Time to bring a few Samurai back to walk the streets.
Hopefully there are still a few left who have enough love for their fellow human beings that they might consider helping the victim of a violent crime rather than simply trying to hide, like a scared little rabbit.
Sadly, there appears to be no widespread embarrassment that an invention such as this would even be considered. From the New York Times' version of this story:
But the devices’ creators also argue that Japan’s ideas about crime prevention are a product of deeper cultural differences. While Americans want to protect themselves from criminals, or even strike back, the creators say many Japanese favor camouflage and deception, reflecting a culture that abhors self-assertion, even in self-defense.
Fearing Crime, Japanese Wear the Hiding Place - New York Times