I think a reason for why western people (incl women) might say they feel safer in Japan is because the misogynistic environment and potential crimes to look out for are different. In my experience it's just less overt in Japan, compared to Germany for example. https://twitter.com/annaPHd9pj/status/1297013443149496320

What I mean by that is: in Germany the things I was conditioned to look out for, or that made me feel unsafe were: cat calling, drunken men in crowded places or any man if I walked alone at night, the danger of leaving your drink unguarded in a club and getting drugged etc.

I wouldn't say none of this is happening in Japan but I've experienced all of these situations as less potentially dangerous in Japan (this might have to do with being the same height as many men here and thus less of a "perfect victim")

However there are many potential dangers here that it took time for me to understand: under-skirt photos, men potentially placing cameras in public places (but also private ones. in a sharehouse of a friend a guy who lived there was found to have put a camera in the bathroom),

Perverts and potential rapists targetting women who live alone via checking the laundry they put up or following them home, groping on public transport. + Studies about underreporting of rape and dv AND low prosecution rates in case of it even going to court.

I think it's not about Japan being safer/unsafer than other countries. you just need a different kind of guard in different environments AND in both environments many men aren't aware that we walk around constantly using part of our brain to constantly check for these dangers.

Anna in the original Japanese tweets tells her experience of entering a restroom at a Conbini after a man had left it before her and because he lingered around she felt unsafe, had her friend stay close by the door and checked the inside for cameras.

These are the kind of sensors we have to use in order to feel safe or protect ourselves from potential harm. Is every man a danger? No. But we can't be sure he isn't? No. We definitely can't risk being not careful enough.

However what struck me about Anna's tweets was that I realized that this situation would have not triggered MY sensors in the same way. I'm still not used to expect cameras as part of a potential danger. Just like quite a few Japanese friends who got their wallets stolen in

Germany did not have the same sensors for pickpocketing, because it happens less here. If you're lucky and despite not really being careful with your wallet you never get it stolen you might think "what's the big deal?". But things still happen even if we don't experience them.