- 8 Aug 2005
- 6,874
- 2,834
- 337
I wouldn't rule out making local friends because of a stereotype like that. People don't fit in neat little boxes like that, even in Japan. With that attitude, you're only cheating yourself
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I wouldn't rule out making local friends because of a stereotype like that. People don't fit in neat little boxes like that, even in Japan. With that attitude, you're only cheating yourself
In fact these stereotypes are basically perpetuated by long-term foreigners and inflicted upon the new generation of foreigners. I've had a long-term foreign guy in my local town angrily tell me in English "you can't just eat or drink outside the conbini, this is Japan". I told him that there are in fact no laws against it, and that I see Japanese doing it all the time. I clean up after my trash, and bother nobody.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with living in a foreign country and "acting like a foreigner", nor is there anything wrong with "breaking the rules" if it isn't hurting anyone or against the laws. What makes them "rules" if they aren't written down? I'd argue absolutely nothing... Our rights are the same as all human rights. That meaning yeah we really CAN do whatever we want.
Open confrontation about rules might come more from fellow foreigners, but if you don't hear about it from locals doesn't mean they aren't thinking about what the foreigners are doing wrong. This can lead to problems you may not even be aware of.
Article 33. No person shall be apprehended except upon warrant issued by a competent judicial officer which specifies the offense with which the person is charged, unless he is apprehended, the offense being committed.
Article 34. No person shall be arrested or detained without being at once informed of the charges against him or without the immediate privilege of counsel; nor shall he be detained without adequate cause; and upon demand of any person such cause must be immediately shown in open court in his presence and the presence of his counsel.
....
Article 37. In all criminal cases the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial tribunal.
He shall be permitted full opportunity to examine all witnesses, and he shall have the right of compulsory process for obtaining witnesses on his behalf at public expense.
At all times the accused shall have the assistance of competent counsel who shall, if the accused is unable to secure the same by his own efforts, be assigned to his use by the State.
I'm kind of surprised by some of the things stated at the beginning of this thread. Claims that they can just take you to a police station for no reason and tell no one and hold you for 20 days? That's pretty out-there. The constitution says the following, do they just ignore their own constitution?
Did you read the thread down to the part about the difference between being arrested and "voluntarily" accompanying the officers?
They follow the letter of the Constitution.
Notice there is nothing about having an attorney present during questioning. That holds whether you've been arrested or are there "voluntarily".
Notice there is nothing there about bail or pre-trial detention.
Notice that there is nothing there about jury trial. (A practice that was introduced only a very few years ago).
Notice that there is nothing there about double jeopardy. The prosecution may appeal a not-guilty verdict.
Article 38. No person shall be compelled to testify against himself.
Confession made under compulsion, torture or threat, or after prolonged arrest or detention shall not be admitted in evidence.
No person shall be convicted or punished in cases where the only proof against him is his own confession.
Article 39. No person shall be held criminally liable for an act which was lawful at the time it was committed, or of which he has been acquitted, nor shall he be placed in double jeopardy.
Just researching, it's important to know your rights. Governments have a track record of doing wrong at least as much as the general public, often far greater.
I asked one for directions once and he had the slightest chuckle when I mispronounced the name of the station for which I was enquiring... I wonder if this is how Robert Davis felt?...My own sole encounter with a Japanese policeman was so unexciting that I won't bore members by recounting it.
My incident happened forty years ago, and the cop offered me a cigaret, obviously intending to kill me with cancer.
i certainly would. They just dreamed up a perfect excuse, and that's all it is. Was it June or July? Months for annual foreigner checks, basically "make work" exercises.he said a few foreign people in the area have been found to not have the appropriate VISA or overstayed their VISA expiry. I have no problem with it.
@Glenski, is there a good way to counter this statement without pissing them off and giving them incentive to make your day even worse? Like asking for specific examples or some sort of documentation, since vague anecdotes are pretty lame. Or is it really a perfect excuse? I know when a cop asks for your ID and documentation you must provide it, but the blatant profiling and targeting of foreigners does irk me, especially when it directly inconveniences me!i certainly would. They just dreamed up a perfect excuse, and that's all it is. Was it June or July? Months for annual foreigner checks, basically "make work" exercises.
I have had my bike registration and car registration checked before too, those times they didn't have a reason, just said it's a random check. Being stopped in my car was a pain as it made me late for work and the Policeman got funny about providing me proof I had been stopped to show my boss for being late.
@kosaten Thank you for coming here and sharing this information with us. From your message, it seems that you are a member of the APFS? I'm surprised I haven't heard of it before, it seems that the hotline is a recent development? This is very encouraging, I used a similar helpline in Korea (I believe it was run by their tourism board) and it was a lifesaver on more than one occasion.I am not sure if this information is relevant to you but here is a helpline for foreigners in Japan:
Helpline for Foreigners TEL:03-3964-7955....
Do you get a "phone call?" If you are arrested, what are your rights... do you even have any?