Nepalese man mistakenly arrested as police officers unaware of new ID card

Keystone cops at it again....

…….adding that they will make sure that such incidents do not happen again.

Really? I won’t hold my breath.

It's worrying when officer have no idea what's real and what's fake.

realized that he possessed a type of residence card issued since June 14.

Basically that's new kind of zaryu card that being combined with my number card.

https://blog.gaijinpot.com/specified-residence-card-japan-guide/

I refused the new type and asked for the standard type. Reason being…..as mentioned in this news report.

New Resident Card combined with My Number. One card for both. Not compulsory can still use both cards.

https://blog.gaijinpot.com/specified-residence-card-japan-guide/

If officer in big cities in Tokyo have no idea, no imagine about officers in rural area.

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After June 14, there are 3 cards style in total

Old one, new one but still not being combined with my number cards, and new one combined with my number cards.

https://begin-office.com/residence-card

Thanks for the link. Sakurasuki .

Your post was more helpful than the article itself.

This is so much more convenient than having two cards. It's what South Korea has done since ages ago and for everyone (nationals and foreigners) and what Japan should have done too. But instead, they decided to make things extra complicated because that's how things are done in Japan.

Just as complicated as having to physically go to the city hall of the city where you lived to move out, then go to the city hall of the new municipality to move in. With everyone having a residence / your my number card, people could simply go to the new municipality and do the procedure there. But what am I talking about? That's too much common sense for Japan.

time for meetings at police station?

I hope the guy was financially compensated for wasting his time. The police should not have a free hit to mess anyone around. It is likely this was racial profiling.

This is a predictable result for the new card and a reason to avoid being an early adopter.

I hope the guy sues the pathetic Japanese cops.

J cops should be sued for this !

Why are they asking for ID when they don’t know what the ID looks like, and the Nepalese man was not suspected of a crime?

The police can ask any foreigner for their ID anytime, and cannot know whether the person is a resident or a tourist. Never been stopped in 30+ years.

I personally respond favorably to ID checks (because showing ID is no big deal), but I draw the line at bag searches without a warrant. And, if they ever asked me to go to a Koban for voluntary questioning, there's no way I would agree to that (unless formally placed under arrest first). And even then I would keep my mouth shut.

As long as you are polite but firm, the situation resolves itself.

And how much are they going to pay this guy for wrongful arrest? I bet zero.

If a wrongful arrest is admitted, or if charges are dropped due to a lack of suspicion, you are generally eligible for daily compensation under Japanese Ministry of Justice regulations (typically ranging from ¥1,000 to ¥12,500 per day in custody).

I would be livid and probably get arrested for criticizing their incompetence. I want the new card just to have less cards to worry about, but the anti-foreigner sentiment is so high the police ARRESTED a guy.

Not long ago, I saw police talking to a foreigner and explaining that he needs to carry a card with him. At the time I thought it was a rookie mistake, but the police were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Now they arrest people simply because they’re ignorant?

I personally respond favorably to ID checks (because showing ID is no big deal), but I draw the line at bag searches without a warrant. And, if they ever asked me to go to a Koban for voluntary questioning, there's no way I would agree to that (unless formally placed under arrest first). And even then I would keep my mouth shut.

As long as you are polite but firm, the situation resolves itself.

I agree. Go along to get along. Has worked for me in the past. Touch wood.

The majority of visa overstayers are other Asians.

Out of the approximately 71,000 to 74,000 estimated overstayers, a large majority originates from neighboring countries.

Data from the Japan Times reveals that the majority of foreign nationals questioned by police in Japan are between the ages of 20 and 59. While people of all ages can be stopped, this working-age demographic is disproportionately targeted for on-the-street questioning.

Dimwits. A fake card would obviously not a design different from the real old one.

I personally respond favorably to ID checks (because showing ID is no big deal), but I draw the line at bag searches without a warrant. And, if they ever asked me to go to a Koban for voluntary questioning, there's no way I would agree to that (unless formally placed under arrest first). And even then I would keep my mouth shut.

He showed his Resident Card, but the police were unaware of the new ones.

A garlic eater

I personally respond favorably to ID checks (because showing ID is no big deal), but I draw the line at bag searches without a warrant

I was stopped once and asked to have my bag searched. I asked why and they said there had been a robbery nearby and there were looking around in the neighbourhood. Can't really argue with the answer.... if they had not given a reason, i would have said arrest me or let me go.

I was stopped once and asked to have my bag searched. I asked why and they said there had been a robbery nearby and there were looking around in the neighbourhood

Did you believe them? Also, were they also stopping Japanese passers by?

Did you believe them? Also, were they also stopping Japanese passers by?

Usually when being asked why other passerby not being searched, they'll have difficulty with that kind of question.

When explaining why that Nepalese (South Asia) is being questioned in the first place,

the official statement is because "He switch looking down after seeing the officer"

https://mainichi.jp/articles/20260625/k00/00m/040/333000c

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When people waiting for someone in particular place such as Shibuya, many of them look down to their smartphone. Some of them might quick scan of the area, when someone they've waited not come yet, their back to their smartphone. So that's not something strange.

@ZaphodToday  09:30 am JST

I was stopped once and asked to have my bag searched. I asked why and they said there had been a robbery nearby and there were looking around in the neighbourhood. Can't really argue with the answer.... if they had not given a reason, i would have said arrest me or let me go.

The risk is, during a bag search they are not only looking for things associated with a "robbery nearby", they could question you further or arrest you for any number of things they find in your bag. The Minor Offences Law/Act reveals some surprising things that can get you into trouble, such as "cutleries, iron rods, duplicate keys, chisels etc."

https://jahis.law.nagoya-u.ac.jp/lawdb/l/323a0039en

The Japanese constitution protects you against unlawful searches. If the police don't have a warrant it is unwise to let them (or any other stranger) to go through your stuff.

Poor bloke probably works ten times as hard as these dimwits.

Time is money.

Sue.

Disgusting bigotry by the J cops

Probably he was happy it was only for one hour, and not 23 days.

Add the website to your phone showing the new cards.

Taciturn

Did you believe them? Also, were they also stopping Japanese passers by?

Walking home late at night with no one nearby. And they came from behind, so it was not like looking at me and deciding lets stop the gaijin.

Did you believe them? Also, were they also stopping Japanese passers by?

Usually when being asked why other passerby not being searched, they'll have difficulty with that kind of question.

Probably because the answer is that "they are Japanese."

But I'm not saying you should or shouldn't ask questions like that. It all depends on the specific situation.

I'm simply asking the poster @Zaphod because I'm genuinely interested.

Our son had his school bag searched when he went to a koban to collect his wallet as lost property.

If anyone can logically describe how someone who has lost something is suspicious enough to deserve a search, I'd like to know. This was a city koban, which is probably within 500m of at least ten sets of traffic lights where people go through three seconds after it has changed to red. The police see searching schoolboy's bags as more important than this.

Zaphod,

Asked and answered. Appreciated.

Personally, I'm not sure if I would have let them search my bag, but you obviously had a better take on the situation. I would definitely have shown them my ID and answered appropriate questions. I treat police officers with respect, but I certainly don't trust them a whole lot.

Maybe the police need to have multiple hours long meetings about the new cards and how they're different.

@kohakuebisuToday  12:21 pm JST

Our son had his school bag searched when he went to a koban to collect his wallet as lost property.

If anyone can logically describe how someone who has lost something is suspicious enough to deserve a search, I'd like to know. This was a city koban, which is probably within 500m of at least ten sets of traffic lights where people go through three seconds after it has changed to red. The police see searching schoolboy's bags as more important than this.

The point is, they will search whoever, unless they are refused permission to search.

The moment someone gives their consent to a search, the police have the right to do it, just like anyone else. Otherwise the police only have the right to search a person's bag or pockets, or go through their wallet, if they have a warrant to search them, or after they arrest them.

@A garlic eater_ As long as you are polite but firm, the situation resolves itself.

@Taciturn I agree. Go along to get along. Has worked for me in the past. Touch wood.

Well, me too, but don't pretend it can't still go horribly wrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE

You can refuse a search. I've been stopped and asked to both check my bag and pat me down at least 6 times while walking in town or even changing trains at the train station. Every single time I refused.

Like Taciturn said above, I respect cops. They've got a job to do. But I straight out refuse xenophobia, racial profiling and harassment.

We are truly sorry and deeply apologize," the police said, adding that they will make sure that such incidents do not happen again.

They knew, if they didn't, they should be immediately fired.

The new card was only issued from June 14th.

police officers were unaware of

it would be easier to make a list of things the j-cops ARE aware of.

"We are truly sorry and deeply apologize," the police said,

that they got caught doing something stupid

 that they will make sure that such incidents do not happen again.

for the rest of the hour. anything after that, we are sure something absurd will happen again.

In JT article didn't mentioned how many officer being involved.

However from other news, it involved four officers that have no clue about new card design.

So in the first there are two patrol officers that have no idea about new card design, after that there are additional two detectives that decided that card is "fake" while is card with new design.

https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASV6T36TRV6TUTIL02PM.html

So in total there are four officers that have no idea that card is really real card. No until in the station there are other officers that finally realize there's nothing wrong with the card.

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So is not a problem with one or two officers, how come four officer have no idea at all about look of the new card and decided to bring that unfortunate Nepalese person to station.

I just found out about new card being issued from this article. I looked into it and found something that they assume as privacy.

they hide your STATUS (wrong)

they hide issuance and expiry date (wrong)

they don't hide your address (wrong)

When the most important part is hidden while still showing your home address then this is not privacy. And...for cops without chip readers they cannot verify anything. Does zaryu card app still works to self proof that card is not fake? Shouldn't Police have training when new card and design were planned and later in production ?

Besides, it was rumored before that it's going to happen (all in one including RC). It's fine as long as they strip home address from it.

@EuroJP

I just found out about new card being issued from this article. I looked into it and found something that they assume as privacy.

they hide your STATUS (wrong)

they hide issuance and expiry date (wrong)

they don't hide your address (wrong)

Expiry date still there, however issuance date and validity period is no longer there anymore.

https://www.property-japan.com/post/newresidencecard