wife got stopped by undercover cop

recently my wife was stopped by an undercover policeman at shinagawa station. He demanded to see her gaijin card, when all was in order, he let her on her way.

Couple of questions: Is this normal, to be stopped and asked for ID when you have done nothing?

And how would she know he was a real policeman, it's not like she would know what a policeman's ID looked like?

That can happen every now and again, but make sure you see their police badge.

Like the other user said, it's not as common as you think, but it does happen. When I went last year, I was just standing there waiting for the train and a, what looked like policeman, asked for my passport. I showed him without any problems and let me go. I can honestly say though that in all the times I've been, this has been the only time I've experienced this, and I go pretty often. So, don't worry too much about it and don't think it'll happen everyday.

This happened to me in Akita city. Interestingly enough, I forgot my gaijin card at my apartment, which was about an hour away from the city. They took down my address, and let me go. I never heard from them after that.

Looking back, I should have asked for a badge, but I was so surprised to have that happen I didn't even think of it.

It's really strange that they did absolutely nothing with me, even though I didn't show them my card. I just explained that I worked in the city, and I was going home.

A few years ago they made some modifications to their ID badges they carry in a wallet.

It consists of a ID card and a gold badge with the large words POLICE, the ID card itself is also translated into Japanese and English, stating the Officers's Name, Rank and ID number.

It looks like this:
http://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/foreign/gaiyo2/image1/MP...
(page 4 in the pdf file, though its printed as page 3, but the cover isn't included as page 1 in the file)
Uniforms ETC are standardized in Japan, so it will look Similar in Tokyo as it would in Osaka (the difference being the Prefectural Police Name).

You can ask to see it and copy down the officers information as well.

This also happened to my friend and I when we were in Tokyo station. We were walking around and looking at the food in the shops while waiting for the shinkansen. The policeman came up to us and showed us a badge; it was pretty obvious it was a police badge. I am almost certain I saw the word 'police'. He was dressed in plainclothes though. He asked to see my gaijin card and visa and both of our passports (he asked if either of us lived in Tokyo first). I can't remember if he asked what we were doing or if I said we were taking a trip on the train. Either way, I wasn't particularly thrilled about the whole thing.

Im from Ireland...Im a saw doctor here in Japan...dirty clothes. Anyway the uniformed police stopped me on the way home from work one day in a very unfriendly way asking for my gaijin card. When they look at it they said..."oh, you're not Brazilian?" then became friendly and let me go. I've also been hit by a car and had the police blame me until they found out I was Irish...I guess I must look South American but I'm as white as it gets!!

It is not common but rare.

A friend of mine got asked for his ID once and didn't have it so they had to walk back to his place to check. He had walked past a Koban and looked in and they all looked bored so they went out and stopped him.

The cop probably just wanted to talk to your wife.

Police are supposed to give you a Business Card upon request.

I went into a 100 store once and when I came out my Mom who had come to visit was being harassed by a cop. ... Luckily a Japanese friend came by the cop went away. I was too angry to think to ask for his card.

Another time, I was drinking with my friends at my buddies place and a cop popped his head in the door. No knocking or anything. He then said, "Hey, your not brazilian. Where are you from?"
"We're all Canadian."
"Alright, you guys have a good night and try to keep it down, OK."
And that was that.

Which raises the question.
What's the problem with Brazilians in Japan?

Don't tell me they are all suppose to look like Blanka in the street fighter series?

Japanese-Brazilians make up the largest number of Japanese/Japanese decedents living outside of Japan, the number is even greater then Japanese-Americans (1.2 million) to 1.5 million Japanese-Brazilians.
In the 80's-90sJapan relaxed immigration requirements for Japanese Brazilians and there was an influx of Japanese Brazilians into Japan.

Why would this be a problem?
You're a foreigner in their country. Just because you look like you're not doing anything wrong doesn't mean they can't stop you and ask you for your documents or passports.

Granted there are always some police any place in the world you go that can be really tactless or just plain aholes when doing their jobs but they do have the right to make sure they don't have people from any where illegally staying in their country.

Look at where ever you're from and I can pretty much guarantee there are those same aholes just in different clothes.

As much as any other foreign country does the same thing at some point to their visitors and even to their own.

Also, since you are in a foreign country what makes you think that because you ask to see a badge they'll show you?

These are the rules with traveling and living and working outside of your own country. As I have done and said myself if you don't like the rules/laws then leave and don't go back but don't be so arrogant to think that they should change because you think they should.

Stop assuming that you have the same rights you have when you're home in your own country and don't assume that what ever you think is the right thing that they(foreign police) should follow or do that.

It's a problem because as the OP wrote, how would she know if it were a real police? There are people who like to play with you and pretend to be police.

I remember reading in the papers or hearing it in the news where someone was arrested in Japan for pretending to be a policeman. It was a couple of months ago though.

Well Travelled, thats a "cop" out answer, no pun intended.

There are many things 'wrong' with it. If you aren't doing anything bad there's no rhyme or reason for them to stop you, this isn't the soviet union here. There was a case where police arrested this eldery lady because she didnt have any ID and they thought she was a foreigner, turns out she was a Japanese Citizen (by naturalization) apoligies after apoligies came after.

Also you're statement disregards many Japanese laws in place. Which are often ignored when it comes to foreigners. Those laws are in place even if you are a foreigner in Japan.

Police Execution of Duties Law (Keisatsukan
Shokumu Shikkou Hou), Section 2:

====================================
"A police officer is able to ask for a person's ID, but only if based
on a reasonable judgment of a situation where the policeman sees some
strange conduct and some crime is being committed, or else he has
enough reason to suspect (utagau ni tariru soutou na riyuu) that a
person will commit or has committed a crime, or else it has been
acknowledged that a particular person knows a crime will be
committed. In these cases a police officer may stop a person for
questioning."

http://www.debito.org/instantcheckpoints2.html

Its not about liking the "law" because the laws are clearly stated, its the Police who are actually violating set rules they set themselves.

Also withstanding there are many foreigners who live in Japan permanently.

Also, since you are in a foreign country what makes you think that because you ask to see a badge they'll show you?

Because police regulations require them to do so.

Stop assuming that you have the same rights you have when you're home in your own country and don't assume that what ever you think is the right thing that they(foreign police) should follow or do that.


Maybe you should read up on Japanese laws and regulations before making comments in cases like these.

Profiling is common among ALL engaged in law enforcemnt. Proper use of profiling prevents countless crimes which can result in loss of property, life and personal injury.

On my last trip to Japan, I witnessed a stop of a Japanese man (dressed in suit) carrying a old canvas duffle bag at the Tokyo Station. Two plain clothes made the initial stop and were immediately backed up by 3 uniforms. The man was surrounded by the uniformed officers while the plain clothes inspected the contents of the bag. Once the search was done, all 5 police personnel bowed and the man was allowed to go on his way. The whole process took about 1 minute.

Had it been in my city, it would have been a full felony stop with guns drawn. Since most PD's in the U.S. are required to "run" ID checks for wants & warrants, the stop would have taken at least 10 minutes.

I have worked with the Japanese Police, both here and in Japan, and find that the Japanese law enforcement personnel are well trained and dedicated to the performance of their duties. I’ve yet to meet one Japanese "Cop" that was an Adam Henry…

If you read the entire post or you just don't want to point out what I stated:

Granted there are always some police any place in the world you go that can be really tactless or just plain aholes when doing their jobs but they do have the right to make sure they don't have people from any where illegally staying in their country.

Look at where ever you're from and I can pretty much guarantee there are those same aholes just in different clothes.

As much as any other foreign country does the same thing at some point to their foreign visitors and even to their own.

Because police regulations require them to do so.
You're still foreign and they can still treat you differently.

Maybe you should read up on Japanese laws and regulations before making comments in cases like these.

I don't need to read or study Japanese law in order to know that there are laws in place to protect foreigners but just as any where in the world you go most countries have the same protection laws to protect visiting foreigners but they don't necessarily follow them all the time.

there are many foreigners who live in Japan permanently.
So what you don't think the US or England or any where else has the same thing and the same problem with their law officials and you're still not Japanese and still don't have many of the same rights.

And for the record I have been in law for the last 16 years and before any one says anything yes I am Westerner.

So you have not respect for the law? If the police don't obey the law they are wrong and there is a problem. Just because police do not follow the laws doesn't make what they do right. Police are not above the law.

Can't we all just get along?

When traveling to a foreign country, people need to be aware of the laws as it may be different from ones own country. Foreigners can expect the laws to be followed, especially by the police. There are bad cops everywhere, and I hope well travelled is not one of those.