hubs near exam centers. Assistance has also been provided on public transport, with sound announcements and themed signage developed by the transport company Jr East and several private operators.
To protect applicants, the National Center for University Entrance Examinations has clarified that those who have been subjected to a crime may take a supplementary test . Furthermore, its website explicitly recommends appearing in civilian clothes, since "school uniforms make students easily identifiable, increasing their vulnerability." Despite the general perception of safety in Japan, according to the most recent data from the national police, approximately 2,000-3,000 chikan crimes are officially recorded each year, resulting in arrests or reports. However, according to a 2024 government survey, approximately 80% of victims do not report the incident to the authorities, for cultural reasons or general embarrassment, contributing to a significant underestimation of actual cases.
