Man with low vision speaks out after being attacked in train station toilet in Tokyo

TOKYO – A Japanese man in his 50s with low vision, whose seven white canes have been broken in the last 15 years, is determined to no longer remain silent about the violence against him and people like him, even though many still feel helpless.

In Tokyo in September, a man was suddenly kicked from behind by an attacker he could not see in a subway station. Blind or partially sighted people who are subjected to similar attacks often prefer to remain silent. However, this time his action led to the arrest of the suspect. Looking back on the incident, the man said, “I want people to know that many people who are blind or partially sighted are verbally abused or have their white canes broken.”

He was attacked in the station toilet

According to the man, on the evening of September 3, he stopped by alone at a multi-purpose toilet on the platform of Toei Subway’s Jimbocho Station in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward. He has a retinal disease that is difficult to treat and can only distinguish between light and dark. When he moved his white cane left and right in front of the toilet, which he used frequently, he realized that the door was closed. He waited, leaning the cane against the door.

After the door opened, he entered the toilet. Suddenly he felt a shock from behind and stumbled forward. He gripped his white cane tightly and held on, but his backpack momentarily slipped off his back and shoulders. He didn’t understand what happened, but then he thought he was kicked.

The man said, “Who did this!?” he asked. and I called out loudly to the station staff as I walked across the tactile flooring of the platform. He asked the station attendant what time it was and to call the police. The police arrived about five minutes later. The man was not injured and his cane was safe.

Security camera recorded the attack

About a month later, a suspect in his 30s was arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) on suspicion of assault. According to MPD’s Kanda Police Station, the suspect was using the restroom when he heard the sound of a white cane hitting the door and was recorded telling investigators: “I stopped going to the bathroom halfway because I felt rushed.”

Although the suspect generally accepted the allegations, he is seen saying, “I kicked his backpack, but I don’t remember kicking his body” and “I remember seeing an old man carrying a backpack when I opened the toilet door.” He had a cane, but I didn’t know he was a partially sighted person.” The police released the suspect and are continuing the investigation voluntarily.

In this case, a nearby security camera recorded the entire scene. “The presence of security camera was an important factor (in the arrest),” the police station said. However, as security cameras can only store images for certain periods of time, police are urging the public to “report incidents as soon as possible without hesitation”.

They are all helpless

Recalling the incident with anger, the victim was worried that he would be exposed to the same situation again until the suspect was arrested.

Although he was exposed to such violence for the first time, 7 of his white canes have been broken since he started using them about 15 years ago. The canes got stuck in bicycle and car wheels and broke when they hit pedestrians. In most cases, the other party ran away without saying anything.

The man also collided with people standing on tactile sidewalks and was told to “get out of his way” or “walk faster.” Although he had difficulty saying anything at first, the man changed his mind and began speaking after the stabbing of a guide dog and the murder of a female student at a school for blind or partially sighted people in Saitama Prefecture about 10 years ago. He kicked his leg in a tactile pavement. His brave actions led to the arrest of the suspect in the Tokyo attack.

When they told blind or partially sighted acquaintances about the attack, some said they were verbally abused or punched after hitting others. One woman even experienced being held in someone’s arms. The man emphasized: “These are everyday events and those affected have to endure them in silence. That’s why I want people with low vision and normal vision to know about my experience.”

‘Have the courage to act’

According to the Tokyo-based Japan Federation of the Blind, out of about 2,000 examinations it receives each year, only a few cases involve problems such as “My white cane got stuck in the car and broke” and “I was scolded.” While walking with a white cane, I hit a parked car.” It is thought that there are many cases of victimization without consulting the group.

Yoshiki Takeshita, 73, a lawyer and federation president, also has plenty of experience with his white cane breaking and the person causing the damage running away. In response to the recent incident at the subway station, Takeshita said, “I hope such an unreasonable lack of understanding will be remedied, the safety of blind or partially sighted people will be protected, and they will no longer be victimized. I feel unhappy.” “If you are victimized, I hope you have the courage to take action, such as reporting damage, to change society.”

(Japanese original by Hitomi Tanimoto, Tokyo Staff, Braille Mainichi Department; and Atsushi Matsumoto, Tokyo City News Department)