Japanese police investigated 11,000 foreigners in 2019: NPA

Mike Today 12:15 am JST

I was arrested because a drunk Japanese man came to my group sitting outside and grabbed our beer started drinking it, then proceeded to grab my wife and kiss her on the mouth.

I throw him out of the area, he fell to the ground and police came and arrested me.

I had video evidence of what happened on security cameras, and even the prosecutor said, she understands my actions, but that doesn't mean I can ever put my hands on someone even in that situation.

I don't want to cause trouble, but I don't want my wife assaulted either. So instead of assuming all these people are bad, I'd suggest you look at the context of japanese law first, and go case by case.

Here's where a little education in law would have saved you trouble. Based on your presentation, the Japanese man is guilty of both theft (of your beer) and forcible indecency. However, I presume he stopped conducting criminal acts after that. Unfortunately, at that point, your ability to claim justified defence ends, and that's why you may not assault him. Further, even if he is continuing his assault, you are required to use proportionate force, and based on the fact you can "throw him out of the area", you are significantly bigger and stronger than the Japanese, which leads to problems of excessive defence.

By nationality, Vietnamese stood at 3,365, or 28.9 percent of the cases, and Chinese at 2,948, or 25.3 percent. They were followed by Filipino at 746, Thai, 509, Brazilian, 508, and South Korean, 454.

Nothing surprises us about the statistics, but what doesn't make sense if the bigger perpetrators of these crimes are from other parts of Asia than why is it a percentage of Japanese wont sit next Westerners on public transport, this class of foreigners seem the least represented.

Again, if Japan publishes these statistics, it's because they are backwards racist xenophobes. If other countries do it, it's to protect the best interests of its citizens.

I agree. It is not xenophonic to publish crime stats to warn Japanese citizens of the criminals in their midst. It is very important for Japanese people to know how many foreigners have been investigated for crimes, as it will make them much more aware of the foreign crime element present in society, and they will thus be forewarned to stay away from foreigners.

In addition, they should know exactly how many illegal immigrants there are, since such a terrible crime may effect their lives directly. For example, an illegal immigrant might walk past them on the street (very scary!) or may even steal their job at 7-11. You never know! They are sneaky.

In the midst of a global pandemic if you think this is news, it's up to you.

"Again, if Japan publishes these statistics, it's because they are backwards racist xenophobes. If other countries do it, it's to protect the best interests of its citizens."

EXACTLY.

Why is this making the news? We don’t report on stats of foreigners committing crimes elsewhere do we? At least include stats of local offenders as well to provide context.

Who is "we?"

Many nations rightfully keep track of immigration and crime statistics. In 2017, Trump introduced executive order “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States,” in which the Secretary of Homeland Security was to publish a weekly list of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. This doesn't include individual states, cities, etc. The UK government publishes annual crime trend and demographic tables that list the ethnicities of those involved. Australian institutes publish crime statistics including ethnicity. I could go on and on. Are people these days THAT lazy that they cannot do even simple online research before engaging in their biases?

Again, if Japan publishes these statistics, it's because they are backwards racist xenophobes. If other countries do it, it's to protect the best interests of its citizens.

And down voting this response is not a proper answer (as per usual).

The number of investigations doesn't seem like a relevant number to me. If I called the police on a foreigner wrongly, because I think they've done something, the police would investigate, and that person would get counted towards this number, even though they haven't done anything criminal at all.

The more relevant number I should think is the number of arrests. Which still isn't entirely relevant, but at least this would indicate that the person has been investigated and they figure there is enough evidence to convict them.

I was one of those foreign people investigated last year.

Fact is problems will always exist, but Japan law is in many ways flawed.

A conviction rate of 99% is asanine. Getting arrested and held with 0 evidence of a crime is wrong.

I was arrested because a drunk Japanese man came to my group sitting outside and grabbed our beer started drinking it, then proceeded to grab my wife and kiss her on the mouth.

I throw him out of the area, he fell to the ground and police came and arrested me.

I spent 10 days in jail and had to pay equivilent of 20k in dollars and 7k in lawyer fee's.

I've never had trouble with the law in my life either in Japan or anywhere.

Even the police said they sympathize with me, and that the law should change in these cases, and asked me to please not let this affect how I think about Japan.

When I went to my cell the officers told the guards specifically my story and thankfully they treated me well.

I had video evidence of what happened on security cameras, and even the prosecutor said, she understands my actions, but that doesn't mean I can ever put my hands on someone even in that situation.

I don't want to cause trouble, but I don't want my wife assaulted either. So instead of assuming all these people are bad, I'd suggest you look at the context of japanese law first, and go case by case.

I was locked up with only Japanese. One being a man who stole well over 100k from old people, an arsonist, a thief, and another drug addict.

I was protecting my wife.

Good.

Only when the Japanese government monitors foreigners, it's called 'racism' and being cruel 'xenophobes.'

Double standards as always.

Some people just can't handle statistics apparently.

Whilst out, I forgot to take the key out of my bicycle lock today... and dashed back an hour later, only to find it still there (only in Japan).

In the UK, the bike would have been long gone - probably even with a message to send them the Battery Charger or else....

The UK is a very multi-cultural place, but not very integrated, home grown resentment is rapidly rising back there towards certain foreign Nationals, (particularly of Muslim backgrounds). This is a challenge, Japan will face going forward too, with its open doors approach - hopefully the approach they take will be better than the one back in the UK.

Japan should do more to encourage well-educated, skilled westerners to move to Japan and provide corporate tax exemptions for regional headquarters of global blue chips. Japan should be looking at the top rather than bottom end of the immigration scale, at those who seek a more civilised life and are focused on shared growth rather than from poorer neighbours seeking money or looking to exploit; the current rise in immigration is beginning to disrupt Japan in the wrong way and it will change society here indelibly.

So, in short, this article is basically stating that the Criminally minded Nationals from Communist Nations can only practice their talents outside of their Home Countries ?

‘Nationals’ even!

Hey peeping Tom, have a guess. I’m pretty sure we don’t just come out with a headline like that here.

My point really was why was this reported? It doesn’t paint a good picture of foreigners does it? At least include Japanese matins is in the mix.

If a foreigner visits immigration having overstated by even a day then it can be a case of giving a full set of fingerprints and photos as well as a black mark on your record

If they are feeling very officious then the foreigner will be prosecuted....

I think that such report should be abolished in the near future, because it may generate racism. Foreigners helping Japan are very important. By the way, how about the other countries ? Do they make such report ?

"We don’t report on stats of foreigners committing crimes elsewhere do we?"

Really!

Where is your country? I will check it for you.

Some of you seem intent in causing controversy at every step by showing Japan in the worst light possible.

Well, OTHER COUNTRIES DO IT TOO!

in the UK, nationality, religious faith and race is reported.

Check before typing.

"Bu but but the percentage of foreign crime is smaller when compared the the Japanese population at large!"

Wow! They INVESTIGATED some foreigners! My goodness, that means it must be a foreign crime PANDEMIC!

Quick, issue two tissues to every household to protect them!

Japan is the laughing stock of the world.

There were no recorded investigations of people with the specified skilled workers visa, a new visa introduced in April 2019 to allow more blue-collar workers to enter the country.

Probably because hardly anyone was interested in this type of visa - those that could qualify probably looked to other more welcoming countries.

rizdown:

Instead of victimizing innocent people, can't the yakuza start a turf war with the Chinese and Vietnamese gangs. It might rid society of some antisocial elements on all 3 sides.

A bit like when two people are aiming a gun at each other and shoot at the same time!

The Vietnamese and Chinese gangs are very strong in Japan (and LA). Even the Yakuzas avoid them

Instead of victimizing innocent people, can't the yakuza start a turf war with the Chinese and Vietnamese gangs.

It might rid society of some antisocial elements on all 3 sides.

Just an observation - Communist nations are Numbers 1 and 2 on the "leader board".

21st century and Japan is still stuck in the 18th!

I'm sorry Japanese people! Please forgive us. Everyone should do their very best to respect Japan. It's so beautiful and people are so kind to me.

Newman

Compared to Japanese criminals, both the numbers and percentages are significantly lower.

Like getting infected with the corona virus, I am more likely to be a victim if crime committed by a Japanese person than a foreigner.

Do you know the number of death toll by murder in Japan ? It's around 300 per year.

According to the article, 48 foreigners were investigated over murder. ( I'm not sure whether they were charged or not, finally.)

I think the number is not low.

Why is this making the news? We don’t report on stats of foreigners committing crimes elsewhere do we? At least include stats of local offenders as well to provide context.

Disappointing...

The Vietnamese and Chinese gangs are very strong in Japan (and LA). Even the Yakuzas avoid them

Without a comparison to statistics for investigations, these numbers are fairly meaningless.

The propaganda must keep feeding the masses,so nothing new.

This is just another way to give the burn to these pesky gaijin and keep the narrative that they are the cleansest,the most honest and best.

Things should fo better but all the events in the last few years show us that a strong willing of isolationism and xenophobia is rampant within their institutions.

Therefore, for every foreign person investigated, about 15.5 Japanese were too..

correct.

But that news is boring isn’t it. Japanese people don’t want to read about Japanese people getting arrested. This is far more interesting. Disgusting, I know, but it’s japan so...

Wow, even in a pandemic the J government doesn't miss a chance to remind us of this breaking news.

It is merely a distraction!

That is still very low for the population of foreigners. That is 0.004%. Half of that is visa violation which are mostly non violent victimless crimes.

Compared to Japanese criminals, both the numbers and percentages are significantly lower.

Like getting infected with the corona virus, I am more likely to be a victim if crime committed by a Japanese person than a foreigner.

Wow, even in a pandemic the J government doesn't miss a chance to remind us of this breaking news.

The stats aren’t surprising in the least