Violence on Japan's Priority Seating: Woman Hit by Elderly Man for Using Phone
A recent incident of violence occurred in Hokkaido, Japan, involving priority seating. According to reports, a woman in her 50s was assaulted by a 75-year-old drunk man who struck her in the ribs for using her phone while seated in the designated area.
This incident took place around 9:20 PM on May 27, on the Sapporo City Subway's Tozai Line. The woman was using her phone when the elderly man suddenly attacked her.
After the assault, the woman demanded that the man get off with her at “Nangō-dori 18-chōme Station” and sought help from the station staff. The police arrived and arrested the elderly man, who was found to be intoxicated. The man stated that he attacked her because he could not accept her using a phone in the priority seat.
The police confirmed that the suspect and the victim did not know each other. The Sapporo City Transit Bureau has urged the public to refrain from using phones or to set their phones to silent mode near priority seats.
