PUBLISHED : 21 Oct 2025 at 09:35
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People walk along a street parallel to train tracks built for the Yamanote and other lines in Tokyo. (Photo: Saritdet Marukatat)
A woman was arrested after allegedly releasing pepper spray inside a train in central Tokyo on Monday during a quarrel over priority seating, injuring two men, police said.
The woman, in her 30s, got into an argument with a passenger who admonished her for shoving her way to the specially designated section and sitting down, according to the police.
Two male passengers, both in their 60s, sustained minor injuries as she allegedly unleashed the spray in their direction. The incident occurred at around 7:45 p.m. inside a Yamanote loop line train.
Priority seats are intended for passengers in need, including the elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant women and those with babies.
The woman admitted to the charges, saying she carried the pepper spray for protection.
The incident affected around 4,500 passengers, operator JR East said, as the train in question was stopped at Otsuka Station for a while, delaying a total of four trains.
AloJapan.com