Japanese sharking is a stark reminder that safety in public spaces is not a given. It is something that must be actively protected and defended. The women who navigate Japan's streets every day deserve to do so without fear of being followed, cornered, or pressured. They deserve to walk home without a knot of anxiety in their stomachs.
The solution is not simple. It requires legal reforms, better policing, and a cultural shift in how men are taught to approach women. It requires men to hold each other accountable. It requires society to stop dismissing harassment as "just a part of city life."
For now, the conversation is happening. The term "japanese sharking" has entered the public lexicon. Victims are speaking out. The sharks are being named. And that, at least, is a start.
