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Viral video of child being shoved at iconic Tokyo crossing stokes outrage and debate

The video shows a masked passer-by appearing to knock the girl to the ground, prompting calls for an investigation

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Screenshots from a viral video posted by an social media user on Wednesday showing her daughter being shoved while attempting to take a photo at Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Crossing. Photo: Instagram / peipeilin527
SCMP’s Asia desk
A video of a young girl being shoved while posing for a photo at Tokyo’s iconic Shibuya Crossing has amassed over 9 million views in one day and ignited an online row over safety, manners and tourist behaviour.

The clip was posted on Wednesday by a Taiwanese social media user peipeilin527, who said the incident happened on her family’s last night in Japan. “I was thinking of taking photos at the famous Shibuya Crossing on my last night there, but some mean-spirited person pushed my child hard,” she wrote.

In the video, her daughter runs towards the busy crossing and beams as she poses for a photograph.

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A woman wearing a mask then strides up from behind, appears to knock aside another child who is also posing, and shoves the girl, who falls to the ground.

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Video of girl being shoved in Japan sparks online outrage

Video of girl being shoved in Japan sparks online outrage

The video immediately drew widespread criticism online, with many calling for a police investigation, according to the Japan Daily.

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“The woman assaulted the kid using her right knee as well. If they were closer to traffic, horrible things could happen. This woman needs to be identified,” one user wrote. Another claimed that bumping someone could be considered assault.

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