“I’m in shock”: Autistic Man in Hiroshima Mistaken for Molester, Reported to Police

By Barrier Free Japan, extract from The Chugoku Shimbun via Yahoo! Japan

April 27 2025

Hiroshima – “My autistic eldest son was mistaken for a molester and reported to the police. I’m in shock.” A heartbreaking email reached the editorial department of The Chugoku Shimbun from a mother in her 50s living in Hiroshima Prefecture. It seems that cases where people with developmental disabilities are mistaken for suspicious individuals are not uncommon.

According to the mother, the incident occurred one morning on a local bus. Her 21-year-old eldest son was sitting by the window on a two-person seat when a middle-aged woman sat down on the aisle side and said, “Our thighs are touching, please move over.” However, the son was engrossed in looking at the scenery. He did not change his seating position, and the woman reported to the police that she had been molested.

Later, at the request of the police, the mother and son went to the police station. The mother explained that unless her son’s name is called, he sometimes does not understand that someone is talking to him. Her son’s backpack had a “Help Mark” attached to indicate to others that he needs special consideration, but it’s unclear whether the woman who reported him saw it. According to the police, footage from inside the bus confirmed that the son was looking outside and that no molestation occurred. However, his whole body and face were photographed.

Although the report was withdrawn, the mother said angrily, “The shock of seeing him being photographed by the police won’t go away. My son also seemed depressed, saying, ‘I was called in by the police officer.’”

According to lawyer Keino Tsujikawa (Osaka Bar Association), who works on supporting people with disabilities, “It’s common for people with traits such as strong fixations or difficulty sensing personal boundaries to be seen as suspicious and reported.”

For example, there are cases like these: “Feeling uncomfortable seeing someone’s bag open and trying to close it, they were mistaken for a thief.” “They like shiny decorations, and when they stared at someone’s clothes, they were thought to be a stalker.”

Organizations in Hiroshima that support people with developmental disabilities have also received reports such as: “They were told a friend lived nearby and couldn’t be satisfied without confirming it, so they tried to peek into other people’s homes.” “They had a strong preference for the texture of smooth fabric and tried to touch someone else’s bag or clothes.”

Taking into account these personal traits, families and supporters work hard to help them learn social manners and proper boundaries with others. The mother of the son who was reported says, “Even if someone’s behavior seems odd, I hope more people will respond with the mindset of ‘maybe this person needs consideration,’ using clues like the Help Mark, rather than assuming bad intentions.”