A young girl is knocked over at Tokyo crossing – what’s behind Japan’s ‘bumping’ trend?

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Justin McCurry in Tokyo and Tania LeeMarch 12, 2026 at 06:00 AM

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A trend of deliberate bumping incidents, known as "butsukari otoko," is emerging in Japan, with a recent video of a woman shoving a young girl in Tokyo's Shibuya crossing gaining widespread attention. These incidents, which first gained public awareness in 2018, involve people intentionally bumping into others in crowded public spaces like train stations. While men are more often reported as perpetrators, women are also involved. In May, a professor was arrested for assaulting passersby in Fukuoka, and other incidents have occurred near train stations, prompting preventative measures like lane dividers. A recent survey indicated that 14% of respondents had been victims of bumping, while 6% had witnessed it. Experts attribute the trend to a combination of gender dynamics and the stresses of modern life.