Press "Enter" to skip to content

Perverts in Shiga Prefecture persevere in spite of municipal mandate

Shukan Jitsuwa Mar. 7
Shukan Jitsuwa Mar. 7
Women in Shiga Prefecture became victims of gropers at such an alarming rate last year that the government issued the Serial Molestation Warning (pdf) in hopes of hindering the harassment.

Yet, reports Shukan Jitsuwa (Mar. 7), the measure has not materialized into much. In Moriyama City earlier this month, 52-year-old Toshikazu Suzuki was arrested for fondling two female high-school students.

“He allegedly approached the two students at around 7 a.m.,” says a national news reporter. “He touched a first-year student on the forehead and breast, saying ‘Aren’t you a bit cold?’ He also grabbed the arm of a sophomore to bring her close and feel her up.”

Suzuki quickly left the scene thereafter but a security camera caught him on tape.

According to the safety planning department of the Shiga Prefectural Police, there have been a total of 30 molestation incidents in the past year (through January) in the cities of Otsu, Kusatsu, and Omihachiman. That figure represents an increase of 12 over the same period one year before. As a result, a citizens action group formed by the prefectural government and police issued yet another warning for residents regarding repeated incidents of molestation for the period spanning between February 1 and 10.

Shukan Jitsuwa wonders why this issue continues to be a problem in Shiga.

“About two years ago, there were discussions on the Internet that the length of the skirts sported by high-school girls in Shiga is the shortest in the nation,” says a local reporter. “While such a claim is groundless, many fanatics from the Kansai area began to flood into the prefecture. This has led to many of sexually charged crimes that target high-school girls, at least that is one of theory.” (K.N.)

Source: “Irei no keiho demo Shutsugen suru nhikanma,” Shukan Jitsuwa (Mar. 7, page 197)