Poll: How many times have you been stopped by the J-cops

[Bucky]

From the Okinawa US consulate

Deputy Consul General Contrasts and Compares Japanese and American Justice Systems Naha, May 29 - American Diplomat Carmela Conroy, formerly a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Spokane County, Washington, met with reporters to discuss the similarities and differences in the Japanese and American legal systems. During her presentation, Ms. Conroy pointed out that both systems share a respect for the rule of law and have police, prosecutors and judges who are independent of political pressure. She compared America's jury system to Japan's "saiban-in" system, to be introduced in 2009, and discussed how American and Japanese prosecutors handle cases differently, according to the methods available to them.
Ms. Conroy stressed that the U.S. and Japanese systems appear very different, but both have the same objective, to ensure that justice is served.

http://naha.usconsulate.gov/wwwh-20080529-01.html

[ketchupkatsu]

A friend of mine was in Tokyo visiting in-laws last week and was stopped twice while waiting at Yamanote Line train platforms and asked for his passport.

Has anyone heard of being stopped on the platforms?

Is this new or is it that although he's from the U.S. he is of Filipino descent and is a little darker skinned.

[MeinJapanLongTime]

Never been stopped in Tokyo in 17 years for a passport check.

Security has been stepped up in Tokyo prior to the G-8 visit next month, so a lot of folks are being stopped at random. Perhaps it has something to do with that?

[uchimizu]

Hi,

I was never asked any question by a policeman. I must say the reverse is not true, as I sometimes asked them my way.

Also, I do not ride a bicycle, and I believe most of interaction with suburban police is about stolen, or suspect bicycles.

[ttjereth]

both systems share a respect for the rule of law and have police, prosecutors and judges who are independent of political pressurehttp://naha.usconsulate.gov/wwwh-20080529-01.html

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[sublight]

I just popped my J-cop cherry! Sort of.

I was biking home tonight when my tire went flat (it had gone flat this morning, and I was hoping I could pump it up and make it home, but no such luck). While I was changing the tube, two cops on bikes rode by and came over to ask if I was ok. They shined their lamps on the tire while I was checking it (found a small pin that had poked through the rubber), and we shot the breeze for a few minutes. Then one of them asked my last name and called in the registration number on his radio. Whatever answer came back sounded ok to him, so they said good-luck and went back on their route. No gaijin card request, no heavy questioning.

I doubt they thought I stole the bike since I had the whole cyclist outfit going, down to the little spandex pants, but it would have been embarrassing to get a call about a stolen road bike and then have to explain that they helped the thief change his tire.

[tokoyama]

I have lived only for about a year in japan and i wasnt stopped by the police once. But 2 of my friends were stopped and asked for their id and had to prove that their bikes really belonged to them. Strange cause the Town we lived in was pretty small (Tenri 60.000) and there were only like 20 western gaijins there and EVERYBODY knew that we are belonging to the university. Same for our bikes...

[FG Lurker]

I had to drop someone off at KIX on Friday and just after I left the tollgates there were cops everywhere! Barricades set up, cop cars, cop bus, the whole works.

They flagged me over to the side of the road -- I was wondering wtf was going on as I had (for once!) been driving very sedately as we were way early for his flight.

It was a security check due to the G8 summit. They pulled about 4 cars over at once and checked us all out. The cop was super apologetic about it, he actually couldn't stop apologizing, it was pretty funny.

Anyway they seemed satisfied that I wasn't there to blow the place up and sent me on my way...

[Tommybar]

Last month the Japanese police stopped 100% of all cars driving for 2 hours. They had control of the stoplight and would make it red, check EVERY car for intoxication, seatbelts, and anything else. Then let that set of cars through and repeat. I asked them what they were up to, they responded they were doing random checks. I don't know how 'random' 100% is, but...

A first in over 30 years of living here...

[ramchop]

I was stopped by an undercover cop at the airport yesterday. At first I thought he was a taxi/shuttle driver touting for business so I kept walking. Then the badge came out followed by the questions. This was certainly about the G8 summit (he even gave me a brochure), and being the only Gaijin off the plane I guess I must be a trrorist. Not the closest airport to Lake Toya, but not too far off.

[sublight]

Strange, last night (around 10pm) they were all over the Arakawa river bike path near Rt.6. There were two of them on bicycles standing in the middle of the path shining their lights, and three more up at the intersection with Rt.6 where I got off the path. No idea what they were looking for, but they weren't interested in me (even though I was speeding).

[American Oyaji]

Got stopped as soon as I got in line for my Shinkasen at Tokyo Station.

They were out in FORCE.

Older guy walked up and asked me where I was from. I though about giving him a hard time, but something said, "dont do that". So I answered his question and he asked to see my passport. He looked at it briefly and thanked me and I asked him why he wanted to see my passport. He said it was heightened security measures because of the Summit.

Well, here's the deal. There was a VERY highly placed and prominent Japanese politician that got on the trains green car with me and EVERYONE was nervous about me being there. Secret service in their black suits and ear buds hand radios. I nearly caused an incident because I had to take a dump and it was just before the station he was about to get off. EVERYONE was really touchy and jumpy, but no one wanted to approach me. I can understand why. At my size, even with their training, they would have a bit of a time dealing with me.

I dont know the politicians name, but Ive seen his face often enough. He got off in Sendai so if any of you guys know of a bigwig arriving in Sendai on Tuesday, flash his pic and I'll tell you if that was him or not. He was tallish. About 60. Black hair on top, graying on the sides, and heavy built as if he was once a judoka. Very piercing bright eyes too.

[Samurai_Jerk]

He said it was heightened security measures because of the Summit.

Yeah, Tokyo has been crawling with pigs all week. Especially the train stations.

[yt]WiX7GTelTPM[/yt]

[Cyka UchuuJin]

let's see...since june 2004...
-pulled into the 'special room' at KIX upon arrival twice
-'pulled over' by the coast guard in osaka bay while sailing to have my boat inspected and motor license checked. that was followed by another interrogation back at the marina by a different set of police because i didn't have my passport with me
-pulled over for bicycle ownership check once, then dragged to koban box for an hour because i didn't have my passport again. i was 2 blocks from my apartment and had just ran out to get some milk for my tea
-pulled over on bike for not having front light on at night, which was then ownership check followed by passport check
-approached by policeman in shinjuku as i was on my way out to a meeting (we were staying in park hyatt) and asked for identification

there is nothing strange about my appearance other than i'm blonde and blue eyed, which i guess makes me suspicious of being a hooker or something. i was even asked by the guy in shinjuku if i was actually registered at park hyatt or if i was 'making a short appointment' there.

i probably should get all indignant and be pissed off about being targeted, blah blah blah, but i'm not. it's not my country and i've grown up with this stuff in russia, and know all too well that it's a lot easier to just cooperate than to try and stamp my foot in protest.

[omae mona]

let's see...since june 2004...
-'pulled over' by the coast guard in osaka bay while sailing to have my boat inspected and motor license checked. that was followed by another interrogation back at the marina by a different set of police because i didn't have my passport with me
-pulled over for bicycle ownership check once, then dragged to koban box for an hour because i didn't have my passport again. i was 2 blocks from my apartment and had just ran out to get some milk for my tea
-pulled over on bike for not having front light on at night, which was then ownership check followed by passport check

Cyka - I'm just curious. Do you have an alien registration card, and if so, did you have it with you? I've never heard of the police asking for a passport from somebody who's a resident alien, assuming they had their card.

I know you travel back and forth - so even if you're not a full-time resident and don't have an Alien Registration Card, you might want to apply for one. It sounds like it would save you some hassle.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Cyka - I'm just curious. Do you have an alien registration card, and if so, did you have it with you? I've never heard of the police asking for a passport from somebody who's a resident alien, assuming they had their card.

I know you travel back and forth - so even if you're not a full-time resident and don't have an Alien Registration Card, you might want to apply for one. It sounds like it would save you some hassle.

nope, i don't have the gaijin card. i did register for one once, it took 4 weeks for them to process and make the card, but i was already gone. and it would have only been valid for 90 days anyway.

i don't really mind that they do passport check, i just get annoyed at myself if i forget to put it into my bag. i've remedied that by having a photo copy of the picture page and of the stamp that's currently valid (i've got about 30 entry stamps into japan), and that seems to be ok.

i should note, they don't ask specifically for my passport, they ask for identification, in my case, that's my passport.

[American Oyaji]

While I was in Japan, I did occaisionally forget my passport, only because of living so long in Japan and always had an alien registration card.

But getting stopped in Hachinohe is very unlikely due to the close proximity of the Misawa Air Base.

[Osakadave]

Add +1 to my count. Unlike previous occurances, this time they completely admitted it was for being Gaijin tonight.

This was the first time I at all uncooperative. I ended up showing my card. Haven't been stopped once in the last 15 years.

[tidbits]

They stopped me about 3 months ago at Tachikawa station! I was just walking from the North exit to the South exit to fetch my son after class, and a police stopped me and say something I didn't understand at first, I thought he was asking me to be careful with my bag:confused: . I didn't have both my Alien Registration card and Hoken-sho as so coincidently my husband brought it to the city hall to apply for hoken-sho. Anyway I followed him to the koban and showed them all other cards that I have (trying to prove my identity and being legal), apologies, and told them that I really need to go. They did let me go without much trouble.

That was first time in 9 years, and as far as I know, that was the most, second time that I didn't carry my gaijin card with me for some special reason. I should had stroke lottery that day.

[wuchan]

I guess I look like a sketchball..... I get stopped once every three months.

I give them my drivers license instead, confuses the shit out of the j-coppers.

[Behan]

I have been stopped twice. Once by a cop standing by himself on a quiet street. I had no idea why he was there. The other time was by a cop patrolling through the Narita airport shop/restaurant area. He asked me a lot of questions about how long I'd been in Japan and my job. I didn't see the point as I was about to fly out of Japan.

[Iraira]

Two years ago (I probably told this story before, but if you sit there quietly and listen, Greji will give you all a nice shiny quater), I was moving from manshon A to manshon B, which are located 8 minutes from each other. Hence, I did most of the light moving using the carry-it or drag-it-in-a-suitcase methods.
On a Saturday night around 11pm, I was moving the stereo to the new place and two cops bicycled by. Saturday night, 11 pm, gaijin carrying a stereo, and they didn't even bat an eye. Had I been carrying a bicycle......

[james]

but in fairness they were stopping everybody. there was a stabbing / attempted murder about 10-15 mins by car from my place and they were pulling over every car and checking id going in and out of town that night as far as izumo and matsue (both an hour from here).

got stopped twice on my way out and again on my way back home a few hours later.

i am not at liberty to disclose what transpired within those few hours.

[American Oyaji]

but in fairness they were stopping everybody. there was a stabbing / attempted murder about 10-15 mins by car from my place and they were pulling over every car and checking id going in and out of town that night as far as izumo and matsue (both an hour from here).

got stopped twice on my way out and again on my way back home a few hours later.

i am not at liberty to disclose what transpired within those few hours.

You just did......booty call

[Behan]

Two years ago (I probably told this story before, but if you sit there quietly and listen, Greji will give you all a nice shiny quater), I was moving from manshon A to manshon B, which are located 8 minutes from each other. Hence, I did most of the light moving using the carry-it or drag-it-in-a-suitcase methods.
On a Saturday night around 11pm, I was moving the stereo to the new place and two cops bicycled by. Saturday night, 11 pm, gaijin carrying a stereo, and they didn't even bat an eye. Had I been carrying a bicycle......

They realized how much paper work they would have to do had you been moving a corpse in one of those suitcases. I would use this as an example of [I]mendokusai[I] if I were a Japanese teacher.

[kusai Jijii]

Not thread related, but fuck me, and I've said it before, but I LOVE the poo cutter on Iraira's avatar!

[Iraira]

They realized how much paper work they would have to do had you been moving a corpse in one of those suitcases. I would use this as an example of mendokusai[I] if I were a Japanese teacher.

Was into short girls at the time, so "[I]corpses" would be a more accurate description....

[Iraira]

Not thread related, but fuck me, and I've said it before, but I LOVE the poo cutter on Iraira's avatar!

Thanks, but I prefer the girl over the thong she's wearing....I'm not judging you. I strongly believe that to each their own fetishes.

[james]

You just did......booty call

ask me no questions and i'll tell you no lies

[fatslug]

3x

and twice got caught for riding stolen bikes !

unlucky or what !!!?