In June last year in Aichi Prefecture a Brazilian man spoke to a young Japanese woman who was sat next to him on a train. The woman responded to his comments and the two exchanged contact details. In addition, the man invited her out for a meal, but she declined explaining that she was busy with work. Then the man molested her by kissing her and grabbing her hand. Because she was afraid, the woman did not resist. Later a case was brought against this man for his conduct in the Nagoya District Court, and in September this year the court delivered a verdict of not guilty. Many Japanese people questioned this verdict. One of the major issues in the trial was whether the woman properly conveyed her refusal to the man. The woman gave her name and contact details and declined his invitation to a meal using the excuse that she was “busy with work.” So, the judge thought that the man might not have interpreted this as a refusal of his advances. Since the man was a foreigner, it seems that the verdict took into account cultural differences. That is that Japanese people are reluctant to say no outright, even in unpleasant situations. If the man had been Japanese, his behavior would have been regarded as being criminal.