Job Discussion Forums

[pnksweater]

Most police I encountered don't know that the passport will do in lieu of a registration card. It took some local police (who carded my husband weekly) 30 minutes of hmming and hawing to figure that one out.

When we lived in Tokyo my husband and I got carded all the time. It was a combination of my husbands giant sideburns and the fact that we were usually out late (due to night jobs) I even got carded once when asking for directions!

Don't leave your house without ID. That can lead to detainment... and that's a real pain to deal with. And the "I don't speak Japanese thing" doesn't cut it. You'll just have to wait longer till they can dig up an officer who speaks some English.

[furiousmilksheikali]

[J.]

I was out walking at night ( for exercise) in my neighborhood when there was an accident; a car knocked down a school girl on her bicycle on a crosswalk, then sped away without stopping. I stayed to identify the vehicle to the police, who asked ME for my registration card. I didn' t happen to have it; it was in my other coat so I just told the police that. He accompanied me home to my apartment and made me get the card to show him and copied down all my details. Later a group of police visited my office during working hours to ask me to describe the car again. Fortunately there were other people around the scene and the girl could later talk herself and tell them what happened.

I didn't hesitate to try and help the girl at the time, but later just had the tiniest feeling that I was being suspected of something as well. I guess it was just of being a "foreigner" since nothing happened. But I might think twice the next time, not that I'd want to. But what's up with "carding" "foreigners" for nothing more than their faces? Too much like a police state for my liking!

[Gypsy Rose Kim]

I always assumed they carded Japanese people just as regularly and randomly. Were you the only witness? The only one carded?

[David W]

I got asked for it once by a walloper. Told him I didn't have it on me but told him where I lived. He was happy with that but told me I really should carry my card with me. Still don't though, bloody stupid rule.

[osakajojo]

[J.]

There was no one else there who wasn't Japanese to ask for a card. As far as I know, I was the only one who had to prove who I was/that I was legal.

I have never seen a Japanese person stopped and asked for an ID card around here. Never. I suspect they only get asked so that a fine form can be filled out, if someone has done something illegal. I suppose if they are driving a car they would have to show their license, or a bicycle, maybe an ID card.

I think having to show cards for no reason is harassment and racism. Presumption of being illegal or having done something wrong merely for your face. It would be different if you were actually doing something illegal and asked, but seems that isn't the case here. It seems a bit of a pretext to stop people, if they are just checking bicycles. Since when was bicycle crime top of the criminal activity list? It is probably part of their strategy to catch "overstayers" as they know most don't drive cars. Seems to me they could be using their time more effectively.

[kendoman1]

Trying to catch overstayers is one effective way of stopping crime. For example a person who has overstayed their visa can't work or usaully doesn't have a source of income.

Therefore are more likely to commit a crime for money or to work in some illegal activities to earn money. Like it or not this is an effective form of policing.

[J.]

By that logic, since many of the "overstayers" come from other Asian countries and aren't distinguishable from Japanese people by their faces, then the police should card everybody, just in case they might catch some "overstayers". From what I can tell they aren't doing that.

Since the majority of criminal activity in Japan is done by Japanese, your presumption that overstayers are all doing something illegal, other than overstaying, is also suspect, like it or not.

[kendoman1]

Please don't put words in my mouth.I said it is one effective form of policing and thats all. Actually this form of policing has led to the arrest of numerous fugitives.

I've seen Japanese people stopped for bicycle checks and whatnot all the time here in Tokyo. The police in every country in the world randomly stop people for different stuff.

Now if your local policeman forced you to the koban to ID you, searched your bags without permission and etc, then I guess you could cry your harrassment and racism crap.

[furiousmilksheikali]

[J.]

Name two of the numerous fugitives, please.

Not the present fugitive who escaped after presumably murdering the English teacher.

Oh, whoops, wait a minute, maybe he wasn't riding a bicycle.

You seem to be inventing "statistics" at will.

[sethness]

Some of us seem to be getting a little irate at one another-- let's just pop open a cold drink and start again.

The O.P. suggested that some folks feel the Japanese police are the most civilized in the world. Bwaaaahahahahahah. from personal experience, I can say that they don't mind making sh#t up/ putting words in your mouth / denying you access to needed meds / hiding their badge numbers / lying about your rights.

Also, legally, during questioning at the station, you DON'T have the right to a lawyer present nor even a tape recorder or video camera.

Between just-plain-bad cops and just-plain-abusive prosecutors, I had what should've been an hour-long chat and slap on the wrist turn into a 4-month period in a pre-trial holding cell.

On the other hand, the 20 or so jail guards that I've met have been generally super, with only 1 exception-- generous and kind within the strict boundaries of the rules. The one exception was a bit too cold and paranoid, but still well within the rules.