It is illegal in all kinds of places. The question is not the letter of the law but if police enforce the law.

This is Japan, not Spain. I'd imagine the law is enforced pretty strictly like all their social rules are too.

You'd imagine, but do you know for sure? As an Spanish guy living in Japan, I can tell you that I see plenty of laws consistently broken here in ways that would never fly in Spain. For example, the way the average Japanese drives, or the need for women-only train cars.

Please stop thinking that Japan is some superior society where everything is perfect.

	▲	wkat4242 a day ago \| parent [-]
		Oh no I don't think it's perfect at all. It would be a horror for me with all the formalities. It would be like a minefield for me. I can only be myself. But I didn't realise women were in danger on trains. That doesn't happen here, no. Well, it does incidentally but not to the point that women-only cars are warranted, luckily. But Spain is still a pretty patriarchal society.