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Safety fears as Japanese ‘tight men’ in silicone body suits morph into ‘women’ in public

Groups of men dressing up in feminine, cosplay-inspired manner spark wave of concern about safety of real women in Japan

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Safety concerns are growing in Japan over a phenomenon which sees some men “dress up” as women using silicone body suits to appear female in public. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/X.com

A phenomenon has emerged in Japan which involves males labelled as “tight men” who wear silicone bodysuits and lifelike masks to look like women in public spaces.

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The trend has sparked concerns about the safety of real women.

Online sources suggest that their outfits are likely inspired by Animegao Kigurumi, a masked cosplay style rooted in Japanese anime culture.

Animegao Kigurumi enthusiasts typically wear bodysuits and anthropomorphic masks to more accurately portray their favourite anime characters.

In February, a video went viral on X showing a person dressed in a silicone bodysuit with a female-look mask, sitting on the subway.

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TikTok influencers conducting street interviews in the city also noticed the person occasionally walking by and looking into their cameras.

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