TOKYO: Western Japan’s major train operator, JR West, will issue blade-resistant umbrellas to its crew to enhance passenger evacuation during knife attacks, Kyodo news agency reported, citing JR West.
The move follows a series of knife attacks on Japanese trains, including a July 2023 incident on JR West’s airport line, where three passengers were injured by a knife-wielding assailant.
Crafted from special, blade-resilient fabric and with metre-long shafts, the umbrellas are designed to help crews fend off or delay an attacker, allowing passengers time to escape.
Two of these specialised umbrellas will be installed on approximately 600 trains, including express services between Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, as well as the line to Kansai Airport, by March.
Currently, JR West trains are equipped with plastic shields for emergencies, but crew members expressed reluctance to use them due to the need to approach attackers directly.
The longer shafts of the umbrellas offer a safer distance, improving crew confidence in managing such situations.
Developed by a security equipment manufacturer at JR West’s request, the umbrellas weigh around 700 grams, lighter than the plastic shields, making them easier to handle, particularly for the increasing number of female crew members.
Knife attacks on trains have been a concerning issue in Japan, with notable incidents in 2021 injuring several people on Tokyo’s Odakyu and Keio lines, and a fatal attack in 2018 involving a cleaver on a bullet train from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka. – BERNAMA-KYODO
