I can imagine not reacting to groping with an immediate physical response on public transit, as you're liable to get stabbed instead of squeezed if you go and a

I can imagine not reacting to groping with an immediate physical response on public transit, as you're liable to get stabbed instead of squeezed if you go and attempt to slug your groper. If you freeze or leave and then report the crime directly afterwards, there are cameras and cops everywhere on public transit, so the chance of the groper getting caught while leaving is incredibly high. Such a strategy, while not manly, is likely to result in you staying safe and a groper being imprisoned. Regarding a culture encouraging people to remain silent during something like this, hard for me to think of a culture that DOESN'T encourage somebody to remain silent about being sexually assaulted, although Japan does seem to have a unique problem here.