Woman sues Japanese gov't for DNA data kept even after end of probe

Good on her! There is no reason for the police to keep DNA records of people who were never convicted of any crimes!

They took fingerprints and DNA for a lost dog poster?? Remind me not to even breathe on the pole outside my home.

This is a lesson to all foreigners living in Japan.... it ain't just because you're a foreigner that you sometimes get treated poorly. This poor Japanese women had her DNA taken for trying to find her lost dog.

Putting a poster on a pole is a gateway crime, odds are she will continue to sink further into even bigger outrages against society. That's why they need her DNA.

The Japanese police can easily obtain DNA by going through discarded garbage, but referring a woman to prosecutors for a missing dog flyer is by far "police overkill" -- making us seriously question whether the Aichi prefectural police are overstaffed and overfunded.

Referred to prosecutors? What are they going to recommend? Jail? A life time ban on owning, possessing using any adhesive material? Or material that could be used in a manner that results in adhesive type reaction.

Did she find her dog?

i am glad that more and more, the reality that is the police state which has engulfed Japan is becoming more prominent in the media.

police in Japan can arrest you for -anything- and the moment they do, you will disappear for weeks or months without a trace. they'll take your DNA if you look for your lost pet!

this is not a rare case - it has been happening frequently, but hasn't been well reported.

police need their powers reigned in, they have got to be hobbled. they have unlimited power now and the justice system only empowers them more with the unlimited detention periods and unsupervised interrogations.

making us seriously question whether the Aichi prefectural police are overstaffed and overfunded.

All of Japan's police forces are overstaffed and overfunded. Crime rates have fallen dramatically yet the clean up rate is still very poor:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/asia-pacific/japan-s-crime-problem-too-many-police-not-enough-criminals-1.3451997

There is no reason for the police to keep DNA records of people who were never convicted of any crimes!

Oh yes there is! They want to shove a leash up our posteriors

They took fingerprints and DNA for a lost dog poster?? Remind me not to even breathe on the pole outside my home.

Exactly. This Orwellian society is really frightening. And its going to get alot worse, mark my words. That's how dystopian societies get formed. Slowly. Gradually. Patiently. 

This is a lesson to all foreigners living in Japan.... it ain't just because you're a foreigner that you sometimes get treated poorly. This poor Japanese women had her DNA taken for trying to find her lost dog.

Excellent point

on suspicion of putting a flyer on a utility pole seeking information about her missing dog.

My jaw dropped to the table when I got to that shocking line about her heinous crime.

How much did they spend on this investigation?! Time for some layoffs.

I once took in a dog wandering alone in the street near our house. It had a collar, so I assumed it wasn't a stray and hadn't been abandoned. I asked at the local koban what I should do about finding its owner, and they advised me to put up fliers in local shop windows, the local vets office - and on lamp posts in the area where it was found.

The Nagoya police not only overstepped the mark here, they exhibited gross dereliction of duty. They should have been helping her find the dog, not treating her like a criminal.

Putting a poster on a pole is a gateway crime, odds are she will continue to sink further into even bigger outrages against society

Yeah, like helping little old ladies across the road and putting out bird seed for the sparrows. Colour me guilty.

Did she find her dog?

This is the big question.

I think she might triggared a Constitution crisis!

WTH!! Wow just wow, so what posting flyers about lost pets is now what,  the SECOND worst offence in Japan after ……………………

RIDING A BICYCLE!!!  Insane!

And yeah the j-cops would LOVE to have all residents DNA on file as a matter of course!

Sad thing is use a blue like in a Koban there is DNA galore., even on records, files pens, phone screens.

They took fingerprints and DNA for a lost dog poster?? Remind me not to even breathe on the pole outside my home.

every foreigner that has gone through immigration now knows that your fingerprints are now in the J government database. So if you lose a dog and want to put up some posters just remember to wear gloves. just shows how far the government will go using police resources to track down a "poster ninja"

Laws here which are filled with vagueness such as "if deemed" - you might as well move on with your life because the powers hat be will always have a prepared excuse as to why they deem everything necessary.

No country should keep DNA records of innocent residents.

Lesson - follow rules and you won’t Get fingerprinted. Obey the law. We should mind our own business so they can continue to run the country smoothly. I enjoy visiting this country because it is clean and I can get back things when I lose them. Even when I forget my grocery bag once in the store. They found it with everything I bought. Can you name a country like that?

suspicion of putting a flyer on a utility pole seeking information about her missing dog

PLEASE!!!!

Everyone knows the police have way better things to do than chase a poster paster!!!

@Maria

they can continue to run the country smoothly

Perhaps you should read the news more often. The only people who think japan is run smoothly are those who don’t live in japan and fall for the propaganda spread about perfect recycling systems, healthy food and world class technology

This looks like something very stupid, but there is nothing particularly noteworthy about Japanese police collecting and storing DNA samples even for the most minor "crimes." Some US states do it. UK law allows the police to take a DNA sample without your permission. These are stored in a national database.

Fine to criticise Japan where criticism is warranted. Not good to imply or state that something is a Japanese peculiarity when other major countries have the same thing.

Search on "collecting DNA from arrestees" to verify the above for yourself.

I don't misunderstand DNA, (maybe I do) but a 51yo looking for her pet!!!

refereed to prosecutors for charges, come on. It's stupid. Absolutely stupid. How much stress has this caused her on top of loosing her companion. Is there no awareness of motives by the police?

Its just another example of rules trumping sense that ramps up people's stress levels. It also holds police up for ridicule. I was called a scum because I left an accident scene, there were others there but the last thing as a foreigner I want is any interaction with the police, this example although she is native proves my point. Stupidity and circumstances be dammed the police have a quota and no accountability.

I wasn't involved in the accident. Just witness as 8 other people did.

Maria 'Bing' Velasquez Reid

Lesson - follow rules and you won’t Get fingerprinted.

Sorry, just a question- did you not get fingerprinted in the airport when you came here?

Lesson - follow rules and you won’t Get fingerprinted. 

Unless you use the international airport. Duh!!!

@Maria Lesson - follow rules and you won’t Get fingerprinted. Obey the law. We should mind our own business so they can continue to run the country smoothly. 

Maria, the problem is that any caring person could have easily not realized that posting this flyer would be considered a criminal offense. Japanese laws are often vague, and police can be very unsympathetic, as demonstrated by this case.

Hah! Guess what happens to the Blood samples taken on your yearly medical checkups... this is merely the tip of the iceberg.