Debito.org reader Brian reports on Shinjuku Police 9-day incarceration of 74-year-old tourist for pocket knife
Posted by debito on July 27th, 2009
UPDATES ON TWITTER: arudoudebito
Hi Blog. We have had a lot of discussion this weekend regarding the Japanese police and their powers of search and seizure (particularly regarding naturalized Japanese citizens). A commenter or two asserted that this wasn’t happening to tourists. Well, this poster would respectfully disagree. Yokoso Japan y’all, too bad if you’re in the way when police have crime-stoppage point quotas to fill (http://www.debito.org/?p=3925#comment-180560, comment #11). Name and contact details posted here with permission. Arudou Debito in Sapporo
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To: debito@debito.org
From: Brian <brian_hedge@hotmail.com>
Subject: Tourism in Japan is very unsafe!!!
Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:45:06 +0900
Dear Mr. Debito,
I’m writing this email to all of you because I feel it’s in your best interest to understand how dangerous it is for tourists to visit Japan.
On July 2nd in Shinjuku, a 74-year-old American tourist walked into a koban to ask directions. Inside the koban was an older (senior) police officer and a younger (rookie?) police officer. The American asked where Kinokunia Book Store was and the police officer responded by asking the American if he had a pocket knife. The American being the law abiding citizen that he is said “Yes!” and handed it to the senior police officer. After a quick measurement of the knife, the police officer arrested the 74-year-old man for having a pocket knife 1 centimeter over the legal limit.
The most amazing parts to the story, a new law about pocket knives had just gone into effect one day before this TOURIST was arrested, making this entire situation more ridiculous! Moreover, 2 other American tourists were arrested that same day at the same koban.
Things to consider:
1. How are unsuspecting tourists to know they cannot carry key-chain knifes?
2. What are unsuspecting tourists to do if the airline they fly, America immigration and Japanese immigration officials don’t warn them about these laws?
3. How are unsuspecting tourists supposed to know how incredibly backwards and unintelligent Japanese police officers are if travel agencies don’t warn them?
4. Why should tourists “gaijin” come to a country that targets them as criminals?
5. Why are Japanese not arrested if they break the same law?
This man is not only old and frail, but an incredibly nice person and harmless. He carries his pocket knife everywhere and the knife is very small and practical. Of course we understand a law is a law, and no one wants to purposely break laws in a host country, but the reality is, it is completely and utterly unjust to target tourists who have zero knowledge of the laws here, especially laws that went into effect 1 day earlier.
This American is not my father, but my friend’s father who was visiting Japan for the first time. When I discovered this situation I was completely stunned and very upset, as you would be.
Now, I feel compelled to shine a light on the fact that Japan is a horrible place to visit and extremely unsafe if you are not Japanese. It’s astounding that a tourist in Japan has more to fear from the Japanese government or national police force than the citizenry.
It is 2009, not 1809! It’s about time the Japanese government (people) treat foreigners like human beings not unlike themselves–with respect and humility.
Sincerely,
Brian Hedge
Shibuya, Tokyo
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ADDENDUM:
> From: debito@debito.org
> To: brian_hedge@hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: Tourism in Japan is very unsafe!!!
> Date: Fri, 10 Jul 2009 21:00:38 +0900
>
> Hi Brian. May I blog this with your name attached as author? And has the US Embassy gotten involved? Thanks very much. Debito
Yes. He was released today after nine freak’n days! Unbelievable! I told my friend he should sue them for time lost and his plane ticket here….
ENDS
July 27th, 2009 at 1:00 am
Why is the big question and many of us, foreigners, are just evaluating that right now. Is all this crap happening here really worth it? Outrageous!!
July 27th, 2009 at 1:45 am
thanks brian for the story, and i will make sure to tell my elderly parents to not visit me this summer. japan is really turning into a very dangerous country.
July 27th, 2009 at 2:16 am
It might be useful here to state the law, just what IS the maximum length blade allowed?
July 27th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Try and bring this to the attention of the US media. If they give it some play you can bet the Japanese government will be quick to offer an apology, maybe offer to reimburse the ticket and perhaps give him something extra for his trouble.
July 27th, 2009 at 7:26 am
My first reaction was shock because it seems preposterous. With that in mind I wondered how Debito protects against people who make up stories and send them in. Have you been able to verify the facts here? I’m not saying that Brian Hedge is a liar, just that we don’t know and before we pass on the story (or post it) it might be better to have some evidence or something to back it up.
Debito, do you know Brian Hedge?
You have to admit that the story seems strange.
Old Man: Excuse me police officer, do you know how to get to…?
Police: Do you have a pocket knife?
Old Man: Yes sir.
Police: Let me measure the blade.
I’m sorry for bringing this up Brian, but I’m sure you understand. We all come across Japan haters who make up worse stories than these.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I understand the need expressed in other comments for more back-up on stories like this. But the story does not seem at all strange to me. The police are probably operating under a quota system (this was revealed a few years ago when it turned out police in some parts of the country had been systematically falsifying crime data for years). Probably the quota system includes foreigners (foreigners are the only “growth sector” in the police version of the economy, so it is probably important that foreign crime increases for budgetary purposes). So engaging in practices which help fill the quota is not at all unusual (the same dynamic probably applies to targeting foreigners for drug testing in Roppongi).
July 27th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
What Al said. I would like to see some verification, as well as how the person knew that 2 other Americans were arrested at the koban the same day, and what for. I am all set to be indignant, but want to make sure that I know the whole story first. Even assuming the event happened, reports by interested parties almost always color the story to some degree.
Whatever the case, however, it is worth looking into.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
I strongly agree with Al.
If this did indeed occur, there must be a significant chunk of the story missing.
I’m probably the last person on Earth that expects law enforcement officers (Japanese or otherwise) to behave appropriately … but this is aberrant behavior even for them.
Debito, would you consider pulling this article from your web site until you’re satisfied as to the particulars of this event? At the moment this seems to fall under the “unsubstantiated inflammatory rumor” category.
– You have the contact details of the poster. Contact him directly. I notified him this morning that commenters here have questions. If we get no further responses within a decent amount of time, I will pull this blog entry with apologies.