In response to an increase in knife assaults, Japan implemented blade-resistant umbrellas on trains to improve passenger safety.
Japan plans to install hundreds of specially manufactured umbrellas on its trains, with canopies composed of material resistant to blades, as a major step to improve passenger safety. This campaign comes after a concerning rise in knife assaults in recent years, underscoring the need for better commuter security measures.
On Thursday, West Japan Railway Co. (JR West) introduced these cutting-edge safety measures during a press conference in Osaka. JR West President Kazuaki Hasegawa reportedly said his expectation that the portable and user-friendly umbrellas will enable passengers to protect themselves until train personnel can step in, according to an SCMP story. Hasegawa said, “The protective shields that have been deployed up to this point were heavy and close-range.” “A shield that is simple for female employees to use has been developed by us.”
The umbrella’s design and implementation
In addition to being useful, the new umbrellas are made to be protective. Although they seem like regular umbrellas, they are around 20 cm longer, giving them more reach to ward off possible assailants. In order to strengthen resistance against slashing, the design has been reinforced with more robust supports for the canopy. For improved grip and control, the handle has also been strengthened and made thicker.
In order to provide passengers and personnel with essential equipment for personal protection, JR West intends to install 1,200 of these umbrellas on 600 trains that travel through the Kansai area of central Japan.
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