A person opens a stab-resistant umbrella developed by West Japan Railway Co. on Thursday. in Kita Ward, Osaka.
11:39 JST, October 22, 2024
OSAKA–West Japan Railway Co. has developed a stab-resistant umbrella that will be used to protect passengers and crew from knife-wielding attackers on trains.
JR West will begin installing two of these protective umbrellas in crew cabins of about 600 trains operating on conventional lines in the Kinki region, which also includes Osaka and Kyoto, starting in November.
Each umbrella is approximately one meter long and has a diameter of approximately 1.1 meters when opened. The opened umbrella is covered with a special material that is difficult to cut by the blades and can help protect the holder from being cut.
The umbrella weighs approximately 700 grams, which is significantly lighter than shields and other similar protective equipment. The mesh fabric also allows the holder to see through the umbrella and keep an eye on the attacker.
In July 2023, a knife-wielding man stabbed three people, including two passengers, on a JR Kansai Airport Line train in Osaka Prefecture. JR West has equipped some of its trains with protective equipment such as shields, stab-resistant vests and stab-resistant gloves, but the railway company has developed an umbrella that is easier to use.
“We will make additional efforts to improve the safety of our passengers ahead of next year’s Osaka-Kansai Expo,” a JR West official said.
