Job Discussion Forums

tcatsninfan · Joined: 29 Aug 2010 Posts: 35

This situation doesn't affect me directly, it's actually about my brother.

As some of you may have heard, Paris Hilton was turned away from Japan at Narita Airport because she pleaded guilty to some kind of misdemeanor drug charge.

I'm currently looking for a teaching job in Japan, and my brother has told me that he'd love to visit me once I move and get settled. However, my brother has 2 misdemeanor drug charges on his record. They're both for marijuana and both times they were insanely small amounts. There wasn't any jail time either, he just had to pay fines.

Would he be allowed to enter Japan? As I said, Paris Hilton was turned away and I think we're all aware that Japan has very strict drug laws. Some news articles made mention of some kind of petition that could've been filed but I don't know if that counts for anyone or if it's some special privilege for celebrities or people with a lot of money.

I visited Japan in December 2009 and, maybe I'm just not remembering it because of the jet lag, but I don't remember any form or airport official who asked me to declare whether I had been convicted of any crimes. Is it possible that they only found out about Paris Hilton's misdemeanor charge because she's a high profile celebrity and someone saw it on the news?

It'd be crazy if he wasn't allowed to visit the country. I always told him there would be unforeseen repercussions for doing that stuff...

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

I don't think there will be any problems. There is nothing on the disembarkation card asking for a criminal record.

Paris probably got hers for the reason you suggested.

seklarwia · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 9:01 am Post subject:

She was definately nabbed because of her celebrity status which made public some possibly very concerning drug offences for Japan which has a zero tolerance of illegal substances. Not only did she plead guilty to possession of a class A only a couple of days before arriving in Narita but a few months ago she actually got caught bringing a small quantity of a class B into France.

Being the idiot that she is and assuming she'd get yet another slap on the wrist if she was caught, she'd likely have tried to bring something into Japan, too. The authorities probably knew this and simply didn't want to have to deal with the difficult position they would be in if a packet of white stuff was to fall out of her handbag in front of the authorities for a 3rd time in only so many weeks Laughing

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

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

Apsara is right. I was only looking on the front. The back of the card does have that question.
http://www.turkishairlines.com/images/skylife/10-2007/583/28_583form1.jpg

I agree completely with what Apsara says about risking it. Japan does take fingerprints and facial pics nowadays, but if he has some sort of international record, or if the U.S. record is somehow linked to their database, it will probably not come up at that moment, but days later. Weird, but I think this is true.

Sorry about the confusion.

G Cthulhu · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:56 pm Post subject: