Are Your Papers in Order?

Happy New Year! If you live in the Tokyo area, have the Tokyo Metro Police got a surprise for you: Random ID checks!

According to the US Embassy in Tokyo website, police in Tokyo will be conducting random ID checks on foreigners.

http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-newsletter20070101.html

The Embassy has been advised that Japanese police and immigration officials are currently conducting random identification inspections in several different areas of Tokyo to ensure that all visitors to Japan possess the appropriate immigration documents. Most inspections occur at or near Tokyo metro stations, and the police are both uniformed and in plain clothes. To all of our customers in Tokyo and beyond, be sure to carry your key documentation with you at all times in the event that you are the subject of an inspection.

Under existing law, the police cannot stop you unless they have reasonable grounds such as they see you commit a crime, think you are acting suspiciously, or suspect you will commit or have committed a crime.

It sucks to be stopped. As much as you may feel this to be violation of your civil rights, it is probably best to show your card and be on your way. As much as you may want to make a fuss, the police won''t mind asking to come with them to the koban for further questioning.

For more on the police and your gaijin card, check out Debito''s pages on what to do if you are asked for your "Gaijin Card" and What to do if you are stopped by the police plus all of the links there.

Further discussion on this topic can be found in .