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NPA urges police to avoid impression of racial profiling in questioning people

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police to avoid impression of racial profiling

Still do it just don’t give the impression? What an unusual solution.

12 ( +33 / -21 )

avoid impression

That statement says it all!

1 ( +23 / -22 )

This could have been written 50 years ago, with exactly the same, accurate, comment: Sakura des. Xenophobia is Japan.

-2 ( +20 / -22 )

NPA urges officers to avoid impression of racial profiling

Translation: Avoid the impression, but racially profile all you want — because there are no legal provisions forbidding it.

3 ( +25 / -22 )

The government does appear to be moving toward treating the issue with greater seriousness.

I have received alerts from the US embassy about police profiling and the same denials from government officials for at least ten years.

5 ( +22 / -17 )

Japan’s foreigners are less likely to be criminals than the indigenous population so why are they being subject to more stops?

5 ( +27 / -22 )

Japan’s foreigners are less likely to be criminals than the indigenous population so why are they being subject to more stops?

Simple answer "Xenophobia" !!!

2 ( +24 / -22 )

I see you people being searched all the time around Roppongi with police standing on corners in two's looking for the right looking people to harass and it seems to be Japanese and non Japanese all with a similar look. On the other hand I am a bald white guy who dresses neatly and have never been searched so they are profiling.

0 ( +16 / -16 )

As a white male I almost never get stopped by police here, at least not for the last 10 years, then now all of a sudden I got stopped twice the same month. When asked why they thought it was weird a foreigner like me was walking around outside during working hours. Guess I looked too touristy? when all was over and done they wanted my phone number, because for some reason they needed it for "if there is ever a problem". So I guess I'm now the guy they call if they are looking for foreigners?

5 ( +20 / -15 )

Don’t forget your residency card. All foreign nationals living in Japan (except those in the US forces) are required to carry their residency cards with them at all times. If you cannot produce one when stopped and questioned by police they will get suspicious.

11 ( +17 / -6 )

The National Police Agency issued an advisory to all prefectural police forces in December to avoid questioning people in a way that could be perceived as racially motivated, according to agency officials.

issued an advisory? that's it?

National Public Safety Commission Chairman Satoshi Ninoyu, a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker, condemned racial profiling in his response, saying, "It is unacceptable for police questioning to be done for reasons such as race or nationality."

So pass a LAW against it and set direct standards and protocols with regards to police interactions with the public. In Japan, the police cannot stop a national and force them to produce ID. Include foreigners in that. Foreigners shouldn't be FORCED to produce ID without having broken the law. That's what the Gestapo did in Nazi Germany to those they thought didn't look Aryan enough.

-6 ( +13 / -19 )

@JRO

when all was over and done they wanted my phone number, because for some reason they needed it for "if there is ever a problem

They always want more detail about you, finally did you able to refuse that?

2 ( +6 / -4 )

So carry on racially profiling but try not to be quite so obvious about it. Some days it really is like living in a circus.

-1 ( +15 / -16 )

> The National Police Agency issued an advisory to all prefectural police forces in December to avoid questioning people in a way that could be perceived as racially motivated

what a joke.

what’s next?

They’re going to tell them to stop sleeping in the koban as well?

Maybe instruct them to quit molesting and harassing women and taking upskirt videos?

Or perhaps they will make the cops stop bullying bicycle riders?

what else good is the police force in Japan if they can’t racially profile random foreigners?

Thats all they do in their job.

if anything they should worry about giving the cops brooms and garbage bags.

Maybe help and clean up the cities instead of doing absolutely nothing productive.

-4 ( +12 / -16 )

It is sad but true,

Last week I went to a remote family restaurant on my to a spa, had my mask on, my helmet & my leather jacket in my hands, when I entered a lady assuming she is the owner came to me and asked me to take off my mask!! so I thought it's the norm here, then she asked me to sanitize my hands which I did of course, then she took me to table at the far end of the place!? so far so good, I sat down ready to order.

Then I noticed other customers that walked in after me were not asked to remove their masked, or sanitize, and they just sat where ever they wanted!!? so I eat my delicious Soba with tempura of course, paid for my meal and thanked them for their hospitality.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Perhaps “avoid” means work in pairs or teams, watch out for smartphone cameras and be aware of where the CCTV are located?

3 ( +13 / -10 )

A few years ago it was revealed that the NPA was spying on muslims in Japan and had secret files on around 70,000 of them, including children. A little racial profiling in the street barely scratches the surface of what goes on here...

7 ( +18 / -11 )

I walked past the Russian Embassy yesterday and the police said good afternoon in Japanese but not one stopped me. When I got home, I found out that I did not have my gaijin card with me. There must have been about 10 police around the Embassy but not one stopped me. They were very kind. So maybe it all depends of where you are at the time. If you are in Ikebukuro or Shinjuku, maybe you will be stopped more often?

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

I’m a foreign looking Japanese.

I haven’t and don’t get profiled by the police in Osaka and Kansai area.

But while saying that, telling Japanese people to not profile a foreigner or treat or assume differently about them, is kinda above the current conciousness level.

0 ( +10 / -10 )

I had to laugh out loud when I read the complaint of racial profiling came from the US Embassy

6 ( +16 / -10 )

kurisupisu

Today 07:30 am JST

Japan’s foreigners are less likely to be criminals than the indigenous population so why are they being subject to more stops?

The answer is simple!

Ingrained social manipulation, propaganda, "brainwashing" since childhood.

That a look at Japanese TV productions, especially NHK and the ,"bad guy" will often be a foreign. ( This I learned 30 years ago as a NHK series on after the war had "American" soldiers going around pillaging and raping all with extremely heavy Easter European accents, I guess no native English speaker would take the role). Look at the "warning" signs in the banks, on the trains, even the "hey, hey, it's me" scam posters offer feature an obvious foreigner looking criminal.

So if everyday of your life you are given "subtle" hints at the dangers of foreigners on warning posters and TV shows depicting the criminals with one or more of the following: blonde haired/round eyes, red hair, very white or very dark skinned, extremely wide or big nose and extremely exaggerated slanted eyes, cannot speak proper Japanese.

It becomes "normal" to view people looking like any of the above as criminals!

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

Never been racially profiled.

How many are really racially profiled here ?

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

Michael Machida

Today 08:27 am JST

I walked past the Russian Embassy yesterday and the police said good afternoon in Japanese but not one stopped me. When I got home,

And your point?

Is this supposed to be something special or some strange "proof" they don't stop or profile foreigners?

Seriously why do people here keep commenting things like this as if it contradicts the facts

Last night I went to get my prescription filled for my heart meds passed the koban cops didn't stop me! That is about as "relevant"as the above.

Now try this, put on jogging clothing and head out jogging late night in a non "Gaijin" area.

If you have a Japanese friend willing to help have them do the same not running together.

My ex- brother in law and I did this near Akabane station ( Tokyo) and the results were predictable, I got stopped he didn't we repeated this in Minami Senju, same results, it was around 22:00 both times.

-4 ( +11 / -15 )

I have been living in Japan for ten years and their police is such a disgrace.

I got stopped like eight or nine times for the crime of being caucasian/foreing looking.

And I’m just an average guy.

Japanese police is deeply racist with prejudice against visible minorities.

Oh an hope to never be involved in a quarrel with a Japanese,because no matter how right you are in the end they will always side with their nationals.

Disgusting.

-3 ( +13 / -16 )

On the other hand I am a bald white guy who dresses neatly and have never been searched so they are profiling.

Yup, you need dreadlocks if you want to look suspicious.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Japan’s foreigners are less likely to be criminals than the indigenous population so why are they being subject to more stops?

Its easier to identify a foreigner and question them then it is to identify a "native" Japanese person who could potentially be a criminal. Even a rough looking Japanese man standing outside a conbini smoking isn't going to be questioned by police because its just too much trouble for them to get into an argument with a street smart Japanese guy who will talk back. Also, most street cops in Japan are chubby men without social skills that couldn't argue or think out of a wet paper box. So if you stop 100 foreigners, maybe one is a criminal, but you might have to stop 1000 Japanese to find one criminal just because there are so many more of them. That is the thinking.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

racism is not good,even hidden behind polite manners and kindly faces.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

I’ve been a victim of this. I grabbed a guy filming up the skirt of one of my high school students on the escalator at the train station. The police were called. He was interrogated for 15 minutes and let go. They kept me for three hours. The called the school I worked at, the company I worked for, checked all my ID and visa status, called my wife and all the while questioning me like I was the criminal. At the end of it all one of the police said to me in English, “Stay out of Japan business.” I had been living in Japan for over ten years at that time and spoke (and understood) Japanese very well. I heard them stating that, because I am a foreigner they should detain me. Buttholes!

9 ( +21 / -12 )

He also said there are countless cases of police confirming addresses or searching bags when people cannot produce identification such as residency cards.

So "countless" foreigners are walking around with no id? Going out without your card is just plain stupid.

During my 24 years here, the first 18 in Tokyo, I have been stopped once. Walking in Komazawa Koen in Tokyo with my dog on a lead I was passing a parked bicycle when a young cop coming the other way asked me if it was my bicycle. I said "no, I came by car" but then he decided to ask for my card.

I am old, grey-haired, usually smartly dressed and Caucasian.

-1 ( +8 / -9 )

What I'd like to know is what is the arrest rate for the racially profiled??? They wouldn't be "profiling" them if there wasn't an issue or reason. My experience when living in Japan was the same as @livin' in paradises'...that being the only time I ever had any negative interaction with the law in japan was when I brought it on myself and even then they were extremely tolerant of a drunk gaijin!

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

I was stopped at a station first time in Japan after living here for 40 years,The young policeman came running after me as I was about to take the subway exit

He asked for my Gygin card which I showed politely,He wantd to take down the ID Number for which I refused,I told him you have seen it and its genuine,plus told him that I have been in Japan more thean you age young Man,he just blushed and let me go

4 ( +9 / -5 )

It's based on nothing more than straight up racism, given that by every metric available to the police themselves, foreigners are responsible for a smaller amount of crime in Japan than the natives are themselves.

Police will be police, everywhere in the world. Lowest common denominator bullies with unscientific "hunch" policies. Oh well, nothing new here...

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

Hirokazu Matsuno said police questioning is not carried out based on race or nationality, and officers approach suspicious people in accordance with the law.

This is absolute fiction. My co-workers and I dress in suits and ties walking around our workplace used to get stopped all the time. About once or twice a month. Absolutely nothing suspicious about any of us who'd been stopped.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

There must have been about 10 police around the Embassy but not one stopped me.

The police guarding the Russian, Chinese or some other embassies is not ordinary police that checks on foreigners. They are always polite and friendly. I don't know but could it be that they are trained for this special job?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I only lived in Japan (Tohoku) for about 4 years and had multiple run-ins with the fuzz. Once outside of a convenience store at night two cops rolled up on me and two British buddies of mine. They demanded our gaijin cards. The other guys produced theirs, I refused. "Of course I have a gaijin card, It's in my pocket. But I ain't gettin' it out for ya! Tell me what crime you suspect me of committing?!" was pretty much what I fed right back to them, confident in the 9 or so beers I had in me.

One cop got real mad and the other one, apparently assuming we didn't speak Japanese even though I just did, tried to calm her partner down and basically said to him "What are we supposed to do? I don't think we can make him show it to us, but I'm not sure. Maybe we should just leave."

They left in a state of confusion, the one guy still visibly seething. They hopped in their cruiser, with Mr. Angry behind the wheel. He literally peeled out and screeched the tires out of the parking lot in down the street. Never saw a cop in Japan do a burnout in a police car like that.

Later I learned (from Debito's website I think) that technically I could have been arrested as being foreign in appearance is enough suspicion to check on immigration status, and without ID, detention is warranted.

1 ( +9 / -8 )

During my 24 years here, the first 18 in Tokyo, I have been stopped once.

Livin' in Paradise

Today 09:54 am JST

Going on 32 years here and I can honesty say the only problems I've ever had with the popo I brought on myself. Must just be lucky

My Japanese wife calls these willingly blind.

Just this weekend we were having dinner with her friend band her new guy.

He claimed "I have never been stopped or refused service".

My wife then asked a series of questions, his replies always came with "but that wasn't really an ID check the police were looking for someone or something" or that wasn't refusal to serve it was " they were very busy" sure if you justify all the times then you have never been stopped.

-3 ( +9 / -12 )

20 some years and I’ve been stopped maybe a handful of times. Last time was at least 5 years ago, maybe 10.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

NPA urges police to avoid impression of racial profiling in questioning people

In other words, this just means "don't get caught racially profiling people." Xenophobia runs rampant through Japan's bureaucracy so until they enact laws that prohibit such behavior, nothing will change for the non-Japanese residents living in Japan.

-6 ( +5 / -11 )

Harry_Gatto

Today 09:50 am JST

He also said there are countless cases of police confirming addresses or searching bags when people cannot produce identification such as residency cards.

> So "countless" foreigners are walking around with no id? Going out without your card is just plain stupid

Where does it say foreigners?

In January 2021, an English teacher with a Japanese mother and Bahamian father was left stunned after police in Tokyo explained they had questioned him because "in our experience many people with dreadlocks carry drugs." An inspection of his belongings confirmed he had no drugs.

This guy like my children is a Japanese citizen and is not required to carry ID, but he is Black let's face it the dreadlocks wasn't the real reason and had he been pure Japanese the police would think twice before trying.

My children both look non Japanese and get stopped regularly and have been told to "carry their passports" one police told my daughter that it is a law to carry government photo ID even for Japanese ( this was in Nagoya and is a lie).

I am going to one day try and set up a meeting between all the " oh Japan has no problem," Gaijins and my children and their mixed and visibly foreign non white friends all Japanese nationals.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Strangerland

Today 12:04 pm JST

20 some years and I’ve been stopped maybe a handful of times. Last time was at least 5 years ago, maybe 10.

So what?

I was on my own country for 25 years never once except for traffic stops.

My father 80+ years never except traffic stops, crossing the border.

My nephew 32 years nevery sister brother, nieces.

Would you like me to go on?

I find it very strange that people have to try and pretend Japan is fair or not racist and the police treat non Japanese fairly or like they treat the Japanese.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

So what?

So if it was as racist as you say, we’d all be facing the same levels of discrimination. But let’s face it. Some of y’all love to pull that racist card so fast, a World Cup referrer would be jealous.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

So if it was as racist as you say, we’d all be facing the same levels of discrimination. But let’s face it. Some of y’all love to pull that racist card so fast, a World Cup referrer would be jealous.

You are you just refuse to see it!

Your own words.

20 some years and I’ve been stopped maybe a handful of times.

Is this normal and acceptable in other developed countries? No!

Ask your Japanese friends or family how many times they were stopped in the past 20 years just to produce ID.

I will guess the answers will be Zero!

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

What’s going on here? Their job is to find those drugs and criminals, not to minimize any or whatever profiling. In contrary, it’s their duty to use profiling as a method if it and the related data are available. So in this example, if checking all people with dreadlocks really contributes to find more illegal drugs and drug dealers, and by every logic it is sure it will, then this should and has to be done. Even if in theory there wouldn’t be a higher probability to find it among people with dreadlocks compared to other foreigners, still the probability is much higher to find it among them compared to let’s say some rural native Japanese. Those drugs are produced, distributed and coming from outside and have to be found and eliminated. The only exemption might be some synthetic ones that could potentially produced also in an illegal Japanese hobby laboratory. But I wouldn’t give much probability on that. Therefore and by logic and statistical method, profiling is an important and obviously successful method. And if nothing is found then you still can happily celebrate your crazy all-people-are-equal festival afterwards, when they all have been checked down to the bones.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

Strangerland

Today 12:19 pm JST

Con't:

Just to point out how rare it is for Japanese to be asked for ID no such thing existed until "My number" no driver's license or passport then the Japanese cannot show ID.

The first and only time my wife was ever asked was on a date with me we were stopped no reason, I was asked for my Gaijin card.

When my wife asked why the cops then asked if she was Japanese and had ID.

All hell broke loose at that point necessating the officer's superior and multiple apologies just for asking band suggesting she was possibly not Japanese and she never once showed them a single piece of ID of any sort.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Japan haters blame every incident on Japan.

Err, on racism I should say.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Strangerland

Today 12:38 pm JST

Japan haters blame every incident on Japan.

> Err, on racism I should say

Right, because we point out problems it means we hate Japan.

How how strange your life must be.

I guess if you see a problem at work you ignore it because pointing it out would mean you hate your company or job.

1 ( +11 / -10 )

Sven AsaiToday  12:33 pm JST

What’s going on here? Their job is to find those drugs and criminals, not to minimize any or whatever profiling. In contrary, it’s their duty to use profiling as a method if it and the related data are available. So in this example, if checking all people with dreadlocks really contributes to find more illegal drugs and drug dealers, and by every logic it is sure it will...

Suspicious behaviour is grounds for a stop and search. Not a suspicious hairdo.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

WobotToday  08:33 am JST

I'd rather the police find illegal overstayers in return for being mildly inconvenienced to be honest...

I honestly don't care. "Illegal overstayers" aren't even a mild inconvenience as far as I'm concerned.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

I had to laugh out loud when I read the complaint of racial profiling came from the US Embassy

Yeah I LOLd when I saw that.......forget for a moment that the story has merit, but the US GOVERNMENT is lecturing other country's police about racial profiling?!?! FAF!!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Pulling the race card instantly in every incident makes one a Japan hater.

What world do you live in?

This has to be one of at least a hundred articles on police profiling I have read in the 30 plus years I have been in Japan,

It is nothing new, it have been a complaint by human rights lawers for years over and over,

The USA embassy was only the latest and the British and Canadian did similar things years ago even before Twitter and on multiple occasions.

So please don't take us all for fools acting like this is the first time the subject has been brought up and we are jumping straight to racism, because it is nothing new and a standard part of Japanese police behavior and society.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

@StrangerlandToday  01:10 pm JST

I guess you missed the article below?

https://japantoday.com/category/national/feature-human-rights-lawyer-from-korean-community-in-japan-undeterred-by-hate

I mean she to must be over reacting because according to you everything is fine or really onlu minor little problems.

No real racism in Japan and the police stops just routine the fact they rarely stop Japanese and most Japanese cannot produce a government photo ID means nothing.

Hilarious!

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Ok? Why are you saying this?

And there it is!

So predictable!

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

But in the meantime, I have to wonder why Japan seems so much more racist in your experience than for the foreigners I know in Japan. Are you sure it's not partially you? Ever considered that?

Because after over 30 years after raising 2 mixed children, etc...my head isn't stuck in the ", Japan is great japanophile sand dune.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Looks like the NPA leadership is going the right way, can’t say the same about Japanese Golf Clubs who I just read days ago in the Asahi still mostly don’t accept foreigners, not even nationalized ones…

1 ( +2 / -1 )

JT antiwhite much?lol just said this morning I dont see any sense in stopping whites in Japan or anywhere else.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Antiquesaving

well said!

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Nobody likes to be profiled, but knowing that comparing to Japan most of the countries have significantly higher crime rates and threshold for what is considered crime or anti-social behavior, I would myself target foreigners in the first place.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

, I would myself target foreigners in the first place.

Wow racist logic.

The Japanese government's own stats say that Foreigners are less likely to commit crimes than Japanese.

So you understand the percentage of crimes by foreigners based on the percentage of the population says that few crimes by percentage.

And the same data also points to the number one "crime" by foreigners is overstaying.

This means that legal foreign residents are even less likely to commit crimes compared to the Japanese.

So what you are saying is target those least likely to commit crimes, so totally logical if one is racist totally illogical if one uses their head.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

I was harassed by the police ..demanding my gaijin card for no reason .

I refused and kept walking until a ring of police surrounded me and I threw it on the ground for them to inspect .

We don't respect the Geneva convention here they said and we will report you to the British embassy .

Pathetic bunch .

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

AntiquesavingToday  12:12 pm JST

Harry_Gatto

Today 09:50 am JST

He also said there are countless cases of police confirming addresses or searching bags when people cannot produce identification such as residency cards.

So "countless" foreigners are walking around with no id? Going out without your card is just plain stupid*

Where does it say foreigners?

It implies foreigners as the article quite clearly mentions residency cards and the Japanese don't have such a thing nor are they required to carry id: foreigners are.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

You want to see how stuck, confused and suddenly lost for words the Japanese police can be?

On the weekend especially Sunday, go to Akihabara bring a backpack, walk around aimlessly like you don't know or don't care where you are going.

It may take a bit of time but you stand a good chance at being stopped for ID check and bag search.

Be polite and respectful, then ask why you are being stopped and searched.

The reply will be " a man attack people with a knife and killed people here several years ago"

So you reply "yes I know, but wasn't he Japanese and didn't he first use a truck?" " Am not Japanese not driving a truck, so why search me?

Remember be very polite and respectful when saying this!

Watch how upset even angry they will get when called out!

They often just resort to:

"Japanese law says Foreigners need to show residency card or passport when asked by police and be subject to search if told."

End of the fake "just routine" facade!

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

It implies foreigners as the article quite clearly mentions residency cards and the Japanese don't have such a thing nor are they required to carry id: foreigners are.

Is it?

I guess this part isn't relevant:

In January 2021, an English teacher with a Japanese mother and Bahamian father was left stunned after police in Tokyo explained they had questioned him because "in our experience many people with dreadlocks carry drugs." An inspection of his belongings confirmed he had no drugs.

Note that the interaction was caught on video and the man is a Japanese national.

I suggest you take a little detour to YouTube and see what non pure looking Japanese deal with regularly.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

There seems to be a bit of confusion about the gaijin cards. You are obliged to show your card to the police. However, you should not give it to them.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

AntiquesavingToday  01:46 pm JST

But in the meantime, I have to wonder why Japan seems so much more racist in your experience than for the foreigners I know in Japan. Are you sure it's not partially you? Ever considered that?

Because after over 30 years after raising 2 mixed children, etc...my head isn't stuck in the ", Japan is great japanophile sand dune.

OK. slow down a bit. Regular posters , I guess, know you raised 2 kids all by yourselves here. Good job in such foreign circumstances. You and whoever upvoting you and saying "well-said" used to be Japanophile(s)?

Was it something like you end up like that as you have/had a Japanese partner?

What gave you and your ilk such high expectation about living your lives here in Japan in the first place? J-govts? Japanese friends of yours? J-Anime? J-Marshall-arts? J-foods? J-onsen? or what?

I feel sorry that you made wrong decisions and I hope that is not because the country Japan and the Japanese forced you to do so.

Where's paradise? Tell us all.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

kennyG

Today 06:03 pm JST

Nice try, I was married to my first wife ( mother of the children) before I came to Japan.

Not a japanophile never interested other than minorly, came here to care for here ailing parents, otherwise I probably wouldn't have lived here.

Remained because big my country and Japan's incapability of agreeing on international custody with Japan giving me the children and my country rejecting Japan's system meaning I was stuck here.

When you are the one dealing with teachers, schools, city office etc.. and not your Japanese spouse you learn fast the inequality of being ba foreigner and of what they think about and treat mixed children.

You think I complain well my children are JAPANESE not foreigners and they are as targeted as the Foreigners are you going to ask them where they should go or that they should go somewhere else like we regularly get here for the " everything is fine in Japan" crowd?

My children avoid the police they will double back just to not cross one, they will not go to places like Nagoya which is racist from the bottom up.

So now you know I had no expectations and Japan delivered on that exactly the xenophobic place I was told it was by my ex-wife before we came.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Interesting how not one of the "Japan is not racist" crowd totally ignored each time this was pointed out:

In January 2021, an English teacher with a Japanese mother and Bahamian father was left stunned after police in Tokyo explained they had questioned him because "in our experience many people with dreadlocks carry drugs." An inspection of his belongings confirmed he had no drugs.

This young man is a Japanese citizen not a foreigner and Black and the video is interesting as well as quite a few more and all those in them are Japanese nationals mostly dark skinned like this young JAPANESE man.

But hey, head in sand suites many here.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

AntiquesavingToday  06:22 pm JST

kennyG

Today 06:03 pm JST

Nice try, I was married to my first wife ( mother of the children) before I came to Japan.

Not a japanophile never interested other than minorly, came here to care for here ailing parents, otherwise I probably wouldn't have lived here.

I haven't tried anything if you believe.

Remained because big my country and Japan's incapability of agreeing on international custody with Japan giving me the children and my country rejecting Japan's system meaning I was stuck here.

OK You came here to stay with your beloved ones. Possibly It is what you think Japanese wife's abduction

of your children. Correct?

When you are the one dealing with teachers, schools, city office etc.. and not your Japanese spouse you learn fast the inequality of being ba foreigner and of what they think about and treat mixed children.

Maybe or maybe not. It depends . At least you are desperately serious to struggle here. I got it.

You think I complain well my children are JAPANESE not foreigners and they are as targeted as the Foreigners are you going to ask them where they should go or that they should go somewhere else like we regularly get here for the " everything is fine in Japan" crowd?

I can only say.... I am sorry that this homogeneous island culture still gives such prejudice to the J-police and your ilk with different appearance from small yellow people with flat face, meaning every pre-actions based on difference in appearance.

My children avoid the police they will double back just to not cross one, they will not go to places like Nagoya which is racist from the bottom up.

Is Nagoya like that? worse than Tokyo? I didn't know.....

So now you know I had no expectations and Japan delivered on that exactly the xenophobic place I was told it was by my ex-wife before we came.

I myself in my whole life have not dealt with such xenophobic Japanese against those foreigners who genuinely and seriously lives in Japan. All I can say is that I am sorry as if the message from Thomas Goodtime.

I myself think Japan is far from paradise and yet, please understand ordinally Japanese cannot chose the place to live their lives

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Japanese cops are racist,xenophobic and lack common sense.They still live in the 16th century.

I've been stopped several times and I never use soft or kind words to them whenever they stop me.

I outright tell them that is discrimination.Before I even give them my gaijin card,I ask them why are they stopping me and how do they differentiate a Japanese and a non Japanese?Color?Physical appearance?I speak fluent Japanese and this gets them off guard.In my country there are many Japanese who live and work there and I ask them if they want these Japanese nationals who live in my country to be treated the same.Some don't even look at my card for a second or ask a question after I bombard them with these questions. They just hand it back embarrassed.

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Because after over 30 years after raising 2 mixed children, etc...my head isn't stuck in the ", Japan is great japanophile sand dune.

Well said. Japanaphiles do more harm than good.

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What they should really urge them to be is better at their jobs! I mean let’s face it …they aren’t the best coppers on the block by any measure!

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@meiyouwenti

The article is about racial profiling and not about carrying your resident card .

Of course not all foreigners are residents either .

And anyway a passport is sufficient if you don't have your residency card with you or if your not a resident !

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And anyway a passport is sufficient if you don't have your residency card with you or if your not a resident !

Actually not anymore.

Residents no longer have a Visa extension stamp in their passports and I doubt the police carry an IC chip reader on them.

So a PR, spouse, working visa holder that renewed in Japan at immigration will not have any stamps or proof of a Visa.

So now more than ever having your Residency card is a must.

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AntiquesavingToday  05:04 pm JST

It implies foreigners as the article quite clearly mentions residency cards and the Japanese don't have such a thing nor are they required to carry id: foreigners are.

Is it?

What does "is it" mean? What is "it"?

I guess this part isn't relevant:

In January 2021, an English teacher with a Japanese mother and Bahamian father was left stunned after police in Tokyo explained they had questioned him because "in our experience many people with dreadlocks carry drugs." An inspection of his belongings confirmed he had no drugs.

No it isn't, it's a separate issue and not in the scope of my comment and your subsequent reply; why are you trying to make it so?

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KenMay 13  07:14 pm JST

Japanese cops are racist,xenophobic and lack common sense.They still live in the 16th century.

With exceptions, I think most of them are about as mature as the average eleven year-old.  "In our experience many people with dreadlocks carry drugs" just isn't something I expect someone with a properly developed adult brain to come out with.

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Racism must stop.

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"NPA urges police to avoid impression of racial profiling in questioning people." Here's the problem in a nutshell. When a Japanese cop stops a would be foreigner for no rational reason he or she obviously racially profiling the person. It is not an impression but a bare fact. The "impression" is impossible to avoid. And it is an act of discrimination.

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With exceptions, I think most of them are about as mature as the average eleven year-old.  "In our experience many people with dreadlocks carry drugs" just isn't something I expect someone with a properly developed adult brain to come out with.

Guess you're saying too much. I happened to watch TV program and the very scene of this inspection.

This person was so angry and kept asking question to an old Japanese cop "Why me? " (needless to say all conversation in Japanese) " An old cop says " いやあ 私たちの経験からすると おにいさんのようなヘアスタイルしている人が薬物をもっている場合が多かったんですよ。申し訳ないけど協力してください”

An old cop was polite. he was at least honest in replying to this person.

Basically Police have to stop all inspections on the streets if needs to deal with this much of criticism.

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Why do so many problems of this nature in Japan all seem to stem from (yours truly) The Ministry of Justice?

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With exceptions, I think most of them are about as mature as the average eleven year-old.  "In our experience many people with dreadlocks carry drugs" just isn't something I expect someone with a properly developed adult brain to come out with.

Simon- its not just the cop, as we can see from some posters here that support this kind of racism.

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Well said. Japanaphiles do more harm than good.

absolutely!!

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kennyGToday  05:23 am JST

An old cop was polite. he was at least honest in replying to this person.

Too honest. It's a bit like certain senior politicians - they get to certain levels of power and then think they can say whatever nonsense is going through their heads, and expect everyone to respect it.

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So this happened back in December and it’s just now making the news? The prefecture where I live did not get the message. Here all of the ALTs live in apartments managed by the city. Which means that the city has a key to each apartment and can enter freely. There is only one black ALT this year and she must’ve been shocked when she noticed that her apartment had been searched while she was working. No other apartments were known to be searched. Imagine having to continue working and living here after that. The poor girl…

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I say. What is the big deal dealing with the police . Profiling is a method so is racial profiling for post-crime or pre-crime investigations. You complain however you want and sue them if you think they cross the line.

It is still better than you are openly discriminated in day time on the streets or physically abused just because you have yellow skin and flat face.

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Too honest. It's a bit like certain senior politicians - they get to certain levels of power and then think they can say whatever nonsense is going through their heads, and expect everyone to respect it.

I am not so sure if it has something to do with Confucianism history in Asia, but I know some old fellows behave like that. Yet I disagree with you in what they are saying are all nonsense.

Racial profiling is not a news. Look at US police or US TSA for examples.

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@ Lindsay May 13  09:41 am JST I’ve been a victim of this.

Same here. Witnessed a taxi pulling out without warning and hit by a car. I was driving directly behind them.

Stopped and asked both car and taxi driver if all was ok, and if I could help. Police summoned.

Taxi driver questioned for 2 minutes or so and released, I was interrogated for an hour or so, what was I doing there, why was I there, etc.. The usual small notebook and tiny pencil for my answers!

Makes you never want to help again.

Their attitude is in their DNA...

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kennyGToday  05:34 pm JST

I say. What is the big deal dealing with the police . Profiling is a method so is racial profiling for post-crime or pre-crime investigations. You complain however you want and sue them if you think they cross the line.

In that case they should stop and search each other all the time, given the stream of stories about things police officers get up to.

It is still better than you are openly discriminated in day time on the streets or physically abused just because you have yellow skin and flat face.

Not really. Morons who don't know any better is one thing. Law enforcement professionals who should know better is another thing altogether.

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Simon FostonMay 14  10:50 pm JST

In that case they should stop and search each other all the time, given the stream of stories about things police officers get up to.

And make your neighborhood criminal's paradise? Make it happen somewhere else but not here in Japan.

It is still better than you are openly discriminated in day time on the streets or physically abused just because you have yellow skin and flat face.

Not really. Morons who don't know any better is one thing. Law enforcement professionals who should know better is another thing altogether.

Yes it is much better but you're right morons who don't know what is better or worse is one thing, and morons

unable to chose the word is another thing altogether

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Racial profiling, interrogation without lawyer, solitary confinement, hiding of evidence, illegal search, ...

Is getting difficult to distinguish the police from the criminals.

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bokudaToday  02:45 am JST

Racial profiling, interrogation without lawyer, solitary confinement, hiding of evidence, illegal search, ...

Is getting difficult to distinguish the police from the criminals.

Exactly. I feel a bit more wary of the police than I do of some bloke with dreadlocks and whatever he probably doesn't have in his pockets.

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kennyGToday  02:19 am JST

And make your neighborhood criminal's paradise? Make it happen somewhere else but not here in Japan.

Have you seen this?

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/ex-police-officer-gets-suspended-sentence-for-stealing-cash-from-house-damaged-by-fire

All this person gets is a suspended sentence. Don't you think the public deserves a bit more protection?

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