Monday May 28, 2012

harr7959's past comments

  • 0

    harr7959

    I agree with bobbafett. You guys with your over the top horror stories are not telling the entire story. You are just playing into the myth of the Japanese police as bullies to foreigners. My guess is that you have a complex of western exceptionalism and you think you should be exempt from laws when living abroad.

    I do think that foreigners in Japan need to understand that, at the moment, we are a small minority who has not developed a strong trust with th populace. We will be singled out. I actually think a lot of the fear of westerners comes from western movies and the american millitary's treatment of the Okinawans. The Japanese have their way of doing things, and if you continue to be a crybaby instead of leading by example and pushing for reforms...Nothing will change. These people think that Japan should follow exactly what America does. Well, they wont. This is their country. Profiling happens EVERYWHERE. In the USA, it happens constantly against all minorities. However, Japan is still 99% Japanese. Do you not expect a certain ammount of xenophobia? Just lead a good life, leave a good impression on the people you meet.

    Posted in: Tell us about any encounters, either good or bad, you have had with Japanese police.

  • 0

    harr7959

    I have spent 2 years in Japan, in 2006 and again in 2008. During both of the times that I lived in Japan I had nothing but good experiences with the Japanese police. When I am lost in Japan, I go to the koban and they help me. When I need help with local issues, I go directly to the police and speak with them. They have been incredibly helpful on EVERY occasion. I have lived in Tokyo and Kyoto, and spent time in several smaller towns in Japan. I have had no problems in any of these places! I have never been asked for a Gaijin card or stopped for no reason.

    However. I do not go out to pary very much in Japan, I do not go in public if I am drunk, I do not fight, and I do not call attention to myself. I work as an architect, I am respectful to my neighbors, and I get a lot of respect back. I feel like the people on this message board have lived in a totally different Japan than I have. I have serious questions about whether or not the people who have had bad experiences have caused it to happen to themselves through their actions.

    I will be moving to Japan in May, with no plans to return to the United States. I feel, when in the USA, that I live in a police state. In Japan, I feel very comfortable. I also accept the fact that foreigners have a bad rap and deserve most of it. So, I will accept a certain ammount of profiling because I realize that a lot of gaijin do not come to Japan for good reasons and are the cause of an unequal ammount of violence and crime. I hope my experiences remain positive, and I will for sure push for changes in some of the legislation that creates an atmosphere of distrust between the Japanese and their foreign guests.

    Posted in: Tell us about any encounters, either good or bad, you have had with Japanese police.

Follow us

Facebook
Twitter

View all