How Do The Police Treat Foreigners In Japan?

3 years ago by Nicola Spendlove • 6 min read

When one has a good understanding of Japanese law, the odds of getting into any sort of tricky situation with Japanese police are dramatically reduced. In this article, we will go into detail on some aspects of the Japanese justice system that can catch foreigners off guard during a trip to Japan.

One could argue based on the conviction rate of over 99% that the Japanese justice system is one of the most effective in the world. In fact, the system has its quirks and flaws, which we will touch on in this article. As a foreigner in Japan, it is especially important to be aware of the way the justice system might affect you during your stay.

There are many anecdotes about foreigners being treated unfairly by Japanese police. While undoubtedly some of these are true (after all, every country has some element of corruption) much of this so-called unfair treatment can be attributed to the dramatic differences in the Japanese law and justice system when compared to Western countries.

A foreigner may be shocked at how strictly they are treated under Japanese law, but this is not necessarily because they are being discriminated against – it is because of the way the system works.