Older men up in arms over slovenly female behavior

Wednesday 08th July, 01:01 PM JST

It’s an increasingly familiar sight during the rainy season: a young woman, seated on a train, gripping the handle of her umbrella vertically between her knees. But as she begins to doze she relaxes her grip, and her legs drift apart.

Physician and author Kimihiro Yoneyama, 57, finds himself aghast at the spectacle of these “kasa-mata onna” (women with umbrellas between their thighs), and when it comes to complaining, he doesn’t beat around the bush.

“Especially when they wear skirts, it’s a problem of where to direct your eyes,” Yoneyama grumbles to Sunday Mainchi (July 12), adding it would be more appropriate for them to carry folding umbrellas.

Rakugo comedian Yonesuke Katsura, 61, is another middle-aged male who disparages what appears to be a decline in female modesty in public. While aboard the JR Chuo line between Shinjuku and Kanda stations, he looked on in amazement as a young woman applied cosmetics. During a span of approximately 20 minutes, she completely transformed herself.

“I can’t understand this. She had no awareness that she could be seen by other people. They might as well yank out their false teeth in front of everyone,” Katsura grumbles. What a change from the good old days, when Japanese brides were even advised to avoid letting their husbands peer at their sleeping face.

Another of Katsura’s pet peeves is the clatter generated by women’s casual footwear —especially mules, which produce a terrible racket when the wearer descends the steps at a rail station.

“Who do they think they are, the ‘oiran’ on parade in Yoshiwara?” he asks, making a reference to old Edo’s highest-ranked courtesans, who used to appear in public processions wearing enormous, stilt-like wooden clogs. “Some women wear mules to the office too. I feel like telling them, ‘You’re not on holiday at some oceanside villa!’”

Sports commentator Takenori Emoto, 61, meanwhile, is unhappy over women’s shrill voices.

“You drop into an izakaya and they are really loud. On occasion, I’ve even asked the staff, ‘Has your shop been booked for a private party?’ And if I request one to tell her companions to turn down the volume a bit, she’ll just get angry.”

Emoto also complains that more women charge straight ahead like they own the sidewalk, expecting others to move out of their way.

Meiji University professor Takashi Saito offers an analysis of what’s behind these changes in female behavior. “As with the old expression ‘bojaku bujin’ (outrageous or imprudent), it’s come to this because women feel no awareness over being observed by others. They’re concerned about those in their circle of acquaintances but have no consideration for anyone else. The trend is to treat others as if they didn’t exist.”

Well, it’s one thing for males to mutter on the pages of a magazine; but the next time they encounter a woman doing something they dislike, can they summon up their courage and tell her off?

Probably not a good idea, advises Saito, who warns such criticisms might be construed as sexual harassment.

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Latest 15 of 105 Total Comments Show All

isthistheend at 02:18 PM JST - 13th July

Its a simple act of being bored. There's absolutely nothing for them to do to enjoy themselves, no jobs to improve themselves and almost no hope for any future beyond having kids. Now whose fault is this? LDP/DPJ or the society as a whole?
realist at 02:24 PM JST - 13th July

Japanese women in their twenties and thirties are scary - small wonder that many Japanese young men seem to be giving them a miss and becoming herbivorous. They are loud, selfish and downright rude, and their anti-social behaviour on trains, applying makeup like they were in the abthroom, is disgusting. Sad to see Japan changing for the worse.
griff at 06:50 PM JST - 13th July

i've never understood the hatred about women putting on make-up on trains. have a little heart. women are expected to look beautiful, but are expected to insert extra hours into the day in order to do so. i'd hate to have to lose an hour of sleep every day in order to make myself more acceptable to society. sure, you can say its their choice, but remember that beauty is one of the few things that can open doors for women in this country
dpurcell84 at 07:11 PM JST - 13th July

I think I agree with the sentiment here that Japanese men are, for the most part are Selfish, rude, unmannered, pretentious little piss ants, like that loud Chihuahua at the park. The feeling is something I have a hard time describing. There is no way a Japanese male could criticize the ladies here in society about social manners. And please before you get on my case for “generalizing” I said for the most part, not all. No wonder it's so easy for a "gaijin" to find a nice lady (not from roppongi) to date.
Lordelpuz at 08:34 PM JST - 13th July

The behaviour of the typical Japanese of either sex on public transport is still far far better than in the UK. The lack of consideration for others here, especially in London, is appalling. It's still a joy to travel round Japan.
moonbeams at 11:15 PM JST - 13th July

Way to go promoting misogyny, JT

There is the most disgusting article I've seen, ever. Shame on you.
JayIsOK at 02:43 AM JST - 14th July

The rise of rudness is worldwide. Manners are not being taught anymore.
Beelzebub at 10:47 AM JST - 14th July

i've never understood the hatred about women putting on make-up on trains. have a little heart. women are expected to look beautiful, but are expected to insert extra hours into the day in order to do so.

Griff, if you follow that logic, what's to prevent people from peeing on the floor of the train? Personal ablutions and bodily functions are supposed to be done in PRIVATE. And moonbeams, rather than b**ch over a "disgusting article," perhaps you should take the trouble to observe some of the disgusting behavior that prompted it to be written in the first place.
kyolicious at 01:06 PM JST - 14th July

Putting on makeup is nothing like peeing. If it were, I could only imagine how awkward it would be to get your makeup done professionally.

I too have never understood the outrage over women doing makeup on the train. Unless she's splashing powder on you or spritzing you with scent or hairspray, it does NOT infringe on your space, and it's hardly "gross" to watch. And it's pretty rich that this is coming from the same people who stumble drunkenly onto the trains, leer, spit in the station, reek of alcohol, and pick their noses in marathon sessions (and then touch things). Meanwhile I get the stinkeye from them when I put on some chapstick?? Come on. Apples and oranges. These men would benefit from that whole noticing the log in your own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else's.
Beelzebub at 10:28 AM JST - 15th July

Unless she's splashing powder on you or spritzing you with scent or hairspray, it does NOT infringe on your space, and it's hardly "gross" to watch.

No, sorry, I disagree. There used to be a social covenant that we dress, wash, eliminate, hold telephone conversations (YESSS!!!), etc., in private. It's either all or nothing, because once the walls come down, they start going down everywhere and things go from bad to worse. People are making unauthorized incursions into the territory of others. It's unacceptable. And I tell them off every chance I get, by the way. I asked the police and they told me as long as I don't threaten or insult, it's within my rights to address strangers about public behavior I find objectionable. If they want to gather their make-up implements and look for another seat, they are welcome to do so.
griff at 01:04 PM JST - 15th July

people only object to telephone conversations because they can't hear the other half of the conversation. thus, their desire to eavesdrop is left unsatisfied.

anyway, considering the other things we see in public on a daily basis, i still find the uproar about women putting on make-up to reek of thinly veiled sexism. yes, you must look beautiful, no i will no make any allowances in order to allow you to become so...
leitmotiv at 02:09 PM JST - 15th July

Ha! I'll try to care about this affont to decorum that the poor, hapless "older men" are forced to endure the next time I see all those older men on the crowded hibya line with a finger stuck into ear or nose to the 2nd knuckle rooting around for some elusive, crusty booger - right in front of everyone.
mottoyukkuri at 10:30 AM JST - 23rd July

This is a ridiculous, ridiculous article. The author should be ashamed for purporting something like this as "news."
tranel at 09:52 AM JST - 30th July

Let's just say that older Japanese men are NOT entitled to ranting about the behaviour of young women here. As for idiots complaining that applying makeup in the train... well a) it is not the same as "peeing", b) have a heart will you, why do you need to force them to get an hour earlier just so that they can "look beautiful"? Sexist..
jwswiss at 02:21 PM JST - 31st July

Yeah, I completely understand these old men. Who do these young women think they are, thinking they can "do what they want", "have rights", and "fall asleep on the train without having perverts look up their skirts". They should all be locked in towers, and definitely not be educated. Put them back in their place, oyaji-san.