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Cars with out-of-prefecture license plates targeted amid pandemic

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People move too and may never change their license plates. My neighbors have the same Naniwa plates they moved here with from years ago.

My memory (from long ago) is that you don't need to change license plates for K-cars after moving, but you do for regular cars. Is that still the case? (I lived for a number of years in Wakayama prefecture with an Izumi license plate.)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Unfortunately, when there is some sort of crisis here, people look for others to blame.

This has happened during earthquakes and I personally heard the rumors myself!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Thelessdeceived, no throwing stones will do no good, but if the government leaves a vacuum those filling it don’t always react in a sensible way which is why it is necessary for the governments not only act but to be seen to be acting in an effective and recognised way so as to contain the situation. If the measures taken are seen as being sufficient and effective, people don’t feel the need to take things in to their own hands.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Weren’t the police stopping drivers from out of prefecture in certain areas, closing camping sites etc?

Even before this I’ve seen police note down out of prefecture cars at onsens.

So, when those in authority treat citizens with suspicion what are the locals to think?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

it's not only Japan thing, anytime there is a pandemic in the world, the event bring out the worst in people,

so i don't buy that notion of " Japanese people are so respectful" when life and death is involved most people tend to over react which is very normal...

like some people reacting to people not wearing masks in past few month ( myself) included.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People move too and may never change their license plates. My neighbors have the same Naniwa plates they moved here with from years ago.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Simple, safe and easy testing would end these problems.

Dude, go ahead and throw stones ~ trash my car. I got ya on video and look at this - I test negative for the virus. Oh you haven't taken the test yet? Shame, shame, oh and thanks for the new car bud.

Love you too.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is unfortunate for those people who moved to these prefectures but still have their previous prefecture's license plates.

When I moved to my current prefecture, I had my previous plates for a good half year before I got around to changing them. In fact, it's not even mandatory. (If it is, it's not that strictly enforced.)

People sometimes have to go to other prefectures. I will in a few days for business - can't be helped. People should chill.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I am not sure what Osaka people say about Tokyo people

Is that because you can't understand them? Just as well, perhaps. :-)

2 ( +2 / -0 )

My drivers license is for the whole of japan and my Permanent Residency is for the whole of Japan and has been for over 20 years so therefore it isnt restricted to a particular region area prefecture or village, I alos pay National income tax and so I feel free use is part of my right, throw stones at me or my car,

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

"We have no intention to discriminate (against those with out-of-prefecture license plates) at all. There have been some harassment incidents in the city and we created the image in the hope that people would act rationally," a Miyoshi city official said.

Exactly how would that encourage people to react rationally? Inciting riot is a crime in some countries.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Reverse discrimination is still discrimination. And this one is perverse.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The most interesting thing about this article is that I just drove down to Tokushima and award with my kids to spend the day in nature and away from people. Luckily nothing occurred, especially since my car has Kobe plates.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Police cars often have out of area plates. 

Police cars don't have "area" plates, they have prefectural plates! Not that people pay any attention to the license plates on cop cars!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

With COVID-19 cases topping 16,000 nationwide, including about 700 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined near Tokyo in February,

Like no one has forgotten about this little blip in the numbers! It's become a meaningless asterisk to the screwups here in Japan!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

*In my 10-year experience here.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Most Japanese are still polite and courteous. Japan is a country of 120 million people. It’s inevitable that there’s a small minority of crazies.

Agreed, but that not how it’s presented. It’s typically presented as a blanket statement that “we Japanese are polite and courteous.”

5 ( +6 / -1 )

koiwaicoffeeToday 04:57 pm JST

These are the same locals that will beg for tourists from Osaka or Tokyo to come visit..

Unless they're running some kind of business or shop, I don't think locals ever want to have tourists to flock to their area.

I think it's much more joyful to live in an area when there are less people visiting the same places as you. Simple like that.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

These are the same locals that will beg for tourists from Osaka or Tokyo to come visit..

Yep, it's a different story when you are selling our very special soba noodles (made with Russian buckwheat) or "soft cream" ice creams for 300 yen that taste the same as the 100 yen ones in McDonalds.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

what a moronic local government:

We have no intention to discriminate (against those with out-of-prefecture license plates) at all.

By have locals only print a sign and putting it on their cars so you can tell the difference is NOT discriminating???

Secondly, did you honestly think ONLY your residents could download the image from your website?

Wow there are some really dumb people in local governments here.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

The world has gone crazy and Japan is leading the charge.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

So much for the slogan "We are Japanese!" Japan is not a unified nation and never has been. This article proves it. The only time the Inaka prefectures show any national unity or interest beyond their few meters of local existence if when the Liberal Democratic Party is going about handing out subsidies to their backward ways of existence.

The stone throwers will sing a different song when they come looking for work in the cities.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

Completely understandable that they don't want loud mouth, cashed up osakans or tokyoites invading them at this point in time .

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

does matter what country..there are idiots everywhere..

How do you know they haven't moved or have a job in a different area??

and it really none of their business!!! they should stay in their house and worry about themselves,,,

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The Wildlings...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

If Japanese can target cars from other other prefectures belonging to fellow Japanese because of corona virus fears, I cannot imagine the stigmatization if the target is foreigners!

Japanese are famous for acting in unison and this can be worrying to non-Japanese.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

The prefecture basically said "please continue to throw rocks at out of townies but make sure they are really from out of town"

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Police cars often have out of area plates. I hope they are not targeted. Plus police and military are often assigned to different areas as are business men with tanshinfunin ... just saying.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Whether illegal or not, if the government does not take the initiative to prevent the spread of the disease then it is not surprising people take it in to their own hands to protect their families and communities. The first duty of any government if it is to have any legitimacy in the eyes of its citizens is to protect them. If it fails or abrogates that duty it loses the legitimacy to govern.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

“This is odd given how often I hear from Japanese people that Japanese people are polite and courteous “

Most Japanese are still polite and courteous. Japan is a country of 120 million people. It’s inevitable that there’s a small minority of crazies.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Japan is an advanced, democratic society where people are respected as individuals, but at the same time it is also a nation of villages, with the murashakai mentality where non-conformity, in this case outsiders, are not welcomed.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

These are the same locals that will beg for tourists from Osaka or Tokyo to come visit..

8 ( +13 / -5 )

This is odd given how often I hear from Japanese people that Japanese people are polite and courteous.

15 ( +23 / -8 )

This is only going to get worse if some prefectures open and others don't. Should be all or nothing.

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

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