Job Discussion Forums

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

i found this www.distel.ca/womlist/countries/japan.html , which might help you get started.

actually, i had to go to the police last year when a former friend of mine had a psychotic episode and started stalking me. they were sympathetic but crap. when they finally got around to asking me "so, did you have sex with him?" i felt like saying "hey, what took you so long" (actual response -- me: "no" *short pause*. them: "so, did you kiss him?")

Jazz1975 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Zama, Kanagawa

I think I may actually have this list already (printed out from before). I recognize a lot of the resources on here. Thanks anyway though. You can pm me sometime if you'd like Very Happy

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David W · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 457 Location: Japan

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

I would agree. The police response to stalking has been criticized, but ladies, it does go both ways. A few male teachers I know have been stalked by students and exgirlfriends. Calling to his home, watching the apartment, waiting around near his workplace, etc. Creepy, but of course usually no threat of violence.

You have to remember, issues like domestic violence and sexual assaults are not really talked about here. So, many people think it's not a problem,.... yet!

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Nagoyaguy · Joined: 15 May 2003 Posts: 425 Location: Aichi, Japan

THe Js see being a cop as just another municipal job. NOT as anything special that demands special skills. It's just a steady paycheck with a pension after 25 years. Kind of like being a teacher for a lot of people...

The reason you dont see the cops is that they are busy drinking tea and smoking in their koban(s). That takes a lot of time, you know. Rolling Eyes

It seems that they deliberately pick the easiest targets (bicycles, women, foreigners) to enforce the law on. The more challenging things like real crime are, frankly, too hard to deal with- there's no upside for them.

Montbell · Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 18

Wow sallycat, that was really disturbing.

I don't know why, but in my 4 years there I was never stopped by a cop. And one time, when I did need help, they were kind and actually helpful. Maybe because my MIL insisted on taking me to the station when I first moved there to "meet everybody" in town. No joke!

But even in other towns I never had a problem. hmmmm.... interesting....

sallycat · Joined: 11 Mar 2006 Posts: 303 Location: behind you. BOO!

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

I was surprised by the poster who said that they think Japanese police have a minimal presence in public here- I walk past two kobans at least every day on my way to work and there's always at least one officer standing outside.

On the other hand in my home city (Auckland, NZ) I could not only go weeks without seeing a cop, I couldn't tell you where to find one other than calling 111 (our emergency number).

It's natural for all the bad experiences to come out in a discussion like this, but I'm pretty sure that the majority of us foreigners in Japan don't get constantly harrassed by the police, which is the impression you could get from this forum. No doubt it's a lot worse for anyone who looks Middle Eastern than it is for a blonde Caucasian like me, and I can imagine that men are also more likely to get stopped than women and asked to show their card, this may be why I've never been bothered by them.

The only time I have been stopped by the police in my 8 years here was when I was doubling on the back of my (Japanese) boyfriend's bicycle. I got off as instructed, they radioed to check the registration and then told us to be careful. I have never been asked to show my gaijin card by the authorites other than on my way into Narita Airport where everyone has to show ID after getting off the train.

Jazz1975, from one of your posts it sounded like you were starting to get concerned, I don't think you have reason to be really. As you're of Asian descent you are even less likely to get stopped than I am- a possible exception being if you look more South-East Asian than Japanese- I have heard of a couple of cases of Filipinas and Thais being asked for their gaijin cards often.

Remember some of the advice you get here but don't worry about it when you hear horror stories- if that kind of experience was so common, would we all still be here? Probably not...

Jazz1975 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Zama, Kanagawa

Jazz1975 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Zama, Kanagawa

Just want to add that it'll take more than a few horror stories to prevent me from coming to Japan Smile

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angrysoba · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 446 Location: Kansai, Japan

Jazz1975 · Joined: 14 Feb 2006 Posts: 301 Location: Zama, Kanagawa

angrysoba · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 446 Location: Kansai, Japan

Apparently, Japanese cops are vigilantes in their spare time.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4548380.stm

Does anyone know if this made the news in Japan?

wangtesol · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 280

In case that list of women's organizations does not turn out to be too helpful, several of the staff of the foreign teacher unions are women who deal with sexual harassment cases and the like. And they speak English and Japanese. Some are non-Japanese who are teachers like yourselves.

Here are their websites...

For Tokyo area
http://www.nambufwc.org

For Osaka area
http://www.generalunion.org

For Fukuoka area
http://fukuoka.generalunion.org

Keith_Alan_W · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 121

This is probably a stupid question, but what "card" are the cops asking for?

Usually when I've had to deal with cops while walking, I've first pretended to not have noticed them or that they were interested in talking to me, and if they do keep coming, I shew them away as if they were an annoying fly or beggar. If this doesn't work, I act extremely disinterested in them and what there saying by glancing around and asking them to repeat their questions.

Works most of the time.