(Published on Facebook by Japan Hoy at 19:34 on 26th October 2024)
"DEVELOP A KNIFE-RESISTANT UMBRELLA FOR PASSENGER PROTECTION
The West Japan Railway Co. train line has developed a stab-resistant umbrella that will be used to protect passengers and crew members from knife-armed assailants on trains.
Starting in November, JR West will begin placing two of these protective umbrellas in the crew cabins of about 600 trains running on conventional lines in the Kinki region, which include Osaka and Kyot
Each umbrella is approximately one meter long and has a diameter of approximately 1.1 meters when open. It's covered with a special material that makes it difficult for blades to cut, which helps protect the one holding it from cuts.
The umbrella weighs about 700 grams, making it considerably lighter than shields and other similar protective equipment. The mesh fabric also allows the wearer to look through the umbrella and keep an eye on the aggressor.
In July 2023 a man armed with a knife stabbed three people, including two passengers, on a train on the JR Kansai Airport Line in Osaka Prefecture. JR West has been outfitting some of its trains with protective gear such as shields, stab-proof vests and stab-proof gloves, but the rail operator developed an umbrella that will be easier to use.
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"We will make extra efforts to improve the safety of our passengers before next year's Osaka-Kansai Expo," a JR West official said."
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