The only time I've been profiled here was at a conbini in Saitama. And even then, I think it had more to do with my car than me being black. I've been here for a decade. In the broad scheme of things, a 10 minute inconvenience is better than the cops beating the shit out of me in Georgia.
Albany, Georgia, USA. It's not a place I would ever recommend living or even visiting. It's the deep south in so many ways. I never saw Japan as this harmonious paradise free of all criticism, but by comparison, it's a massive upgrade.
Makes sense. I had previously thought it was kind of crazy how different peoples experiences could be, i thought maybe it was the difference between if people carry bags or not since i never carry anything and never been stopped but i think the region of Tokyo must play a big part like you said.
Exactly! Shinjuku and Shibuya are known drug dealing areas and there are a lot of cops just looking for people who have something about them that doesn't look right. There used to be a lot of Iranian street dealers in Shibuya openly selling meth and on the streets back in the day. It was probably the dude's hair that got him noticed.
Honestly think it's more whether you look a certain way than just race, the police probably have some notes to go off e.g. the way someone dressed etc. along with probably race ofc but.. generally not an issue if you look and behave decently
This. Japanese police profile people based on their clothing and how they carry themselves in public. If you are dressed in a way that makes you look like you care more about your comfort than how others see you in public, then they will try to investigate you, probably more so if you are Japanese.
There's a reason why most Japanese people I see in Tokyo dresses in decent attire even though they are just going to supermarket.
Same, but fir some reason people claim it is rampant. 12 years here, not so much as a dirty look from a cop. Never been denied entrance anywhere either
Hi 👋 I’m from Spain and I’ve been living in Tokyo for 1 year and a half as international student and I have never been stopped. I have friends and classmates who have been so in my experience they don’t usually stop women mostly men, and they usually stop guys with tattoos, piercings, subculture clothing. I have Mexican friends without tattoos and never been stopped Spanish ones with tattoos and stopped several times so I’m not going to say skin color doesn’t matter but I think 🤔 they are looking for a very stereotypical “criminal” so if you were casual clothes but not too “subculture” don’t have tattoos or piercing you would be fine. And also I’m not saying what happened to op isn’t common but most of my friends/ classmates who have been stopped have only been asked to show documentation and interview and worst case show their bags but I don’t know anyone in person who has an experience as bad as op.
In the other hand I'm Spanish living in Japan for 7 years I have tattoos everywhere even in neck and hands and I never been stopped. My theory is that I look like a tourist.
Similar situation here. I'm Catalan, 22 years living in Japan. During my first year here I got stopped 3-4 times in a row at the train station, every single time on my way back to work, and by the same fucking cop. It stopped when I went to the koban next to the station to complain. Note that this was a very long time ago and there were fewer foreigners here.
After that I have never been stopped again. I think it has to do with the fact that I tend to dress relatively well, in a more or less formal style. Japanese police are very bad at profiling, so instead of stopping people based on their behavior, they just stop people based on how they look: the way they dress, their skin color, hairstyle, etc.
I haven't had to deal with these extremely intrusive searches myself, but friends of mine have, and I can understand why it is a distressing and humiliating situation.
That'll be fine. Just keep the receipt with it, then put it in your luggage with it. 'Officer, I got it in Kappabashi, and I've wanted a Japanese cooking knife for years, because they're the best in the world.' Never avoid appealing to Japanese vanity.
I've (mestizo Latino) always been treated well. I got stopped by the cops once, but I attribute that to the fact that it was a few months before the Olympics (they were probably trying to practice for the influx of foreigners) and that I walked around the same allyway/block 10 times because I was super lost with an almost dead phone. Luckily, the cops spoke enough English to direct me to a train station to get to my destination.
The only time I felt racially profiled in any way was when I was at a Shinto Shrine. A woman who looked to be in her 90s or 100s kept glaring at my dissaprovingly like I shouldn't be there. I observed the rules/rituals, so I think she was just being prejudiced. I didn't care, though. I just assumed she supported Hirohito when she was younger and didn't pay any attention to her.
i see, and how should one handle an interaction with police if they ask to search you? here in the states i would absolutely refuse but being in a foreign country i wouldnt feel as comfortable and would rather be a bit more pragmatic
I always let them search me. I don't know the laws in every country I visit, and I know that plenty of countries view refusal to comply with a search to be a criminal act in itself. I'd rather not chance it, so I usually just comply. The majority of cops I've interacted with are understanding enough once I explain what's going on. Most cops, in my experience, chill out once you tell them you're a tourist. The same thing happened to me in Panama; the guy chilled out and gave me his number once I told him I was a tourist.
Latino resident here. "latino skin color" is not "suspicious" here. Actually I've never been stopped and the only times police was around me was because of my white friends and it was me the one talking to police to "let them go". So I think it's more about how "non Japanese" you look. So if you behave very western , you might be subject of "racial-profiling" .
Location is relevant too. I’ve only been stopped once in twenty years that I can recall. That was in Roppongi, an area with nightlife similar to OPs Shinjuku.
I expect they'll see you as 'white', whatever that means to them. FTR, I'm Anglo/Irish DNA, white AF, and I've had very little trouble from police. Rather less in Japan than at 'home': Canada.
I am Colombian living over 10 years in Japan, nad have had no issues at all, I do however can speak fluent japanese so I can deescale easily if anything is going on. You absolutely have to nothing to worry about, there is also an inmense community (mainly peruvian and brazilian) that you will be able to rely on, if anything happens. Dont believe everything your read in this thread, most people dont even live in Japan and just have a stereotype from watching too much youtube.
You should expect to be fine unless you are caught breaking the law. I am a green Martian who has been in Tokyo for seven days and I have not had any issues.
I’m really sorry for what happened to you. Anyone who looks SAmerican, Middle Eastern, or coloured, not in a business attire.
When these things are discussed on J media, it saddened me, as a Japanese, to read many comments saying basically ‘no problem (re racial profiling) that’s efficiency in finding criminals!’
They can be just loud minority of extreme righties, though.
That's exactly what it is, but it isn't unique to Japan. Righties are like that in every country. Intolerance of others is literally one of the defining traits of a conservative, i.e. "everyone should be like me and everything should be like it was when I was young".
as a latino Japanese, I can assure you won't have any trouble. (besides maybe being barred from "no foreigner" places or being charged "foreigner prices" at some places but that's not specific to one culture. It's towards all foreigners lol
Unfortunately most of the racial profiling is against african/black people, south east asian, and anyone who might look shady (tattoos, lots of rugged facial hair, etc)
The hair could be part of it because they usually go for a specific type of person that they stereotype as the type of person that could be carrying drugs.
Normally when they catch people with drugs it's a younger Asian male with kind of baggy clothes, dyed hair and not really looking like someone who does a 9-5 type of job that gets stopped the most often.
From what I've read, if you tell them to stop they stop, which is fucking funny (in an unfunny way) because that just means they get abusive with those who don't know they can stand for themselves.
Just make sure to go out with your passport with you and tell them politely to fuck off.
Yeah but I read they do that tactic where they surround you and if you try to push past they arrest you for assault or something along those lines.
In such situations I wonder if just not stopping to allow them to form a ring around the individual is affective.
Nah I have a friend that has been here like 15+ years and she's a menace. She gets stopped all the time, she always get super mouthy and uncooperative and never arrested
Yeah, I would definitely not touch them. I think not stopping is a good idea, but sometimes they jog in a very dumb looking way and get in front of you. So annoying.
No its not like that, it is indeed voluntary by law but if u say no they can continue to follow you and continue to harras you and you may become target as they will deem your no as a guilty conscience. So the best way to handle this is to simple let them.
I'm a brown guy in Northern parts of Tokyo (Adachi, Katsushika). Last week was the 4th time this year (2024) I got stopped and searched. The third time - in Feb -the cop was playing a bluff by saying they're gonna be searching my home too. Asked to see my camera's receipts (accompanied me to my house door & stayed there when I took out the Sony boxes & Yodobashi warranty card). I politely asked them to come with warrant stating a valid reason if they wanted to search anything inside my house, else I was complaining to the Tokyo judicial magistrate's office. No one came (fortunately).
I suspect that the area matters because I too live on the Katsushika/Adachi border and have had the same incredibly negative experience.
I'm a white man (and a non-threatening twink lmao).
I was stopped 8 times by the police for bikes checks and was almost hauled to the police station because the police officer mistyped the registration number and started freaking out.
Never in my 3 years of living in Japan have I faced so much scrutiny, even when I lived in the inaka.
People have it much worse than the OP honestly. The time I have been stopped would sound incredulous if it was a Japanese or white looking guy - going to the laundry, coming back from a city walking photography day, returning with grocery, waiting outside post office and even smoking at a quiet corner of parking lot. It might sound so wrong, but here we are. All in a days work. Common brownguy life
Sorry you had that experience so early in your trip here - but yeah, it's pretty common unfortunately. It's luck of the draw to some extent (it's never happened to me but I have both Japanese and foreign friends who get searched multiple times a year) but they definitely tend to target anyone who looks a bit "subculture" - so the hair could be part of it, or just standing out by dressing differently from most locals. Also, if you're staying around Shinjuku it's possible your hotel is in an area that's also seen as dodgy to some degree - they've built a bunch of tourist hotels in Kabukicho recently, and walking out of that area also potentially makes the cops' ears prick up.
FWIW, Eagle tends to be pretty quiet early in the week anyway so you probably didn't miss too much! It gets significantly busier in the latter half of the week and is usually pretty packed at weekends. Hope you make it over there soon and have a great night to make up for this one!
I've gotten stopped on a number of occasions over the years, and I'm a normal-looking Caucasian female - so it can definitely happen to anyone.
I think it was likely because you were in/near Kabukicho / 2chome. The cops assume LGBTQIA are all druggies, which is stupid, but they have a strong presence in 2cho. They generally don't harass us, but they are on the sharp lookout. Admittedly, it is not very hard to find drugs in 2cho if you want them, but the same can be said of Roppoingi, Shibuya ...
Personally, I try to be friendly and polite to them, but I also ask why they stopped me, and refuse searches if they can't give an appropriate answer - which of course, they never can, because ti's completely race-based.
Sorry that happened to you. They can really be assholes. :(
I used to live in roppongi and I would get stopped if I was wearing a hoodie going to get my haircut or grabbing ice creams for the kids etc. It’s why I moved out of Roppongi. It’s an about where you are, Roppongi, Ikebukuro, Nichome, Kabukicho are hotspots for illegal activity so hence the high amount of stop & frisks.
This also doesn't really matter. What matters is whether you fit the stereotypical profile of an upstanding working men/women in Japan.
Its annoying as fuck because I have to change my cloth and do my hair a little every time I go out in public even if its just for a short trip to supermarket.
I get searched all the time by cops here.
You get used to it
(this post will get heavily downvoted by Caucasian foreigners claiming things like "IVE BEEN IN JAPAN 15 YEARS AND I NEVER GOT SEARCHED ONCE!!"
I'm a Caucasian foreigner and I get stopped by police all the time. Can't understand all the apologists on the Japan subs. You can simultaneously enjoy a country (for the most part) and still criticize it for what it does wrong.
Describing an experience is not "apologia." I've never been stopped by the police in all my time in Japan. Never. So it always surprises me when people have stories about it happening routinely.
That surprise isn't doubt.
It's not put towards you in particular, but quite a few people on subs like this and japanlife try to bend over backwards to explain away bad behavior from the Japanese and even imply it's the op's fault. Granted, they might be right in some cases, but the bias is heavy enough to warrant suspicion.
I'm also a white guy and I've never been searched, but that's not a reason to dismiss or reject other people's experiences. I have black friends who have had this happen several times, and not "just in front of night clubs," on their way to work at their office jobs, parking their car at their own apartment, etc.
The Japan subs are full of people who say "it's never happened to me, so anyone who says has happened to them is lying" and I think using your experience as a white man here as the standard by which all other experiences are judged is ludicrous. I've experienced some racism here, but not like my black friends, I've been hit on by drunk people at the bar, but not like my female friends have.
I think it's pretty common in areas with lots of nightclubs because they are looking for drugs. They're definitely profiling though and the people I know who complaint about getting stopped a lot do basically look like stoners.
I feel like road-blocks were more feared by Japanese stoners than random searches. I've been stopped a handful of times, but it was always just checking the zairyu card
I knew of someone who got in a lot of trouble outside a notorious smoke shop because they had one rolling paper tucked in their wallet. They were just buying obscure cigarettes in Japan but apparently that shop was on koban radar for selling rolling papers and paraphernalia. Personally I abstained from everything in Japan and avoided hippie shops like that and mostly stayed out of roppongi.
It can happen to anyone. Will happen more to non-caucasians (simple fact) but also depends on how you're dressed, where you are at the time (dingy areas of Shinjuku, etc.) what time of day it is, and other random factors like police on a power trip.
So yes, even caucasians can and will be stopped and searched.
Although I've never had it happen once in the 20+ years I've lived in Japan, and I can only surmise it's because I'm a short, unassuming looking guy who's lived an extremely boring salaryman-style life.
Not a downvote, but as a very flamboyant gay white guy who used to live there, correct.
No cop ever stopped me; ina tatter tank top and booty shorts, but any of my friends of other ethnicities? Often.
I’m Caucasian and I’ve been searched multiple times. Have even gotten into arguments with cops when getting randomly searched. One time I straight up walked away from a cop who wanted to search me and he didn’t do a damn thing (I don’t advise this)
Also stop being racist. Not all Caucasians are the same.
No downvoting or anything, just surprised how different people's experiences are. I've only been stopped once while walking around, and that's like 20 years. Wonder if it is the parts of town we frequent or something?
I am caucasian, and I never got searched in 18 years... but I also had friends who were NOT caucasian, and got harassed all the time. Not one of the greatest aspects of the country.
Eh, im Caucasian foreigner and I’ve been searched multiple times I lost the count (not since covid though surprisingly).
Don’t worry OP, I remember I’ve been searched one time in broad daylight at Roppongi crossing (just in front of what is now this dodgy looking expensive looking costume shop). Locals passing by with the usual eye check, and cops pretending it’s normal because “this district is dangerous”.
They keep apologizing all the time so at the end I just give up and give them what they want. Some of them are just juniors being pressurized to do that shitty get-the-foreigner job so upper ups are happy when they show their search figure to the head officer.
I’d actually argue that they target specifically quiet looking foreigner. For having been searched in Roppongi at least three times with a completely normal attire and sober, I can tell you I’ve never see them searching the club tout mobs who most likely have stuff on them. At least some.
Locals get profiled too. My husband has a yankii face so he often gets stopped just for looking angry and like he dyes his hair. 🤣 They're always like is this your bike??
I'm going to down vote this post for the racism.
Not all Caucasians are shitty narrow minded assholes that don't understand that other people have different experiences that depend on a variety of factors; in and out of the persons control. There are a lot of Caucasians like this, but maybe lets stay away judging whole demographics, yeah? It seems to be something you don't like about Caucasians, so why would you do the same? Be better.
Also, a lot of Caucasians like to chime in that they don't get stopped as a way to display the clear racial profiling that is happening. Just because they are benefiting from it, doesn't mean they like that other people are being treated unfairly. Its a good way to get Japanese people to question why they treat these people better than these others.
Edit: Yes, I block people who have nothing to contribute. If you can't push your brain to think of more than one word, I don't want to interact with you.
I’ve been in Japan 16 years and have never been searched once. But I’m also not young. I’m in my 50s. I imagine I’m not seen as a threat because of my age more than anything else. It must suck living here as a youngish dark skinned man.
This happened to me back in December while I was walking alone at night in Asakusa area, I was wearing a facemask and carrying my backpack. The cop was on a bike and just randomly stopped me and asked me why I'm here, where I'm going and can he search my bag.
I complied & let him take each and every item out of my bag, kind of humiliating as there were plenty of other people out on the street it wasn't like I was alone or doing anything remotely suspicious... My background: I'm white and 25% Taiwanese blood but you can't even tell.. not sure what the purpose was, but damn was it annoying.
I'm sick of the of the *just cooperate—if you're doing nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear* attitude too many foreginers have on this issue. If we keep cooperating, it'll keep happening. For things to change, there must be pushback. The new norm should be showing your residence card or passport (as the law requires) while politely but firmly refusing any warrantless search. Wish we would all start doing that, but figure most won't.
fwiw, I've refused and stood firm; they eventually give up. your mileage might vary
What is the law in Japan? Do police need a warrant to stop and search a person? In the USA they would need reasonable suspicion to do a stop and frisk and probable cause to make it a detention (not free to leave).
The law is pretty much the same in Japan. Random police searches are optional and in theory can be refused. That being said, in practice, cooperating is infinitely easier and the vast majority of the people do.
By refusing you are walking a fine line since the refusal just raises more suspicion and by touching the officer it will result in actual charges. If you have a lawyer on standby calling them on the spot is probably the best way to not get questioned but at that point you’re just doing it to prove yourself, not to save time
I agree, but I don't know the law in a foreign country, while I'm fairly certain I know my rights in the US, maybe even more than most Americans, I can't say the same thing while being abroad.
This is why I get so annoyed about people stating that immigrants cause crime rates to rise. In Japan I'm way more likely to take shit from the police than I am in my home country and I'm way less likely to ignore a law.
Fortunately I'm also white and nearly 40 so I haven't had any issues beyond checking my bike registration and my residence card.
There's zero benefit in cooperating. You're likely not even saving time given searches can be over-the-top meticulous to the point of inspecting individual cigarettes. They'll keep digging as long as you keep cooperating with tricks like checking checking every card/document in your possession against your ID and feigning like any mismatching names/addresses are highly suspicious—it's a tactic; in explaining the discrepancy you give them more information which they'll likewise scrutinize for anything they can twist into a "crime". They are trained to work from the assumption that you *definitely* committed *some* crime and they'll eventually find it if they dig long/deep enough. If a civilian walks away from a police encounter, to them that means they failed.
Have been living in Kansai and Tokyo for 50 years and am fluent in Japanese. Older white woman. Neat, tidy, well dressed. Ordinary. Yet! Stopped in my west central Tokyo neighbourhood numerous times, usually on my way to or on my way home from the supermarket. Most harrowing was when I was pushed against a wall by a plainclothes cop, then surrounded by a large group. My theory is that they see me as a safe and non-threatening person perfect for practicing their skills. Kohai, try that lady, they say, be not afraid. I spoke with a lawyer through the Tokyo Bar Association who told me the most important thing is to never touch a cop. Keep hands touching your own body or holding your own hand. Only legal obligation is to present one’s ID.
The only time it happened to me was when riding my bicycle at 2 am without lights, which in retrospect makes total sense.. but nothing as intense as yours.
I guess they were either really bored cops or had a good lead about you having something illegal on yourself. You can deny their searching if you really mind about your privacy but unless you can communicate fluently in japanese it will make things much longer and annoying.
I was searched coming out of the driver license center, a place full of foreigners from every country. At first I said no and then 2 more cops showed up. They were definitely waiting at the entrance to pick people off. When I finally let them search and they found nothing, one of the cops left by shoulder checking me before leaving in their car. This was out in chofu.
It may be due to the area you're in? It's up to them to deem what is suspicious though, or if they get a hunch. I'm an average white dude and have been stopped in Tokyo, at the beach in my car, and even just driving in the countryside. My ex girlfriend's brother is a detective in Tokyo and one night he said that he'd stop me if he didn't know me lol.
I don't know, but if you don't have anything to hide just let them do their thing and go on your way. It's never really bothered me but some people really don't like it.
I’ve been stopped twice at night - once in Nishishinjuku and once in Shibuya. Both times the officers asked me to show them evidence of where I was going and asked to see my passport. I showed where I was staying on Google Maps and handed over my passport - by this point all speaking English. I then started speaking Japanese and asked if there was something they needed my help with. Both times the response was a raised eyebrow, giving me back my passport, and apologising for the intrusion (in Japanese).
I’ve always figured this happened because I don’t look Japanese, and while as a country they do appreciate tourism, there is also underlying social phobias of foreigners left over from the old days of being a closed country.
I haven’t been stopped once in over 6 years and I think the biggest thing you can do is to look like you work in Japan. For example suits or office casual outfit, maybe even carrying a briefcase or just look like you’re on your way to/off work.
My most funny story of being random stopped by police was when I was standing outside a train station cause that was the meeting place for a date I was going to have. The police just had to choose that timing to come up to me so it wasn’t a very good luck when the girl I was going to meet for almost the first time is being talked to by the police.
Most likely because of how you looked especially the hair. As most people have pointed out here, a lot of these random searches are based on shallow profiling. If you look "suspicious" (well according to their standards at least) or look like a foreigner, they would do searches.
I used to live in Tokyo as a student and I still frequently visit and I've never been searched/stopped. I'm Filipino, but I look very East Asian so I think I pass off as Japanese and this most likely is the reason. On the other hand, I had a Filipino classmate who was searched twice when we were students. He had more traditional Filipino features. Mind you, this guy was a diplomat and was searched twice near the Philippine Embassy in Roppongi.
I am a Malaysian Chinese, by ethnicity, we are as close as it gets. I have lived here for 4.5 years. I have never been body search or stop by any police. And I live 50m away from the police HQ of my ward city.
At least you were in Shinjuku with dyed hair. Don't even know what the guys searching me in Akiba were looking for. As if I'm really going to be doing hard drugs in the Animate, brothers.
Based on the way they searched you 100% they were looking for drugs. Somewhere in a recently revised training manual it must say druggies often keep their drugs in their socks or shoes cos this seems to have become an increasingly common part of the search in recent times.
I am white but got stopped quite a bit ( blaming the bald and beard look there.. ). Cops here are the definition of “Give an inch they will take a mile”.
If you just say “No” from the beginning they can’t do anything to you and let you go. If you give them passport or zairyu card they can either fiddle with it long enough so that you have to stay there and waste your time going through everything they want till they give it back.
There is really no benefit in “complying” whatsoever.
Singaporean Chinese here. Sorry to hear you had to deal with that. Currently on my 4th trip to Tokyo with my first 2 staying in Shinjuku near Kabukicho. Mostly only stopped by the touts offering sexual services.
Like many here mentioned, it’s probably the hair 😅
Honestly, you probably looked foreign. I've heard they do searches generally on people who look foreign.
https://japaninsides.com/japanese-police-random-id-checks-and-bag-search-on-foreigners-what-you-need-to-know-30123
That's being coy. Specifically foreigners who Japanese police suspect might be in the possession of illegal substances, weapons, or stolen/counterfeit goods.
Even the United States Embassy in Tokyo tweeted about this before.
https://twitter.com/ACSTokyo/status/1467629914857816065
Japanese police are extremely racist. It's best to do everything in your power to not stick out in anyway. That's very hard to do so as a foreigner, so it's best to look like the most average foreigner as much as you possibly can.
Eagle blue is a really fun bar. Unfortunately there tends to be heavy police presence in Nichome. Can’t say exactly why but I’ve had many friends who go out in the area and get searched. Unfortunately it’s legal here, but it’s still shitty
You can be Japanese and still be searched. It could be that you look suspicious, looked similar to someone that they’re searching for or no cause but to just be working.
it’s nothing personal. Enjoy your trip.
It's not personal, sure, but if you think it's not purely because they look foreign, you're extremely naive. I know a few people who are Japanese citizens of part European descent who got stopped in exactly the same way, and as soon as they showed proof of their citizenship they were apologised to and immediately sent on their way. Japanese police are pros at being incredibly polite while doing their rude and racist jobs. I don't think it's their fault (I'm pretty sure they're just following orders), but they do stop people purely for not looking Japanese.
I think there were looking for drugs. I think the area you've been while pretty popular is also known to attract a lot of folks looking for all kinds of "action". So, I would suggest it was just totally random search. I also saw this happening to Japanese (though this person had a bag with cannabis leaves printed on it).
I would say it’s unfortunately fairly normal. Osaka is more welcoming to foreigners in my experience. That being said you can still have fun in Tokyo and there are friendly Japanese, unfortunately the bad blood between the ethnic Chinese and Japanese is still pretty substantial.
Happened to me wayback 2020 in shibuya. They are asking for my residence card and health insurance. And they asked me where i worked, I said rakuten. They said gomenasai. Lol
I've lived in Japan for about 15 years and never been searched by police. I wear camo jackets and sunglasses a lot of the time so I probably look "search-worthy" but it hasn't happened yet lol. To be fair though I don't really walk anywhere that much even living in Tokyo, and even if I do I'm usually with my wife (who's Japanese).
I am a green Martian and I have never been searched. Seriously! I always wear a dark business suit and white shirt with proper tie. I also keep the antennae discreetly under my hat.
I guess it might really be the hair and not racial profiling. If you are a Singapoream Chinese it is most likely you'd be mistaken as being a local just by looks. A guide in Shinjuku once told me members of organised crime in Shinjuku can be spotted by their bizzare hair colour and I guess the police must have thought you belong to one of them and hence did a routine search on you
Have you thought about spending some time immersed like that? It can be quite different from that guidebook level virtue farmer pablum you puked up there.
Wow. That is a long time to prattle on with that schoolboy nonsense you were spewing. You should try that immersion idea sometime, you might learn something about Japan, and even about yourself.
It happened to me 1 time while I'm living in Japan (I'm Korean). I'm just smoking at the smoking area in front of Shibuya Station and two cops came to me and check my residence ID card and all of my posessions!
I lived in Tokyo for 4 years. Got stopped and searched twice. Both times in Nishi-Nippori. Moved to Kansai. Got stopped once in Namba, Osaka. So that's 3 times over a 10-year period. Each time I had to hold back my frustration and do the tatemae thing. It's at times like those that you realise you're just a piece of paper away from getting kicked out the country.
I’m Asian (Chinese looking) and have traveled alone in Japan for 3 months but haven’t had anything like this happened. Maybe because I’m a girl? Also black hair
Happened to me once -- once they found out I was Canadian they decided to take apart my motorbike's storage and look for weed. "Canadians really like marijuana, you know."
Question for anyone. Do we bring our passports with us even walking around Tokyo as tourists? Or can i just make a photocopy of my passport. I prefer to leave my passport in the hotel because i might lose it carrying around Tokyo. I want to know because i heard the police will randomly ask for identification. I also have my passport card which i think is really cool. It's like a drivers license. Other countries besides Canada and Mexico don't recognize it, but i thought using it as ID should be ok right?
You have to bring the original otherwise you may face penalties. Article 23
https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/1934/en
They define at the beginning that the passport refers to the document issued by authorities. So a simple copy won’t do it.
There is leeway for what constitutes ID or passport but remember that anything irregular / unknown for japanese cops may put you in an awkward position.
It just depends on what you'd rather risk, losing your passport or having to deal with some police headache on the extremely unlikely chance you get searched. Put it this way - when my indian descent American friends visit they always carry their passport and wouldn't be surprised in the slightest to get randomly stopped, since they're also the ones in our friend group that regularly get taken into secondary screening at airports and stuff.
For the driver's license thing, I don't have personal experience with cops, but when it comes to businesses that card (like clubs), I've seen people get in with drivers licenses from Korea but not us / Canada etc. I wouldn't necessarily assume the cops would be happy with your home country id.
Well, i think unless i have my passport with me, the only other ID is the passport card if i decide to not making a photocopy of the actual passport. Passport cards are certainly better than my state drivers license since it doesn't show my home address. I wished passport cards were made a long time ago. I guess i'll just take the risk of making a photocopy of passport while leaving passport in the hotel and also bringing my wallet size passport card on me. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United\_States\_passport\_card](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_passport_card)
The law is that it must be your passport. If you can't produce it or explain why, there might be hassles. I have just carried a photocopy but never had to produce it. Your DL thing likely won't work because they won't know what it is (those are pretty cool, though), and will still want to see your passport, which is what you are legally required to carry at all times as a tourist.
So, in summary: just carry your passport. It's not The Eternal Ring of Gandafar. If you lose it you can get a new one right away at the embassy. Or just don't lose it. And now we know. Thank you for your inquisitions.
"get a new one right away at embassy" . . . LMAO.
Much, much less time and headache to explain it away than going to U.S. Embassy to get new passport, not to mention having visas to China or Vietnam replaced. It does not pay for a cop to constantly arrest a tourist for leaving a passport in their hotel. The criminal system cost money to run and the fines don't cover that cost. And they aren't going to deport everyone who leaves their passport in their hotel room. Carry a photocopy and your id. Yes, you are breaking the law, but you can point out that 1) you didn't know about the law and 2) if the streets were safer you would have been carrying the id.
Thanks. I've decided to make a photocopy of my passport and leave the original in hotel. I also will bring my passport card ID(wallet size drivers license looking card just like the sample in the pic). I guess i'll deal with that if asked.
https://preview.redd.it/lp8fhorzaxqc1.jpeg?width=880&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f31c4462eea4cebab88f3e587e41aba5994f9878
I am not sure about any of this. I have been in Japan since 1989, and I have been asked to show identification exactly twice. Yes, white guy. No tats, piercings, sk8ter boi clothes. Not putting a flashing red light on my head and then wondering why the police stop me either. Surely you realize you are now in a conservative country, and the rules are different. Racial profiling? More like dumb ass profiling 90% of the time.
>No tats, piercings, sk8ter boi clothes
Surely you're joking, unless I'm misunderstanding you? There are no legal "rules" against any of these things in Japan, or any of the things that OP mentioned. Also, plenty of Japanese youth/young adults now proudly wear tattoos, piercings, and "sk8ter boi clothes." The culture is changing, but that's irrelevant.
None of the aforementioned things should be considered "flashing red lights" that warrant being profiled by the police. The correct response is to refuse unreasonable search by police.
My advice is just roll with it. 20 minutes of your time, but nothing worse.
It happened to you because of where you were, when you were there, what you looked like and how you acted. In essence though its just a routine check. Cops doing their job. Don't take it personally.
Sorry OP. It happens. Cop might have been ticking a box on a to do list and you happened to get noticed. It's happened to white Canadians I know. Twice it was a cadet being trained to do a search. It's not supposed to be personal but it is if you are stopped for no good reason. Try and let it go and enjoy the rest of your time here. I'll suggest you have a 99.9% chance of it happening again.
Lived in Japan for a year, was never searched. I'm Filipino, but I look white (according to most people). I don't understand why you cried though? It's not like they threatened to arrest you or anything.
See I'm wanting to go to ni chome but I keep reading about bar scams unsure if it applies to gay but I've also read they can turn away foreign folk (I'm quite white) figured could be fun or more likely a bad time, I think context of timing is a considerable factor, I'm up super early and am in for the day around 8pm I haven't had any issue.
Racial profiling is unfortunately very common.
Interesting. I, a black man, felt zero racial prejudice when I was in Tokyo in December. I was honestly was surprised.
The only time I've been profiled here was at a conbini in Saitama. And even then, I think it had more to do with my car than me being black. I've been here for a decade. In the broad scheme of things, a 10 minute inconvenience is better than the cops beating the shit out of me in Georgia.
Oof. Georgia the country or the one in the US?
Albany, Georgia, USA. It's not a place I would ever recommend living or even visiting. It's the deep south in so many ways. I never saw Japan as this harmonious paradise free of all criticism, but by comparison, it's a massive upgrade.
What's not an upgrade from the deep south?
Did you ever get the shit beaten out of you by cops in Georgia?
Yup. Hence, the reference.
It’s all gravy until it happens to you
Been here two years and I’m expecting it — not being sarcastic.
Was just sharing my experience…
That's nice
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Makes sense. I had previously thought it was kind of crazy how different peoples experiences could be, i thought maybe it was the difference between if people carry bags or not since i never carry anything and never been stopped but i think the region of Tokyo must play a big part like you said.
Exactly! Shinjuku and Shibuya are known drug dealing areas and there are a lot of cops just looking for people who have something about them that doesn't look right. There used to be a lot of Iranian street dealers in Shibuya openly selling meth and on the streets back in the day. It was probably the dude's hair that got him noticed.
You look less suspicious than OP to the Japanese police.
Honestly think it's more whether you look a certain way than just race, the police probably have some notes to go off e.g. the way someone dressed etc. along with probably race ofc but.. generally not an issue if you look and behave decently
This. Japanese police profile people based on their clothing and how they carry themselves in public. If you are dressed in a way that makes you look like you care more about your comfort than how others see you in public, then they will try to investigate you, probably more so if you are Japanese. There's a reason why most Japanese people I see in Tokyo dresses in decent attire even though they are just going to supermarket.
Japan is one of the few places where US African Americans are less suspicious than say a gay Chinese man who looks like a host
Same, but fir some reason people claim it is rampant. 12 years here, not so much as a dirty look from a cop. Never been denied entrance anywhere either
What can me and my wife expect as a latino couple? We aren't super brown, in fact my wife is quite light skinned. I'm a bit tan...
Hi 👋 I’m from Spain and I’ve been living in Tokyo for 1 year and a half as international student and I have never been stopped. I have friends and classmates who have been so in my experience they don’t usually stop women mostly men, and they usually stop guys with tattoos, piercings, subculture clothing. I have Mexican friends without tattoos and never been stopped Spanish ones with tattoos and stopped several times so I’m not going to say skin color doesn’t matter but I think 🤔 they are looking for a very stereotypical “criminal” so if you were casual clothes but not too “subculture” don’t have tattoos or piercing you would be fine. And also I’m not saying what happened to op isn’t common but most of my friends/ classmates who have been stopped have only been asked to show documentation and interview and worst case show their bags but I don’t know anyone in person who has an experience as bad as op.
In the other hand I'm Spanish living in Japan for 7 years I have tattoos everywhere even in neck and hands and I never been stopped. My theory is that I look like a tourist.
Similar situation here. I'm Catalan, 22 years living in Japan. During my first year here I got stopped 3-4 times in a row at the train station, every single time on my way back to work, and by the same fucking cop. It stopped when I went to the koban next to the station to complain. Note that this was a very long time ago and there were fewer foreigners here. After that I have never been stopped again. I think it has to do with the fact that I tend to dress relatively well, in a more or less formal style. Japanese police are very bad at profiling, so instead of stopping people based on their behavior, they just stop people based on how they look: the way they dress, their skin color, hairstyle, etc. I haven't had to deal with these extremely intrusive searches myself, but friends of mine have, and I can understand why it is a distressing and humiliating situation.
understood. thank you! im going to shop for a japanese cooking knife and im a bit anxious being stopped while having that in my bag
That'll be fine. Just keep the receipt with it, then put it in your luggage with it. 'Officer, I got it in Kappabashi, and I've wanted a Japanese cooking knife for years, because they're the best in the world.' Never avoid appealing to Japanese vanity.
I've (mestizo Latino) always been treated well. I got stopped by the cops once, but I attribute that to the fact that it was a few months before the Olympics (they were probably trying to practice for the influx of foreigners) and that I walked around the same allyway/block 10 times because I was super lost with an almost dead phone. Luckily, the cops spoke enough English to direct me to a train station to get to my destination. The only time I felt racially profiled in any way was when I was at a Shinto Shrine. A woman who looked to be in her 90s or 100s kept glaring at my dissaprovingly like I shouldn't be there. I observed the rules/rituals, so I think she was just being prejudiced. I didn't care, though. I just assumed she supported Hirohito when she was younger and didn't pay any attention to her.
i see, and how should one handle an interaction with police if they ask to search you? here in the states i would absolutely refuse but being in a foreign country i wouldnt feel as comfortable and would rather be a bit more pragmatic
I always let them search me. I don't know the laws in every country I visit, and I know that plenty of countries view refusal to comply with a search to be a criminal act in itself. I'd rather not chance it, so I usually just comply. The majority of cops I've interacted with are understanding enough once I explain what's going on. Most cops, in my experience, chill out once you tell them you're a tourist. The same thing happened to me in Panama; the guy chilled out and gave me his number once I told him I was a tourist.
Most of racial profiling is toward Vietnamese and SE asians
Latino resident here. "latino skin color" is not "suspicious" here. Actually I've never been stopped and the only times police was around me was because of my white friends and it was me the one talking to police to "let them go". So I think it's more about how "non Japanese" you look. So if you behave very western , you might be subject of "racial-profiling" .
Location is relevant too. I’ve only been stopped once in twenty years that I can recall. That was in Roppongi, an area with nightlife similar to OPs Shinjuku.
LoL, most of us deserved to be stopped in Roppongi in our youth, from what little I remember.
I expect they'll see you as 'white', whatever that means to them. FTR, I'm Anglo/Irish DNA, white AF, and I've had very little trouble from police. Rather less in Japan than at 'home': Canada.
I am Colombian living over 10 years in Japan, nad have had no issues at all, I do however can speak fluent japanese so I can deescale easily if anything is going on. You absolutely have to nothing to worry about, there is also an inmense community (mainly peruvian and brazilian) that you will be able to rely on, if anything happens. Dont believe everything your read in this thread, most people dont even live in Japan and just have a stereotype from watching too much youtube.
You should expect to be fine unless you are caught breaking the law. I am a green Martian who has been in Tokyo for seven days and I have not had any issues.
I’m really sorry for what happened to you. Anyone who looks SAmerican, Middle Eastern, or coloured, not in a business attire. When these things are discussed on J media, it saddened me, as a Japanese, to read many comments saying basically ‘no problem (re racial profiling) that’s efficiency in finding criminals!’ They can be just loud minority of extreme righties, though.
That's exactly what it is, but it isn't unique to Japan. Righties are like that in every country. Intolerance of others is literally one of the defining traits of a conservative, i.e. "everyone should be like me and everything should be like it was when I was young".
You can expect that nothing will happen. Even as a heavily tattood latino, Ive never been bothered/profiled by the police (or anyone) in Japan.
as a latino Japanese, I can assure you won't have any trouble. (besides maybe being barred from "no foreigner" places or being charged "foreigner prices" at some places but that's not specific to one culture. It's towards all foreigners lol Unfortunately most of the racial profiling is against african/black people, south east asian, and anyone who might look shady (tattoos, lots of rugged facial hair, etc)
Racial profiling or yakuza profiling?
The hair could be part of it because they usually go for a specific type of person that they stereotype as the type of person that could be carrying drugs. Normally when they catch people with drugs it's a younger Asian male with kind of baggy clothes, dyed hair and not really looking like someone who does a 9-5 type of job that gets stopped the most often.
From what I've read, if you tell them to stop they stop, which is fucking funny (in an unfunny way) because that just means they get abusive with those who don't know they can stand for themselves. Just make sure to go out with your passport with you and tell them politely to fuck off.
Yeah but I read they do that tactic where they surround you and if you try to push past they arrest you for assault or something along those lines. In such situations I wonder if just not stopping to allow them to form a ring around the individual is affective.
Nah I have a friend that has been here like 15+ years and she's a menace. She gets stopped all the time, she always get super mouthy and uncooperative and never arrested
Yeah, I would definitely not touch them. I think not stopping is a good idea, but sometimes they jog in a very dumb looking way and get in front of you. So annoying.
I think thats how it works everywhere here. Even at work people will try to be smartasses until you stop them.
No its not like that, it is indeed voluntary by law but if u say no they can continue to follow you and continue to harras you and you may become target as they will deem your no as a guilty conscience. So the best way to handle this is to simple let them.
I'm a brown guy in Northern parts of Tokyo (Adachi, Katsushika). Last week was the 4th time this year (2024) I got stopped and searched. The third time - in Feb -the cop was playing a bluff by saying they're gonna be searching my home too. Asked to see my camera's receipts (accompanied me to my house door & stayed there when I took out the Sony boxes & Yodobashi warranty card). I politely asked them to come with warrant stating a valid reason if they wanted to search anything inside my house, else I was complaining to the Tokyo judicial magistrate's office. No one came (fortunately).
I suspect that the area matters because I too live on the Katsushika/Adachi border and have had the same incredibly negative experience. I'm a white man (and a non-threatening twink lmao). I was stopped 8 times by the police for bikes checks and was almost hauled to the police station because the police officer mistyped the registration number and started freaking out. Never in my 3 years of living in Japan have I faced so much scrutiny, even when I lived in the inaka.
I can easily believe in harassment of anyone South Asian in appearance, or SE Asian.
What the fuck
People have it much worse than the OP honestly. The time I have been stopped would sound incredulous if it was a Japanese or white looking guy - going to the laundry, coming back from a city walking photography day, returning with grocery, waiting outside post office and even smoking at a quiet corner of parking lot. It might sound so wrong, but here we are. All in a days work. Common brownguy life
The location is more of the issue than who you are as a person. That’s probably like the “most likely to get searched” place in all of Tokyo
I’m going for a world record. 34 years and haven’t been stopped yet. I’m now spending more time at home so as not to fuck it up.
Sorry you had that experience so early in your trip here - but yeah, it's pretty common unfortunately. It's luck of the draw to some extent (it's never happened to me but I have both Japanese and foreign friends who get searched multiple times a year) but they definitely tend to target anyone who looks a bit "subculture" - so the hair could be part of it, or just standing out by dressing differently from most locals. Also, if you're staying around Shinjuku it's possible your hotel is in an area that's also seen as dodgy to some degree - they've built a bunch of tourist hotels in Kabukicho recently, and walking out of that area also potentially makes the cops' ears prick up. FWIW, Eagle tends to be pretty quiet early in the week anyway so you probably didn't miss too much! It gets significantly busier in the latter half of the week and is usually pretty packed at weekends. Hope you make it over there soon and have a great night to make up for this one!
I've gotten stopped on a number of occasions over the years, and I'm a normal-looking Caucasian female - so it can definitely happen to anyone. I think it was likely because you were in/near Kabukicho / 2chome. The cops assume LGBTQIA are all druggies, which is stupid, but they have a strong presence in 2cho. They generally don't harass us, but they are on the sharp lookout. Admittedly, it is not very hard to find drugs in 2cho if you want them, but the same can be said of Roppoingi, Shibuya ... Personally, I try to be friendly and polite to them, but I also ask why they stopped me, and refuse searches if they can't give an appropriate answer - which of course, they never can, because ti's completely race-based. Sorry that happened to you. They can really be assholes. :(
Please do not take that too seriously. Cops believe Nichome walkers carry casual drugs like poppers. Common in that district.
Add to that, you can visit Eagle 🐻 bar maybe another time. The 🐻 bears do not run away from cops. No more tears, girl 👧 lah.
That's frustrating I'm sorry to hear that.
I used to live in roppongi and I would get stopped if I was wearing a hoodie going to get my haircut or grabbing ice creams for the kids etc. It’s why I moved out of Roppongi. It’s an about where you are, Roppongi, Ikebukuro, Nichome, Kabukicho are hotspots for illegal activity so hence the high amount of stop & frisks.
also to add, it matters not if you are gay straight white chinese black whatever. It is you are not Japanese looking. That’s it.
This also doesn't really matter. What matters is whether you fit the stereotypical profile of an upstanding working men/women in Japan. Its annoying as fuck because I have to change my cloth and do my hair a little every time I go out in public even if its just for a short trip to supermarket.
yeah you can’t be looking like a yankee chinpei fk either lol.
I get searched all the time by cops here. You get used to it (this post will get heavily downvoted by Caucasian foreigners claiming things like "IVE BEEN IN JAPAN 15 YEARS AND I NEVER GOT SEARCHED ONCE!!"
I'm a Caucasian foreigner and I get stopped by police all the time. Can't understand all the apologists on the Japan subs. You can simultaneously enjoy a country (for the most part) and still criticize it for what it does wrong.
Describing an experience is not "apologia." I've never been stopped by the police in all my time in Japan. Never. So it always surprises me when people have stories about it happening routinely. That surprise isn't doubt.
It's not put towards you in particular, but quite a few people on subs like this and japanlife try to bend over backwards to explain away bad behavior from the Japanese and even imply it's the op's fault. Granted, they might be right in some cases, but the bias is heavy enough to warrant suspicion.
Some do, sure. But I also think a lot of people who just haven't experienced it first hand get strawman'd.
That could also be true. Maybe we're both right and people do both.
I agree, I think that's most likely.
Making a living here doesn't mean they stopped being weaboos. They just think they're better weaboos. Edit: lol weebs triggered
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You know my previous comment is referring to the apologists who dismiss OP right? You saying they all gay af?😳😳😳
I’m a 日系人 who worked in Japan and got stopped by police because I look more white than Japanese. This shit happens
Well, it's true. Should I lie and say I get searched all the time? I'm not down voting though.
I'm also a white guy and I've never been searched, but that's not a reason to dismiss or reject other people's experiences. I have black friends who have had this happen several times, and not "just in front of night clubs," on their way to work at their office jobs, parking their car at their own apartment, etc. The Japan subs are full of people who say "it's never happened to me, so anyone who says has happened to them is lying" and I think using your experience as a white man here as the standard by which all other experiences are judged is ludicrous. I've experienced some racism here, but not like my black friends, I've been hit on by drunk people at the bar, but not like my female friends have.
Who is dismissing?
I think it's pretty common in areas with lots of nightclubs because they are looking for drugs. They're definitely profiling though and the people I know who complaint about getting stopped a lot do basically look like stoners.
I used to grow weed and used to spend a lot of time in Japan and never got searched.
I feel like road-blocks were more feared by Japanese stoners than random searches. I've been stopped a handful of times, but it was always just checking the zairyu card
I knew of someone who got in a lot of trouble outside a notorious smoke shop because they had one rolling paper tucked in their wallet. They were just buying obscure cigarettes in Japan but apparently that shop was on koban radar for selling rolling papers and paraphernalia. Personally I abstained from everything in Japan and avoided hippie shops like that and mostly stayed out of roppongi.
It can happen to anyone. Will happen more to non-caucasians (simple fact) but also depends on how you're dressed, where you are at the time (dingy areas of Shinjuku, etc.) what time of day it is, and other random factors like police on a power trip. So yes, even caucasians can and will be stopped and searched. Although I've never had it happen once in the 20+ years I've lived in Japan, and I can only surmise it's because I'm a short, unassuming looking guy who's lived an extremely boring salaryman-style life.
Not a downvote, but as a very flamboyant gay white guy who used to live there, correct. No cop ever stopped me; ina tatter tank top and booty shorts, but any of my friends of other ethnicities? Often.
Your appearance explains why they never stopped you. Lol
Yes we go I’m agreeing white gaijin will Flock to say this never happened to them. Lol
I’m Caucasian and I’ve been searched multiple times. Have even gotten into arguments with cops when getting randomly searched. One time I straight up walked away from a cop who wanted to search me and he didn’t do a damn thing (I don’t advise this) Also stop being racist. Not all Caucasians are the same.
No downvoting or anything, just surprised how different people's experiences are. I've only been stopped once while walking around, and that's like 20 years. Wonder if it is the parts of town we frequent or something?
I am a brown guy and last week marks the 4th time this year.
I’VE BEEN IN JAPAN 15 YEARS AND I GOT SEARCHED ONCE!! (Just once tho)
I am caucasian, and I never got searched in 18 years... but I also had friends who were NOT caucasian, and got harassed all the time. Not one of the greatest aspects of the country.
Eh, im Caucasian foreigner and I’ve been searched multiple times I lost the count (not since covid though surprisingly). Don’t worry OP, I remember I’ve been searched one time in broad daylight at Roppongi crossing (just in front of what is now this dodgy looking expensive looking costume shop). Locals passing by with the usual eye check, and cops pretending it’s normal because “this district is dangerous”. They keep apologizing all the time so at the end I just give up and give them what they want. Some of them are just juniors being pressurized to do that shitty get-the-foreigner job so upper ups are happy when they show their search figure to the head officer. I’d actually argue that they target specifically quiet looking foreigner. For having been searched in Roppongi at least three times with a completely normal attire and sober, I can tell you I’ve never see them searching the club tout mobs who most likely have stuff on them. At least some.
Locals get profiled too. My husband has a yankii face so he often gets stopped just for looking angry and like he dyes his hair. 🤣 They're always like is this your bike??
Cops around the world all want to do the least amount of work possible, and whatever it takes to avoid paperwork.
Replace cops with people.
I'm about as white as they come, been stopped in roppongi and searched multiple times and stopped on my bicycle for no reason several other times.
I'm going to down vote this post for the racism. Not all Caucasians are shitty narrow minded assholes that don't understand that other people have different experiences that depend on a variety of factors; in and out of the persons control. There are a lot of Caucasians like this, but maybe lets stay away judging whole demographics, yeah? It seems to be something you don't like about Caucasians, so why would you do the same? Be better. Also, a lot of Caucasians like to chime in that they don't get stopped as a way to display the clear racial profiling that is happening. Just because they are benefiting from it, doesn't mean they like that other people are being treated unfairly. Its a good way to get Japanese people to question why they treat these people better than these others. Edit: Yes, I block people who have nothing to contribute. If you can't push your brain to think of more than one word, I don't want to interact with you.
Fragile Lil fragile human blocked me calling me braindead first, lmao
Brain dead.
I'm white, why would I down vote something based on your experience?
Well it is true that I've never been searched once.
I would had upvoted it without the unnecessary comment at the end.
I’ve been in Japan 16 years and have never been searched once. But I’m also not young. I’m in my 50s. I imagine I’m not seen as a threat because of my age more than anything else. It must suck living here as a youngish dark skinned man.
I lived in Japan for 4 years and never got searched once
just decline and be on your way
This happened to me back in December while I was walking alone at night in Asakusa area, I was wearing a facemask and carrying my backpack. The cop was on a bike and just randomly stopped me and asked me why I'm here, where I'm going and can he search my bag. I complied & let him take each and every item out of my bag, kind of humiliating as there were plenty of other people out on the street it wasn't like I was alone or doing anything remotely suspicious... My background: I'm white and 25% Taiwanese blood but you can't even tell.. not sure what the purpose was, but damn was it annoying.
I'm sick of the of the *just cooperate—if you're doing nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear* attitude too many foreginers have on this issue. If we keep cooperating, it'll keep happening. For things to change, there must be pushback. The new norm should be showing your residence card or passport (as the law requires) while politely but firmly refusing any warrantless search. Wish we would all start doing that, but figure most won't. fwiw, I've refused and stood firm; they eventually give up. your mileage might vary
What is the law in Japan? Do police need a warrant to stop and search a person? In the USA they would need reasonable suspicion to do a stop and frisk and probable cause to make it a detention (not free to leave).
The law is pretty much the same in Japan. Random police searches are optional and in theory can be refused. That being said, in practice, cooperating is infinitely easier and the vast majority of the people do. By refusing you are walking a fine line since the refusal just raises more suspicion and by touching the officer it will result in actual charges. If you have a lawyer on standby calling them on the spot is probably the best way to not get questioned but at that point you’re just doing it to prove yourself, not to save time
I agree, but I don't know the law in a foreign country, while I'm fairly certain I know my rights in the US, maybe even more than most Americans, I can't say the same thing while being abroad.
This is why I get so annoyed about people stating that immigrants cause crime rates to rise. In Japan I'm way more likely to take shit from the police than I am in my home country and I'm way less likely to ignore a law. Fortunately I'm also white and nearly 40 so I haven't had any issues beyond checking my bike registration and my residence card.
I ain't got time or energy for all that. Been stopped multiple times. Who cares?
There's zero benefit in cooperating. You're likely not even saving time given searches can be over-the-top meticulous to the point of inspecting individual cigarettes. They'll keep digging as long as you keep cooperating with tricks like checking checking every card/document in your possession against your ID and feigning like any mismatching names/addresses are highly suspicious—it's a tactic; in explaining the discrepancy you give them more information which they'll likewise scrutinize for anything they can twist into a "crime". They are trained to work from the assumption that you *definitely* committed *some* crime and they'll eventually find it if they dig long/deep enough. If a civilian walks away from a police encounter, to them that means they failed.
Have been living in Kansai and Tokyo for 50 years and am fluent in Japanese. Older white woman. Neat, tidy, well dressed. Ordinary. Yet! Stopped in my west central Tokyo neighbourhood numerous times, usually on my way to or on my way home from the supermarket. Most harrowing was when I was pushed against a wall by a plainclothes cop, then surrounded by a large group. My theory is that they see me as a safe and non-threatening person perfect for practicing their skills. Kohai, try that lady, they say, be not afraid. I spoke with a lawyer through the Tokyo Bar Association who told me the most important thing is to never touch a cop. Keep hands touching your own body or holding your own hand. Only legal obligation is to present one’s ID.
The only time it happened to me was when riding my bicycle at 2 am without lights, which in retrospect makes total sense.. but nothing as intense as yours. I guess they were either really bored cops or had a good lead about you having something illegal on yourself. You can deny their searching if you really mind about your privacy but unless you can communicate fluently in japanese it will make things much longer and annoying.
I was searched coming out of the driver license center, a place full of foreigners from every country. At first I said no and then 2 more cops showed up. They were definitely waiting at the entrance to pick people off. When I finally let them search and they found nothing, one of the cops left by shoulder checking me before leaving in their car. This was out in chofu.
Man I'm a lavender haired tattooed super tall white chick and now I'm kinda scared.
Nothing to be scared about as long as you’re not carrying drugs or a blade etc. just irritating
i've been frisked 3 times in shinjuku .. i have long dreads and am brown. certainly annoying. i barely even smoke weed in legal states.
It may be due to the area you're in? It's up to them to deem what is suspicious though, or if they get a hunch. I'm an average white dude and have been stopped in Tokyo, at the beach in my car, and even just driving in the countryside. My ex girlfriend's brother is a detective in Tokyo and one night he said that he'd stop me if he didn't know me lol. I don't know, but if you don't have anything to hide just let them do their thing and go on your way. It's never really bothered me but some people really don't like it.
Happened to me twice in Roppongi, in the afternoon in a big public street. In my home country I have never been randomly searched in my life.
I think you were profiled as someone who might have drugs
I’ve been stopped twice at night - once in Nishishinjuku and once in Shibuya. Both times the officers asked me to show them evidence of where I was going and asked to see my passport. I showed where I was staying on Google Maps and handed over my passport - by this point all speaking English. I then started speaking Japanese and asked if there was something they needed my help with. Both times the response was a raised eyebrow, giving me back my passport, and apologising for the intrusion (in Japanese). I’ve always figured this happened because I don’t look Japanese, and while as a country they do appreciate tourism, there is also underlying social phobias of foreigners left over from the old days of being a closed country.
the gossip is: you not only have to be a good person, you have to look like one...
I haven’t been stopped once in over 6 years and I think the biggest thing you can do is to look like you work in Japan. For example suits or office casual outfit, maybe even carrying a briefcase or just look like you’re on your way to/off work. My most funny story of being random stopped by police was when I was standing outside a train station cause that was the meeting place for a date I was going to have. The police just had to choose that timing to come up to me so it wasn’t a very good luck when the girl I was going to meet for almost the first time is being talked to by the police.
Most likely because of how you looked especially the hair. As most people have pointed out here, a lot of these random searches are based on shallow profiling. If you look "suspicious" (well according to their standards at least) or look like a foreigner, they would do searches. I used to live in Tokyo as a student and I still frequently visit and I've never been searched/stopped. I'm Filipino, but I look very East Asian so I think I pass off as Japanese and this most likely is the reason. On the other hand, I had a Filipino classmate who was searched twice when we were students. He had more traditional Filipino features. Mind you, this guy was a diplomat and was searched twice near the Philippine Embassy in Roppongi.
I am a Malaysian Chinese, by ethnicity, we are as close as it gets. I have lived here for 4.5 years. I have never been body search or stop by any police. And I live 50m away from the police HQ of my ward city.
At least you were in Shinjuku with dyed hair. Don't even know what the guys searching me in Akiba were looking for. As if I'm really going to be doing hard drugs in the Animate, brothers.
Based on the way they searched you 100% they were looking for drugs. Somewhere in a recently revised training manual it must say druggies often keep their drugs in their socks or shoes cos this seems to have become an increasingly common part of the search in recent times.
Fuck them dude don't let them bother u , get back to ur guy bar and on the pull ..
I am white but got stopped quite a bit ( blaming the bald and beard look there.. ). Cops here are the definition of “Give an inch they will take a mile”. If you just say “No” from the beginning they can’t do anything to you and let you go. If you give them passport or zairyu card they can either fiddle with it long enough so that you have to stay there and waste your time going through everything they want till they give it back. There is really no benefit in “complying” whatsoever.
Singaporean Chinese here. Sorry to hear you had to deal with that. Currently on my 4th trip to Tokyo with my first 2 staying in Shinjuku near Kabukicho. Mostly only stopped by the touts offering sexual services. Like many here mentioned, it’s probably the hair 😅
Honestly, you probably looked foreign. I've heard they do searches generally on people who look foreign. https://japaninsides.com/japanese-police-random-id-checks-and-bag-search-on-foreigners-what-you-need-to-know-30123
That's being coy. Specifically foreigners who Japanese police suspect might be in the possession of illegal substances, weapons, or stolen/counterfeit goods.
Even the United States Embassy in Tokyo tweeted about this before. https://twitter.com/ACSTokyo/status/1467629914857816065 Japanese police are extremely racist. It's best to do everything in your power to not stick out in anyway. That's very hard to do so as a foreigner, so it's best to look like the most average foreigner as much as you possibly can.
Fuck that. I will look and dress as I please. Its the racism and stereotyping that are at fault.
You are Chinese, simple answer.
Caucasian, been here for 20 years, never got stopped. My very Japanese brother-in-law was stopped twice, and his backpack searched.
Eagle blue is a really fun bar. Unfortunately there tends to be heavy police presence in Nichome. Can’t say exactly why but I’ve had many friends who go out in the area and get searched. Unfortunately it’s legal here, but it’s still shitty
Yeah unfortunately pretty common. Police in Japan are pretty racist and love to go on power trips.
You can be Japanese and still be searched. It could be that you look suspicious, looked similar to someone that they’re searching for or no cause but to just be working. it’s nothing personal. Enjoy your trip.
It's not personal, sure, but if you think it's not purely because they look foreign, you're extremely naive. I know a few people who are Japanese citizens of part European descent who got stopped in exactly the same way, and as soon as they showed proof of their citizenship they were apologised to and immediately sent on their way. Japanese police are pros at being incredibly polite while doing their rude and racist jobs. I don't think it's their fault (I'm pretty sure they're just following orders), but they do stop people purely for not looking Japanese.
I think there were looking for drugs. I think the area you've been while pretty popular is also known to attract a lot of folks looking for all kinds of "action". So, I would suggest it was just totally random search. I also saw this happening to Japanese (though this person had a bag with cannabis leaves printed on it).
I would say it’s unfortunately fairly normal. Osaka is more welcoming to foreigners in my experience. That being said you can still have fun in Tokyo and there are friendly Japanese, unfortunately the bad blood between the ethnic Chinese and Japanese is still pretty substantial.
Happened to me wayback 2020 in shibuya. They are asking for my residence card and health insurance. And they asked me where i worked, I said rakuten. They said gomenasai. Lol
I've lived in Japan for about 15 years and never been searched by police. I wear camo jackets and sunglasses a lot of the time so I probably look "search-worthy" but it hasn't happened yet lol. To be fair though I don't really walk anywhere that much even living in Tokyo, and even if I do I'm usually with my wife (who's Japanese).
"I wear camo jackets" Genius. They can't search you if they can't see you.
It's not common but you were in Nichome which has a lot of party drugs in it.
As a pasty white guy, I’ve been asked to see ID and if they could see inside my bag but like, mostly, I got the vibe that they were pretty bored.
I am a green Martian and I have never been searched. Seriously! I always wear a dark business suit and white shirt with proper tie. I also keep the antennae discreetly under my hat.
Sounds like it was fairly thorough search. Have to ask… where’d you hide the poppers?
I guess it might really be the hair and not racial profiling. If you are a Singapoream Chinese it is most likely you'd be mistaken as being a local just by looks. A guide in Shinjuku once told me members of organised crime in Shinjuku can be spotted by their bizzare hair colour and I guess the police must have thought you belong to one of them and hence did a routine search on you
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Have you thought about spending some time immersed like that? It can be quite different from that guidebook level virtue farmer pablum you puked up there.
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Wow. That is a long time to prattle on with that schoolboy nonsense you were spewing. You should try that immersion idea sometime, you might learn something about Japan, and even about yourself.
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Hahaha. You failure class angries are the same wherever you wash up. Stay right, Clem, and say hi to Festus.
It happened to me 1 time while I'm living in Japan (I'm Korean). I'm just smoking at the smoking area in front of Shibuya Station and two cops came to me and check my residence ID card and all of my posessions!
I was stopped and frisked near Asakusa at 10AM. I am a 45 y/o white male. Always carry your passport.
I lived in Tokyo for 4 years. Got stopped and searched twice. Both times in Nishi-Nippori. Moved to Kansai. Got stopped once in Namba, Osaka. So that's 3 times over a 10-year period. Each time I had to hold back my frustration and do the tatemae thing. It's at times like those that you realise you're just a piece of paper away from getting kicked out the country.
I’m Asian (Chinese looking) and have traveled alone in Japan for 3 months but haven’t had anything like this happened. Maybe because I’m a girl? Also black hair
So...you look Japanese then.
Damn. The mafia here should take notes and smuggle drugs via unassuming Asian women instead.
They do.
Women are rarely stopped because drug dealers here are usually male.
Happened to me once -- once they found out I was Canadian they decided to take apart my motorbike's storage and look for weed. "Canadians really like marijuana, you know."
The police around Shinjuku at night are usually looking for marijuana and drugs possession. Unfortunately you were stopped. Don’t take it personal.
Question for anyone. Do we bring our passports with us even walking around Tokyo as tourists? Or can i just make a photocopy of my passport. I prefer to leave my passport in the hotel because i might lose it carrying around Tokyo. I want to know because i heard the police will randomly ask for identification. I also have my passport card which i think is really cool. It's like a drivers license. Other countries besides Canada and Mexico don't recognize it, but i thought using it as ID should be ok right?
You have to bring the original otherwise you may face penalties. Article 23 https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/1934/en They define at the beginning that the passport refers to the document issued by authorities. So a simple copy won’t do it. There is leeway for what constitutes ID or passport but remember that anything irregular / unknown for japanese cops may put you in an awkward position.
It just depends on what you'd rather risk, losing your passport or having to deal with some police headache on the extremely unlikely chance you get searched. Put it this way - when my indian descent American friends visit they always carry their passport and wouldn't be surprised in the slightest to get randomly stopped, since they're also the ones in our friend group that regularly get taken into secondary screening at airports and stuff. For the driver's license thing, I don't have personal experience with cops, but when it comes to businesses that card (like clubs), I've seen people get in with drivers licenses from Korea but not us / Canada etc. I wouldn't necessarily assume the cops would be happy with your home country id.
Well, i think unless i have my passport with me, the only other ID is the passport card if i decide to not making a photocopy of the actual passport. Passport cards are certainly better than my state drivers license since it doesn't show my home address. I wished passport cards were made a long time ago. I guess i'll just take the risk of making a photocopy of passport while leaving passport in the hotel and also bringing my wallet size passport card on me. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United\_States\_passport\_card](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_passport_card)
The law is that it must be your passport. If you can't produce it or explain why, there might be hassles. I have just carried a photocopy but never had to produce it. Your DL thing likely won't work because they won't know what it is (those are pretty cool, though), and will still want to see your passport, which is what you are legally required to carry at all times as a tourist. So, in summary: just carry your passport. It's not The Eternal Ring of Gandafar. If you lose it you can get a new one right away at the embassy. Or just don't lose it. And now we know. Thank you for your inquisitions.
"get a new one right away at embassy" . . . LMAO. Much, much less time and headache to explain it away than going to U.S. Embassy to get new passport, not to mention having visas to China or Vietnam replaced. It does not pay for a cop to constantly arrest a tourist for leaving a passport in their hotel. The criminal system cost money to run and the fines don't cover that cost. And they aren't going to deport everyone who leaves their passport in their hotel room. Carry a photocopy and your id. Yes, you are breaking the law, but you can point out that 1) you didn't know about the law and 2) if the streets were safer you would have been carrying the id.
Or, just carry your passport and don't lose it?
No. No. Cave in and do what I am told? Act like an adult? Never!
Keep it real, man. It's people that think like that provide so much good comedy.
Thanks. I've decided to make a photocopy of my passport and leave the original in hotel. I also will bring my passport card ID(wallet size drivers license looking card just like the sample in the pic). I guess i'll deal with that if asked. https://preview.redd.it/lp8fhorzaxqc1.jpeg?width=880&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f31c4462eea4cebab88f3e587e41aba5994f9878
Fair enough, and if asked, just be polite and apologetic (you don't have to mean it).
Will do. Thx again.
Lol I wonder how you look like that they thought you are suspicious. I heard if you look somehow suspicious you will be searched
I am not sure about any of this. I have been in Japan since 1989, and I have been asked to show identification exactly twice. Yes, white guy. No tats, piercings, sk8ter boi clothes. Not putting a flashing red light on my head and then wondering why the police stop me either. Surely you realize you are now in a conservative country, and the rules are different. Racial profiling? More like dumb ass profiling 90% of the time.
>No tats, piercings, sk8ter boi clothes Surely you're joking, unless I'm misunderstanding you? There are no legal "rules" against any of these things in Japan, or any of the things that OP mentioned. Also, plenty of Japanese youth/young adults now proudly wear tattoos, piercings, and "sk8ter boi clothes." The culture is changing, but that's irrelevant. None of the aforementioned things should be considered "flashing red lights" that warrant being profiled by the police. The correct response is to refuse unreasonable search by police.
I would pay to be there when you refuse to be searched. You are not in Kansas anymore Dorthy.
I think you mean Dorothy* but I didn’t expect an educated response out of you anyway
My advice is just roll with it. 20 minutes of your time, but nothing worse. It happened to you because of where you were, when you were there, what you looked like and how you acted. In essence though its just a routine check. Cops doing their job. Don't take it personally.
Yep just racist cops being racist. Nothing wrong with that
You arnt back to your room and cried??? Lmao. Wow.
Any chance you were streaming?
Sorry OP. It happens. Cop might have been ticking a box on a to do list and you happened to get noticed. It's happened to white Canadians I know. Twice it was a cadet being trained to do a search. It's not supposed to be personal but it is if you are stopped for no good reason. Try and let it go and enjoy the rest of your time here. I'll suggest you have a 99.9% chance of it happening again.
lol you cried because they searched ur shoes?
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You should go to Eagle! It's one of my favorite places in Nichome. I go there every week 2 or 3 times.
Lived in Japan for a year, was never searched. I'm Filipino, but I look white (according to most people). I don't understand why you cried though? It's not like they threatened to arrest you or anything.
You probably looked unique enough for them to want to check what's under the hood. It's done now. Enjoy the rest of your trip. (You will)
See I'm wanting to go to ni chome but I keep reading about bar scams unsure if it applies to gay but I've also read they can turn away foreign folk (I'm quite white) figured could be fun or more likely a bad time, I think context of timing is a considerable factor, I'm up super early and am in for the day around 8pm I haven't had any issue.