International drivers licences

[legion]

Since I got married and had kids I have ridden my bike much less and rarely drive, hence a gold license. Before that I made at least a yearly contribution to the police bonenkai/hanami fund.

I think if you are driving a heavily laden van and it is low on the road you might attract attention.

The po pos are certainly getting uppity, I was eyeballed two nights in a row on the same stretch of road while I was cycling home in a cycle lane from the station, po po in a po po car with no lights on doing the irritating slow drive along a busy road while everyone else like me is on their way home after a long day wanting their supper.

I think we are seeing a bit of a ripple effect from Abe's jingoism, no economic success to speak of so they will pump up the Nippon Nippon bit for a while.

[matsuki]

I think if you are driving a heavily laden van and it is low on the road you might attract attention.

It's not that heavily laden or low...and I can't emphasize enough it's a miniVAN. It's even in We Japanese white....can't get much less conspicuous than that.

Another, highly likely, possibility is there are just waaaaaaay more police out on patrol in my area. While I like the idea of kobans here and there, I saw over 20 police officers on just the way home tonight. Twice, I passed some sort of checkpoints with 3-5 officers standing around on the side of the road with a patrol car, while one gives everyone the stink-eye as they pass. I don't know what they're looking for...seatbelt/cellphone violations? burned out lights? Whatever it is, it's during and after rush hour and more than just an occasional occurrence, I see this shit on a weekly basis in Tokyo but have seen nothing like it on the other side of the island.

[legion]

I think if you are driving a heavily laden van and it is low on the road you might attract attention.

It's not that heavily laden or low...and I can't emphasize enough it's a miniVAN. It's even in We Japanese white....can't get much less conspicuous than that.

that's kind of my point, mini vans have those little wheels so with a bit of weight they show it. Plus the police love to pick on the little guy, they will not see a large car shoot a cold red light but pounce on the ojichan for not having the right coloured flag on the ladder strapped to the back of his kei truck

[Russell]

I think if you are driving a heavily laden van and it is low on the road you might attract attention.

It's not that heavily laden or low...and I can't emphasize enough it's a miniVAN. It's even in We Japanese white....can't get much less conspicuous than that.

that's kind of my point, mini vans have those little wheels so with a bit of weight they show it. Plus the police love to pick on the little guy, they will not see a large car shoot a cold red light but pounce on the ojichan for not having the right coloured flag on the ladder strapped to the back of his kei truck

Talking about flags strapped to long stock on a car or truck, what are the rules for that?

I once attached a red piece of cloth to 4 m long wood that I carried on the roof of my Keijidousha. Is this legal/illegal?

[Coligny]

No mention of the ridiculous flag anymoar.

Personally I tape a small expresso coffee cup sized red beacon at the end of the load (cigaret lighter plug powered, so little long wiire necessary)

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[twww]

Earlier this yr I was involved in a minor car accident.

We were behind a car waiting to both turn left. The driver hesitated trying to get onto the main road, crept forward and then reversed slightly. She forgot to put it back into drive when it was all clear and reversed into us.

Wasn't a good time as we were on our way to my wife's father's internment. Her sister and my daughter were also in the car. We missed the whole thing as we had to wait for a scooter riding police from the Koban, her scooter riding superior and then two officers in a van...

The whole process was painfully slow and convoluted for something so minor.

Yes I did have my international drivers license.

[wagyl]

Are you a resident in Japan? Have you been in Japan more than one year? If you are, I think it might pay you to read this thread and the links.

Parade of pedants:::::
Internment is imprisonment or incarceration.
Interment is burial.
Permits for burial are now rare in Japan, largely limited to small parts of Nara and Wakayama prefectures, Muslims and the Imperial family.
::::::

[twww]

Are you a resident in Japan? Have you been in Japan more than one year? If you are, I think it might pay you to read this thread and the links.

Parade of pedants:::::
Internment is imprisonment or incarceration.
Interment is burial.
Permits for burial are now rare in Japan, largely limited to small parts of Nara and Wakayama prefectures, Muslims and the Imperial family.
::::::

No.

Should have used the word interred.

Cheers for the history lesson.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Are you a resident in Japan? Have you been in Japan more than one year? If you are, I think it might pay you to read this thread and the links.

Parade of pedants:::::
Internment is imprisonment or incarceration.
Interment is burial.
Permits for burial are now rare in Japan, largely limited to small parts of Nara and Wakayama prefectures, Muslims and the Imperial family.
::::::

No.

Should have used the word interred.

Cheers for the history lesson.

Which part was the history lesson?

[Buraku]

81-year-old driver arrested after plowing into group of children
https://japantoday.com/category/crime/8 ... f-children

[matsuki]

81-year-old driver arrested after plowing into group of children
https://japantoday.com/category/crime/8 ... f-children

No sidewalks, bumbling elderly drivers, what could go wrong? On the bright side, at least with population decline, there are less child bowling pins so the stats will improve with only more gaman!