crime

Fukushima advertising for police

31 Comments

The recruitment poster for the Fukushima police force is moving, to say the least. It definitely singles out only the most dedicated, most driven potential recruits. The poster features a person wearing an anti-radiation suit, walking through some desolate, post-tsunami wasteland, with text saying hauntingly, “There is work here that only I can do…”

Japanese posters often omit words and thus have implied messages, but this recruitment poster is relatively explicit. And it has gained some attention for its darkness and severity. It’s pretty plain that you should be looking forward to working in hazardous conditions.

A police spokesperson confirmed that they were seeking people with strong mettle precisely because of the still-dire situation in Fukushima. The photo is from May 2011 (the disaster was in March), shows the main damaged nuclear reactor in the background, and was unanimously selected for the poster in February this year.

The desire for driven new officers who won’t give up on the work or come for the job thinking about it too casually is understandable, but there could also be a subtext, which is that they don’t just want anybody either.

© Rocket News24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.


31 Comments
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“There is work here that only I can do…”

This seems to be an extraordinarily badly planned advertisement. People who read it will think that they cannot do the job because only the person in the photograph can, and they will not apply.

-7 ( +3 / -8 )

@gaijintraveller That's precisely why they did it. To weed out the people who think "no i can't do that". They are after some tough and hardened people who think that they most definitely can.

I think this is a good change from all the fluffy posters you see. It shows they are very serious, which is good.

9 ( +7 / -1 )

"These are human mistakes that only I can cover up."

7 ( +11 / -4 )

but there could also be a subtext (which is that they dont just want anybody either)

There isn't.

Walking a fine line here Rocket News.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

People who read it will think that they cannot do the job because only the person in the photograph can, and they will not apply.

No they won't. The word used is jibun, and even if they used the word watashi or the like, anyone with a brain would not come to the conclusion that they are trying to hire the one person who is already in their poster.

2 ( +2 / -1 )

It definitely singles out only the most dedicated, most driven potential recruits.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahhahahahha,...deep breath...bwahahahahahahahahahahahhaha.....

Considering the JKeystones record over the past few weeks, who are they tryng to fool?

-5 ( +1 / -5 )

anyone with a brain would not come to the conclusion that they are trying to hire the one person who is already in their poster.

Agreed. Sensible people understand what's being said. I salute anybody who signs up, whether they get the job or not.

3 ( +2 / -0 )

when i was in sckoll i learned that that is nothing complicated in life, because when you break down this complicated thing, it all comes down to basics on basics. there is nothing hard in life, all you need is clear understand of the basics. i could be a multi millionaire trading stocks just with basic methods, but i prefer to be a muti billionaire !!

-4 ( +0 / -2 )

I hope they attract some competent candidates! The Japanese police seems to have had some serious problems in that area until now.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I also salute anyone who signs up and hope they get some good candidates, but I also think those candidates would be suckers unless they get a little more pay and a lot more credit than your regular keystone -- they would be indeed doing what the majority of their colleagues could not, after all.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I did mean to add that there's one thing I find slightly humorous about this thread -- it's that an add for the police is found under the crime section.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

My Japanese wife read this and said... "That is so stupid and YADA!!"

Pointing out that whomever were to sign up would never retire but would most likely put in harms way and into situations that my very well in high dosages or radiation. This would most likely cause cancer, thus resulting in a premature death.

We both have to wonder what moron would just jump at the thought of a "death sentence". Sorry, but I choose to live!

-5 ( +0 / -4 )

Cant decide if the peoople who decide to do this are heros or just suicidal. The person isn't wearing an anti-radiation suit. Just a a dust protection suit. I don't know what they are protecting. The danger zone will be dirty and highly radioactive for decades. There are horrible stories of people stealing stuff from Chernobyl and Pripyat who subsequently got very sick from the exposure and ingesting the dirt from the meltdown..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

My Japanese wife read this and said... "That is so stupid and YADA!!" We both have to wonder what moron would just jump at the thought of a "death sentence". Sorry, but I choose to live!

The men and women who have applied for these approx. 50 positions will have their various reasons, which I can imagine including family or other connections to the region, and a little something else called putting others first - I doubt you've thought much about it. The candidates must be born later than 1978 I think it was and must be graduates of university, scheduled to graduate before October this year or have a qualification the recuiting panel deems equivalent. I hardly think they will be morons, and I think they will live a life with more meaning than yours, sorry to say.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

"These are human mistakes that only I can cover up."

Yeah, like who didn't expect a massive earthquake followed by a monstrous tsunami... (that's sarcasm, by the way).

I think anyone who takes on this job is a very brave person and I applaud them.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

There is no greater honor than putting your self into harms way for the sake of others whether they know it or not. Hats off to you who knowingly accept this burden.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

no mention of pay so no comment

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This ad is literally hiring heros. I hope their commanding officers realize their sacrifice and don't take it for granted. The government could learn a thing or two from this ad and those who apply.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Fukushima prefecture needs to hire new police forces because the crime rate in the area is out of control ? give me a break !!! (Even the Yakusa don't want to go around fukushima dai ichi, they prefer to racket somewhere else like Miyagi-ken... and, anyway japanese police don't know the word Yakusa ! They don't exist !!! ) They have just too much aid money, that they need to spend it in useless posters for no or fake jobs ...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The deadline for applications was 13th April. Initial salary for new graduates is ¥202,300.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Matthew Simon

How rare to find a man who understands honour when it has become so "unfashionable". I applaud what you say.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Ted Barrera

I think you are stereotyping the government and not doing justice to people who do care about the public good. But I agree that the ad is literally hring heroes. Mind you, I think normal police (apart from the exceptions) are heroes also.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I've an idea !

Instead of spending lots on a poster campaign looking for recruits, why not 'volunteer' all the J-stones that have appeared in the crime section over the last year or so. Go on, show that you're a hero and not a high school-flashing, hair-licking, skirt-lifting weirdo !

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

The danger in the area are man made, and didn't have to happen.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@ReformedBasher

I'm not exactly sure what you're getting at... but thank you? About the government, sure, it may be stereotypical, but I have nothing but the lowest respect for this current set of oyajis pilfering this country. As Matthew Simon mentioned, "There is no greater honor than putting your self into harms way for the sake of others whether they know it or not." This is something that I 100% agree with and 100% do not see in this government. I only see that they are doing the opposite. and yes, I agree, normal police (apart from the exceptions - as you mentioned) are heroes also! :) And I don't mean any sarcasm by this, but now that we are mentioning normal police, I think ALL public servants (excluding generally all the ones in business suits) are heroes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What's the alternative ad like? Some dude sleeping in a koban? "There is work here that only I can do" indeed! Though, in truth, I imagine there are loads of used panties lying around the area for them to collect. Banzai J-stones!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@Ted Barrera It seems we are in agreement. As for those who betray the public trust, my dislike of them matches your own.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How much salary are they offering?? I would do it if I had a guaranteed life insurance policy of at least $1M, at least, plus a salary of $500K a year, minimum. If I'm gonna lay my life on the line in this way, I want extensive returns. This shouldn't be probelm as it's only a drop in the bucket compared to the

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Oops, sorry about that, but I was gonna say it'sa drop in the bucket compared to what the corrupt officialssteal evry year!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How much salary are they offering??

I mentioned earlier that starting pay for gradates is ¥202,300, plus twice-yearly bonus will come to around ¥3,300,000 a year which I think is a little over $41,000 at today's rate.

Guess you're not what they're looking for.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'd apply myself, but I fear that instead of the Nicolas Cage style heroics of bringing toxic wastelands under control as promised in the poster, I'd end up ticketing mama-charis.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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