Nowadays, everyone is a mark in Roppongi. I don't like being made a mark of.
Quote of the Day ( 19 )
Human rights activist Debito Arudou, referring to reports that Tokyo police, in trying to bring order to Tokyo’s Roppongi district, have harassed foreign bar patrons, searching them for drugs without proper cause, demanding urine samples. (LA Times)
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19 Comments
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neverknow2
I think there's been a typo. Debito told me: 'You chose to tattoo yourself so I can't help you. If you were born that way, maybe I could do something'. Human rights? I think not!
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telecasterplayer
Sure thing, Officer Toshi.. now hold that cup extra-steady... my aim is kind of so-so..
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Altria
I thought Debit lived in Hokkaido
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Junnama
Does anybody know what Debito is talking about?
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dolphingirl
This is sooo true!! I used to hang out in Roppongi a lot and the cops would target foreigners and ambush them; checking their pockets and bags. No probable cause at all. it really infuriates me that the cops here can just search anyone they want and ask for urine test. If you refuse, you look like you are hiding something so you really have no choice...
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tmarie
Debito is talking about the random police check in Roppongi. Seems that the cops now think they can demand to search you and demand pee tests without reason. Good luck refusing it too! It IS a violation of human rights. Not that Japan cares.
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neverknow2
Yeah a policeman stopped him once and he thought that since he was American, he should have all the rights that Americans have, even if he lives in another country. Unfortunately, Japan has different laws to America. That made Debito sad, so he dishonored his family by changing his name and then started off on a crusade to save other people who want to bring their rights from their nation to Japan.
I think this sucks too. Very badly, but, in Japan one must follow the laws of Japan. That's the bottom line.
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kyoken
Here is the full report this statement is taken from: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-japan-roppongi26-2010jan26,0,5351097.story?track=rss
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Junnama
Hmm, this LA Times article and the JT explation don't match up...
He's actually talking about drink spiking and the touts making targets of foreigners...not the police at all.
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tmarie
Neverknow2 - how did he dishonour his family? Does a women who gets married "dishonour" hers? Grow up. You may not like him or how he does things but Japan needs him to draw attention to their horrible behaviour to foreigners. The laws of Japan are very different for Japanese and foreigners. That is against human rights.
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sarcasm123
And does the Japanese law state that anyone can be asked to open their bags at any time at any place without apparent reason?
I think not.
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neverknow2
If you don't like it, leave.
Yeah it does. They can ask you anything they like.
Remember kids, this is not (insert your country here). If you don't like Japan and the backward rules and regulations, you are free to leave anytime.
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XXXXX
great, i dont go to roppongi or akihabara or shibuya. put up surveillance cameras and waste more money
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Canukle
@neverknow2 -
Nice kneejerk reaction there. Some of us will live here for the rest of our lives and as such would like to see the hman rights situation improve not just for NJ - but for EVERYONE. To just accept the status quo when it is not fair or right to people is to cop out. So when you get stopped randomly or someone really abuses your human rights, what are you going to do? Oh- this is Japan so it's ok?? I don't think so.
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michaelqtodd
The guy Debitou (weird name!)is not talking about Police he is talking about touts. There is absolutely nothing in the article about Police. (Unless there is some other LA Times article).Those Nigerian/Ghanian touts are a necessary evil as the Yaks use their prescence to fight to keep the Chinese out of Roppongi. Well that`s what Tokyo Reporter says.
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neverknow2
Funnily enough, it's never happened to me. I don't think it would be fair if I was stopped and searched for no reason, but that is the law here. If you want to change the law in Japan, marry a Japanese, have some children, get them to vote your way. English speaking foreigners make up less than 1% of the population of Japan. Think about a minority group in your native country that make up less than 1% of the population. Now what if that minority disagreed with your country's laws. Would anybody care? No. That's right.
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