NYT - Fearing Crime, Japanese Wear the Hiding Place

by Lauren Nemec

The New York Times recently published an article about quirky Japanese inventions designed to protect people from street crime. Fearing Crime, Japanese Wear the Hiding Place.

This is an entertaining and amusing read that also offers some insight into Japanese culture and their mentality about innovation and safety.

The article explains that the Japanese attitude toward protecting oneself from crime is based on the idea of "camouflage and deception" as opposed to the American tendencies to react or confront.

In response to growing fears about crime and safety in Japan, an experimental fashion designer named Aya Tsukioka has designed a skirt that transforms into a disguise that looks like a vending machine. There's also a handbag that is designed to look like a manhole cover, so when thrown on the ground, would-be thieves wouldn't notice it or the valuables hidden inside.

Maybe I am indeed a "crime-hardened American", but I'll stick to pepper spray for now.