The only thing I'm hanging on to here is that you are writing this up safely back in Australia. I'm thinking you just put your mind into a different place (disassociated) from what your body is going through.Fortunately before my formal arrest on Saturday night I was allowed to go over the road to a Lawsons to buy some food. followed by 3 policemen though. So my final meal in Freedom.
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The police were obviously baseball fans.
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So now continuing on with my experience. I didn't sleep on Saturday night mainly because I was worried as to how Mrsdrron was going. mind you a little hard to sleep as the lights are kept on all night and guards fairly regularly walk up and down the corridors on both sides of the cells. On top of that the police station is besides the railway line reasonably close to Otaru station and a level crossing.
At 0530 you have to roll up your bedding and then tke it to a cupboard to store it for the day. The first day i made a real hash of it but by the last day it was nearly perfect. When you come back to the cell you are patted down and wanded. Then handed a dust pan and a short handed millet broom. You then have to sweep the cell floor and empty it into your cardboard box. You empty that every 3 days into another cardboard box the guards bring around. All the time you have lost your identity. I was detainee number 59. all conversations from the guards I was simply called 59. even when required to sign something my signature was just 59.
At about 7 breakfast appears. On the first day it was from Lawsons as i had missed out on having breakfast ordered the night before. the meal was 2 triangles of rice one with a tiny bit of tuna inside-tinned tuna of course. it was accompanied by some Japanese pickles. I ate the pickles and half the rice. After breakfast was one of the highlights of the day. you were allowed to go out of the cell to clean your teeth and wash your face. every second day you are allowed to shave which I declined.
At about 9 I was asked If I wanted a shower and i said I will have it tomorrow before I am taken to see the prosecutor. After the boss moved on the only guard that showed a bit of compassion told me that showers were only Sundays and Thursdays So I said I had changed my mind. the boss just said no. Also at 1030 or 1430 you are meant to have an exercise session. In my 4 days i was never given that privilege. Besides at 1030 I was again handcuffed,tied to a guard and taken downstairs for another police interrogation.
Now I have a mobility problem with little balance so normally going downstairs I hang onto the railing. Try doing that when handcuffed. Besides that I could try hanging on to the railing or holding on to my trousers to prevent them dropping down past my knees. I could not do both. I kept thinking how i might end up falling, hitting my head and being on an anticoagulant ending up with a brain bleed and dying or permanently in a wheelchair.
My interrogation that morning was conducted by the interpreter. at the end he just said Ron I feel very sorry for you. Words can really mean a lot.
Back upstairs and time for lunch which came around noon. You soon learn that about 20 minutes before both lunch and dinner they turn the radio on. By the second day i was just like Pavlov's dogs and waiting at the place they served meals through just like the other 5 detainees.
Ah. I didn't pick that up.Such a horrible time for you both @drron
Thank you for sharing such a personal experience.
I hope you and @mrs.dr.ron are more settled and feeling well now.
I can now understand why Mrs.dr.ron posted along with her hydrangeas, it may be your last trip to Japan...
It really makes you think about how an even innocuous slip up could go rather horribly wrong. It's all very disturbing and I expect my mother would be nodding in understanding.If this had occurred in Russia or China, we all would’ve nodded and said yeah that’s right. They’re just a corrupt bunch of thugs.
Or many other countries. I think it's just Japan is often heralded as this poster country and many people that haven't lived there don't quite see the ugly side of Japan very much. There are definitely many things - a few that are big human rights problems that are very much swept under the rug.If this had occurred in Russia or China, we all would’ve nodded and said yeah that’s right. They’re just a corrupt bunch of thugs.
If you have lived in Japan long enough, you would realise that while non Japanese are tolerated or treated in a friendly manner on the surface, there remains an underlying negative attitude towards foreigners - they are too polite to make it obvious. Worse if you are Chinese in Japan. Additionally, Japan does not have anti discrimination laws. It is not just a Japanese thing but is widespread throughout Asia.countries. I think it's just Japan is often heralded as this poster country and many people that haven't lived there don't quite see the ugly side of Japan very much
I know all nations have a cruel history and are capable of terrible things but one thing I often muttered to myself during our stay in Japan was that I love the place and people but I couldnt forget what they did during WW2.Or many other countries. I think it's just Japan is often heralded as this poster country and many people that haven't lived there don't quite see the ugly side of Japan very much. There are definitely many things - a few that are big human rights problems that are very much swept under the rug.
I also suspect that there are many who are not aware that Japan has capital punishment. Last year was the first year since capital punishment was reintroduced (1993) that no one was executed.Or many other countries. I think it's just Japan is often heralded as this poster country and many people that haven't lived there don't quite see the ugly side of Japan very much. There are definitely many things - a few that are big human rights problems that are very much swept under the rug.
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How long did you live here?If you have lived in Japan long enough
If you have lived in Japan long enough, you would realise that while non Japanese are tolerated or treated in a friendly manner on the surface, there remains an underlying negative attitude towards foreigners - they are too polite to make it obvious. Worse if you are Chinese in Japan. Additionally, Japan does not have anti discrimination laws. It is not just a Japanese thing but is widespread throughout Asia.
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Very sorry to hear @drron
Not me. I have some friends who live near NaganoHow long did you live here?