'Sakura police' unit targets crimes of indecency against minors and women

What an awful name. I actually thought for a second the article was about there being police that are actually going to patrol heavily populated 'sakura' spots and reduce the number of people urinating in public, etc. Maybe that's the first place the 'sakura unit' are going to start!

where can I buy the comic? can't wait for the film version! has anyone got any of the action figures to trade?

Molenir: It is if you're intention is to molest them. Is that how you approach a woman? Go up and molest her? If not, then you should be fine.

Why am I not surprised that you, of all people, would give police action the okay when it is merely based on "intention"? As if intentions are readily provable.

I have had a chat with yankee high school girls on the street late at night before. Big deal. But now I can just see these sakura police waltzing over, giving everyone a hard time, checking IDs, writing down names, and making everyone feel creepy over what was a totally innocent encounter.

I have already been asked for ID and given the third degree at least three times for nothing more than sitting in the car while my girl goes into the conbini, or while having a little extended good-bye as I drop her off. So yeah, I am pretty sure they will be doing a lot more hassling than prevention of anything.

You have to know that when the Japanese police form a unit and give it a little boys' name like "Sakura Unit" there is trouble ahead. I do not mean trouble for the father rapers and mother stabbers and those tender souls who toss kids off bridges or apartment balconies. I mean for a lot of unfortunate people who look bad but are not really bad. Photographers who happen to photograph a pretty girl or a cute kid--once innocent stuff--come immediately to mind. What worries me is that this unit, unable to find anything bad, will pick on the seemingly bad.

Most cases of physical abuse happen between family members or people who know each other. It is an area where the police have a history of not intervening when the targeted future victim appeals for police. Taking such people seriously should be routine police work which does not need a special Sakura Unit.

There are the chikans of course. Are there enough Sakura units members to ride every packed train car to see if there is a nasty hand reaching for a female behind? I doubt it.

Then there are the murderous pervs who follow women to their homes and do them in. There are also the gangsters who beat up women whom they have forced into prostitution. And don't forget the loan sharks who threaten men and women. These are serious problems for the police, but quite beyond the scope of some Sakura Unit.

One of the best things the police can do to curb violence against women and children--and men for that matter--is to take people threatened by violence seriously. This the one thing the Japanese police have not been good at. The Sakura Unit, more show than substance, is ironic proof of that.

I guess it is now illegal to approach women? Why not focus on the scouts working the train stations?

It is if you're intention is to molest them. Is that how you approach a woman? Go up and molest her? If not, then you should be fine.

Sakura Police - so called because they are tiny, fragile and disappear almost immediately. People also mistakenly believe them to have some importance.

wanderlust - really? have you seen how pathetic policewomen are in this country? they are purely the bait.

watch it bobcatfish or cleo might come raining down on you like thunder.

Tahoochi, definately agree with the ceremonies and formalities bit, but adverstising might help if it scares the freaks away or into submission.

I guess it is now illegal to approach women? Why not focus on the scouts working the train stations?

because they are professionals!

and bbleo, please, take a chill pill. everytime I inadvertently read one of your posts I could swear that that W icon is coming straight at my screen.

This will have very little effect until the cops stand up to the organised crime rings promoting child porn, rape video games, hentai manga and all the other forms of media exploiting young Japanese women.

This childish sexual perversion is deeply seated within Japanese culture and history, which means this group of 'sakura cops' are gonna be very busy.

The officers will target areas where minors or women have been approached

I guess it is now illegal to approach women? Why not focus on the scouts working the train stations?

Give cops enough time and chance to satisfy public that such force is in good spirit to prevent such dark crimes. 'IT IS TIME THAT SUCH MONSTERS AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN ARE PUT AWAY.'

@Tahoochi - don't worry, I'm sure they probably WILL report zero incidents! That way it can look like it's actually effective...

Welcome the Japanese police from the dark ages... hope u get the fellons in ur own ranks as well as out.

The Sakura police investigates Hanami?

all for image. Is this related to the females in the koban in that other article?

"Sakura Police?" they should change the name, i am scared of the words 'sakura' and 'dango'!

...and to top it off they had an "inauguration ceremony" ...give me a break, typical Japanese way to waste time and money. Screw the ceremonies, screw the formalities, screw the advertising, and just do your job. A ceremony should be held after they can report 'zero' incidents.

Can we get any more childish ?

you can put lipstick on a pig

CSI: Tokyo

If they were really serious about this they'd base their headquarters in Saitama.

I don't think the Saitama Prefectural Police would be too happy at Tokyo muscling in on their patch.

The officers will target areas where minors or women have been approached or assaulted....The unit, operating from the MPD head office in Kasumigaseki and the Harajuku police station...

If they were really serious about this they'd base their headquarters in Saitama.

At least an effort is being made, probally won't make a difference

Law And Order: Sakura Police

dennis0bauer - how about a cute police uniform?

How many assaults on women and minors have we seen this year committed by police officers? Maybe the unti should be renamed "comfort officers"?

So the female officers will be bait? wearing what?

"training"? "equipment"? "martial arts techniques"? youve been reading too many comic books.

Sakura police...April fools' day??? JT, you almost got me... Might be april fools' day everyday in this country though.

wanderlust - are we in the same japan? remember these are the same women who until recently drove around in "Noddy" cars giving parking tickets.

bobcatfish - bait! LOL. I guess that all their training, equipment and martial art expertise are really a total waste of time and money...

Window dressing at its best. I assume that this received widespread media attention. Just wait a couple of months and it will be back to business as usual

wanderlust - really? have you seen how pathetic policewomen are in this country? they are purely the bait.

From the reports over the last few years, it should read, ...." Its new “Sakura police” unit, which will focus on indecent acts and sexual assaults against minors and women."

If they were serious on helping women, it should have been the other way around, 56 officers including 16 men.

And so the "How long until one of these guys is arrested for indecency against a woman" sweepstake begins...