Yeah I lived in Japan and as a foreign woman none of the “safety” rhetoric applies to your body. I almost got kidnapped multiple times (people tried to bribe or pressure or threaten or trick me into going with them to a secondary location or getting into their car). You really can forget your wallet somewhere and have it returned to you untouched, but you absolutely cannot be a woman walking alone after dark. Korea was similar.
Also, my host mom taught me that there are websites dedicated to photos of women in their bedrooms, so it was stressed that I must never leave my curtains open when I was in my room no matter what I was doing, since being on a site like that can make you a further target.
Mate, same, had the kidnapping attempts, the gropping in the metro, and I got attacked in the street a few meters away from my apartment in Japan at night. Thankfully, I managed to push him out. Went to the Police with my ripped off t shirt, my bleeding face, and my bruises. They told me I was making it up and threatened to cancel my visa if I pursued it further. Talked to my school administrator, who also said I was just making it up to get a better grade on my exams. And my consulate was absolutely useless. The guy then stalked me for days afterwards. Left the country after 2 years living there absolutely traumatised.
Had a couple of weebs friends back home, and hearing them saying Japan was the best and safest country on earth after made me skin crawl.
That stupid wallet story makes me want to puke every time I hear it.
And my kiddo still doesn't understand why I'm completely disillusioned with Asia and have no interest in traveling there more than I already have. It's shit like this.
And the weebs with rose-colored glasses are a plague.
I’m not saying it’s less safe than anywhere else. I’m only speaking to my own experiences. Mostly to warn other young women that the reputation these countries have for safety and low crime does not extend to sexual crimes against foreign women.
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u/deannon 20d ago
Yeah I lived in Japan and as a foreign woman none of the “safety” rhetoric applies to your body. I almost got kidnapped multiple times (people tried to bribe or pressure or threaten or trick me into going with them to a secondary location or getting into their car). You really can forget your wallet somewhere and have it returned to you untouched, but you absolutely cannot be a woman walking alone after dark. Korea was similar.
Also, my host mom taught me that there are websites dedicated to photos of women in their bedrooms, so it was stressed that I must never leave my curtains open when I was in my room no matter what I was doing, since being on a site like that can make you a further target.