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kendoman1 · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 69

I have noticed on this forum and others about being denied a lawyer or notifying someone when you have been arrested in Japan. Example when arrested you can't notify a lawyer or your family for specific amount of days etc etc. This is not true. When arrested in Japan immediately ask for a duty lawyer each police station immigration office must have a duty lawyer assigned to there station or area and when arrested you have the right under japanese law to request to see this lawyer at once even if you don't have money this lawyer is provided for you to tell you of your charges and contact any family members and etc. Do not let them lock you away without using this right.

Revenant · Mod Team Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 1109

In a perfect world and perfect situation this can occur.

However, even this "right" has and can be ignored at the disgretion of the police. It happens and even telling them to oblige this "right" doesn't motivate them to move/act on your behalf.

Seeker of truth · Joined: 01 Sep 2005 Posts: 146

So what would you do if you get arrested by Japanese police? Of course we will assume you're innocent of the charges.

kendoman1 · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 69

I have never been arrested in Japan,but I have and as a group made over 37 arrests here in Tokyo. If you're arrested you need to fight for and get Toban-Bengoshi and don't let them tell you no.
http://niben.jp/english/arrested.html

spidey · Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 10:06 pm Post subject:

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

What are the odds that the toban bengoshi speaks understandable English?

kendoman1 · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 69

I'm sorry I can't or won't post on this board about the arrests that I have made. If you wish to discuss this please PM me.
I know things are this or that here and also foriegners can't do this or that ,but sometimes things are different.
I have met several non-japanese lawyers here in japan that work on-call as these toban lawyers. Two were from america and one was from peru. This was in Tokyo however.

pnksweater · Joined: 24 Mar 2005 Posts: 173 Location: Tokyo, Japan

Funny this topic comes up as today was the 4th time this year that my husband was arrested for no crime of his. If you look a certain way, expect to get this kind of crap all the time in Japan.

If the cops are feeling charitable they will let you make a phone call, particularly if you don't speak Japanese, they don't speak Japanese, and no one is coming to translate.

Usually you have to expect to spend the next 5 hours ironing out the "misunderstanding". I have found that once the facts become clear they'll let you go. Technically they're supposed to write you an apology letter for falsely accusing you, but I've yet to have this happen.

It's easy to say that you should demand your rights... but in reality this isn't what happens. Hell, I've even seen a police officer argue with my foreign lawyer friend working for a Japanese law firm over his rights to detain him. Needless to say, I have little faith in the police force here.

spidey · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 4:07 am Post subject:

abufletcher · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 4:43 am Post subject:

"Freeze, mister! I'm a CELTA certified English language instructor!" Over the years, I've busted a few students for cheating on quizzes and plagiarism but that's about it.

On the other hand, I've been arrested and held for 12 hours on supposed espionage charges in Kuwait, called in for questioning by the military authorities in Yemen for suspected witchcraft ("The children tell us you have taken off your hand."), and been called a spy by a xenophobic old woman in Kamchatka.

The one and only time I've needed the help of a policeman here in Japan (my 12 year old daughter was getting "I'm stalking you" letters from an ex-student), I was told to go have a talk with the individual myself and then if he didn't stop sending threatening letters they would go speak to his parents.

The Dog Ate My Keitai · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 67 Location: Japan

spidey · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 5:00 am Post subject:

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

I've gotten telling glares from a couple cops, and a cop once tried to indimidate me when I stopped at a koban to ask for directions, but that was the extent of my experience.

The obvious solution is to avoid any kind of behavior or associations that might appear illegal. That's not to say you can't have a good time or get involved in anything, but that you should know where the line is.

kendoman1 · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 69

Spidey yes I use to work for RCS after retiring from the federal government . I do some contract work for the japanese government though another origanization here in japan. I can't disclose anything on this forum. I will say that the arrests were all for drugs in the roponggi area with about 50% japanese and 50% foreign.
Quick being a grammar nazi on here, because I will look though your posts and destroy all your mistakes.

spidey · Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2005 5:44 am Post subject: