Viral video of girl being shoved by fellow pedestrian has reignited debate over butsukari – with experts blaming stress and gender dynamics
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t starts out as a heartwarming clip. A young girl, clearly delighted to be in Tokyo, beams as she makes a peace sign to the camera. Seconds later, she is shoved to the ground from behind by a woman wearing a surgical mask. The assailant doesn’t skip a beat, striding out of shot of the clip filmed by the girl’s mother.
This was no accidental clash of shoulders in a crowded place, but one of the most visible examples of a spate of butsukari otoko – “bumping man” – shoving incidents in Japan that experts attribute to a combination of gender dynamics and the stresses of modern life.
A video of the incident, filmed on 25 February in the middle of the popular “scramble” crossing in Tokyo’s Shibuya neighbourhood, has racked up more than 1m views on Instagram. Most commenters condemned the woman’s actions, while some wondered if it was wise to take photographs in the middle of a packed intersection.
