Japan Weak Men’s Center suddenly cancels men-only train event

Article here. Excerpt:

'Many commuter train lines in Japan operate trains with women-only carriages on a daily basis during the morning and evening rush hours, as a countermeasure against gropers, or chikan, as they’re called in Japanese. Chikan use the crowded conditions onboard commuter trains as cover for their heinous acts, making it difficult to identify or confront the perpetrator before they exit the train and make their escape, and so women-only cars are offered as an option for female passengers who feel more at ease with no men in their vicinity.

However, a non-profit organization called the Japan Weak Men’s Center has, for the last few years, organized a men-only train. The organization insists that this is not a form of protest against women-only train cars, having previously issued a statement establishing its opinion on the matter as “Women-only cars are absolutely necessary so that they can feel secure and safe while riding. Such cars should be provided not just at rush hour, but at all times.” Instead, the professed goal of the Japan Weak Men’s Center’s men-only train initiative is to raise awareness that men too can be victims of groping and other forms of sexual harassment or assault, as well as the potentially ruinous effects of being falsely or mistakenly accused of groping.'