Japanese anti-groping stamp marks predators
Nonprofit & Social Cause
The ultra-violet stamp, which sold out within an hour of going on sale, is designed to protect women on trains by discouraging gropers
Register for full access
Our library content is no longer freely available. Please register to gain access to more than 12,000 innovations, updated daily. Our content is global in scope and covers solutions to the world's biggest challenges across 18 sectors.
Spotted: A Japanese company has created an inexpensive, easy-to-use stamp for women to mark predators in public transportation. The “annoyance stamps” are an effort to give women a voice against groping, the company says.
The stamps were created by Shachihata, a Japanese stamp producer, in response to the growing outcry against groping on public transportation. After a tweet suggesting women prick offenders with a safety pin went viral, the stamp was developed as a safer alternative.
The stamp marks the groper with 9-mm stamp in ultra-violet ink. That means the mark is only visible under black light. A small black light is included in the set.
The first 500 annoyance stamps were sold within an hour of the product being posted online. Shachihata calls the Annoyance Stamp a “small step” against attacks against women and is currently taking suggestions on how to improve the device.
23rd September 2019
Website: shachihata.co.jp/
Contact: shachihata.co.jp/contact
