Blade-proof umbrellas to be deployed on Japanese trains to fend off knife attacks

West Japan Railway Co, better known as JR West, unveiled the new safety equipment during a press conference at its headquarters in Osaka on Thursday, with officials saying they hope the lightweight and easy-to-use umbrellas will be sufficient for passengers to hold off an assailant until train staff can come to their assistance.

“The protective shields that have been deployed until now were close-range and heavy,” JR West President Kazuaki Hasegawa told reporters. “We have devised a shield that is also easy for female employees to use.

“In the event of an emergency, we want the crew to respond and have the passengers evacuate safely.”

The device looks identical to a regular umbrella, although it is about 20cm longer than usual in order to keep an attacker at a greater distance. The stretchers to support the canopy have been strengthened and increased in number to provide additional resistance, while the handle is also thicker and stronger.