Gov't to try luggage inspections at subway station in Tokyo as anti-terror experiment

To avoid the huge numbers of terrorist attacks in Tokyo?

I suppose the intent is fair, but predictable mega-fail and backlash from angry passengers rushing to catch a specific train. For the sake of all involved, I hope this is done out of peak times and on the weekend (which is basically the opposite timing of any would be attack of course). So saying, I suppose very few people actually live in Kasumigaseki and arriving passengers will (I assume) not be screened, so this will only prove a big headache in the evening rush.

It pays to be proactive, but given the number of train passengers vs actual incidents their money would probably be better spent on surveillance of other forms.

I hope they don't go through with this. It's not necessary.

the ministry has only decided to prohibit unwrapped knifes on trains starting from April.

The government hopes the planned experiment will help it identify potential problems with the measure and consider its feasibility.

Here's a potential problem: You trying to search my private belongings in a public place (where I have every right to be) without a warrant, or probable cause.

All I can see is massive que's at each station with a shed load of angry people lining up, missing trains and getting into work late.

a self-immolation on a shinkansen bullet train killed an unrelated passenger

That happened in shinkansen nd how about recent incident in Harajuku that involved car? But somehow they increase security in Subway.

Define"luggage", anything big enough to hold a knife with a blade 10 cm or more in length (including folding knives) ? All women's handbags, all backpacks, shopping bags?

By the way, if it is related to the 2020 Olympics, is the cost of doing this covered under the Olympics budget or do tax payers take it in the keyster again?

as it explores ways to strengthen public security

as it explores ways to strengthen perceived public security

How many terror acts have happened in Japan which would have been stopped by these searches?

A knife is not a terror weapon. An envelop with rican or thermos with sarin is.

It is funny how governments come up with new and extra ways to make people hate them.

Just as I thought that I would not need to deal with a security search before a train ride any more after my last trip to Europe, ... The rationale for the measure is more telling there, but luckily I don't live there any more.

Now here?

Here's a potential problem: You trying to search my private belongings in a public place (where I have every right to be) without a warrant, or probable cause.

Railways are private spaces. If you want to be on their land and use their service, you agree to the terms and conditions. If you don't like it, find another way to travel.

I actually find the idea of searches on ordinary trains a bit laughable, but macho statements and your implied that to anyone who would "try" to search your private possessions is laughable.

Here's a potential problem: You trying to search my private belongings in a public place (where I have every right to be) without a warrant, or probable cause.

Bugle boy B, you get a Bingo!

What in Japanese law says you need probable cause, I know the U.S. constitutional requires it but is it a right in Japan?

I usually take (about) 1 minute to get in the train car from gate. I may take 10-20 minutes to get in due to long line. Maybe more passengers try to go through gate inspection earlier and wait at platform. So every platform is going to be so crowded all the time. A few passengers fall off and may die. And trains will be stopped for a while. I can see whole picture.

Tokyo is loosing her mind trying to stay relevant.

Another word for xenophobia we are going back to

I am fine with this. If you wait until after something happens to do something you are too late. Also there was a terrorist attack on the Tokyo Subway years back. I guess some people have forgotten.

there was a terrorist attack on the Tokyo Subway years back. I guess some people have forgotten.

No one's forgotten. There's just no reason to suddenly react to one isolated incident from 24 years ago that has never been repeated.

Utterly ridiculous and impossible to do. What genius came up with this idiocy?

"There is strong opposition among railway companies that argue inspections are inconvenient because they increase transit time for commuters."

Ah, Japan... where safety is trumped by convenience at every turn. Bike helmets? Might mess up my hair. Can't have two children on a bike? The nerve (as mother falls with two kids... with no helmet... off bike)! A fine for driving without a seatbelt? Nope. Might make voters angry.

"They also say it is difficult to find space dedicated to that purpose inside stations."

Translation: they don't want to spend any money on it. How about getting rid of the "smoking rooms" and making them into areas to check luggage? Or, make it dual purpose and just check smokers when the step into the room. :)

I know it might slow things down to an extent, but for people calling for this scan to be scrapped or to happen only during off hours, when do you think a terrorist attack is mostly likely to occur? It would occur during peak travel time and with the maximum amount of people around. And with Japan supporting the US and wanting to rebuild its military despite objections from pretty much everyone around them given Japan's history, it is bound to happen at some point be it local like with Aum or from outside sources.

Maybe for the shinkansen but I can't see this working for the 200% over capacity (JR's own words) trains that hit Tokyo station every day.

Railways are private spaces. If you want to be on their land and use their service, you agree to the terms and conditions. If you don't like it, find another way to travel.

JR is private?

Okay, look - if there is a security checkpoint that everyone goes through, I'm not going to like it, but I'm going to cooperate. If it's anything short of everyone, I will not cooperate.

Here's a potential problem: You trying to search my private belongings in a public place (where I have every right to be) without a warrant, or probable cause.

Yup. Happens when you have stuff like racial profiling and stop and search powers.

Not good.

Before they go and waste EVERYONE'S time doing this which will stop 0.00000000000000000001 % of future terrorist acts, why don't they do something about the really easy (soft) targets like coin lockers that are placed in areas where if a bomb or chemical attack took place, you'd have far worse outcomes?

I find that far too many coin lockers are placed right at entrance/exits to subway/train areas. If an explosion were to happen in one of those locations, it would effectively block the entrance/exit trapping those inside and preventing first responders from getting in to help. Add that to the coin lockers placed inside passage ways to from trains/subways and once the entrance/exits were blocked, then those nutters could set off further explosions inside that area causing further mayhem. How can't they see that as an outcome is beyond me.

Sorry to say but they need to stop placing coin lockers at ALL entrance/exits and if they build coin locker areas, place them in areas where a blast would do the least amount of damage plus install cameras covering those areas with offsite monitoring and data backup. Either that or stop with the coin lockers as they are far too easy a dumping ground for criminals and terrorists.

I don't think all passengers luggage who go through gate are inspected at checkpoint. They look at passengers carefully and choose/pick up someone who is very suspicious and maybe keeps possibly explosives or something in. No luggage, No inspection.

I don't think all passengers luggage who go through gate are inspected at checkpoint. They look at passengers carefully and choose/pick up someone who is very suspicious and maybe keeps possibly explosives or something in. No luggage, No inspection.

This is a fair comment, but what exactly is the purpose of the checks? People can still hide knives (even swords probably) under a coat, so luggage checks will only potentially stop large explosive devices. That shinkansen knife attack would not have been prevented.

Or as KnowBetter above suggested, terrorists could hide an explosive device in a coin locker and send someone onto an arriving train armed with just a knife in order to scare everyone off the train and towards the bomb. You really can't stop all attacks and these checks will prevent nothing...all bark, no bite.

Start profiling online right wingers and fringe religious cults as well, if you really want to prevent acts of terror.

The number of Japanese at risk from ‘terror’ is lower than the number of deaths on the roads due to lack of walkways and dangerous driving.

TPTB need to tackle the actual problems in Japan not the imagina

ry....