The Dark side of Japan Tourism.

Like so many other posters I am totally shocked by what transpired. Both I and Mr LL have never been keen on visiting Japan (even though we did visit once some 10+ years ago) - but after reading about @drron's ordeal I most certainly would never visit there again. We have hired cars in many countries but will certainly re-consider in anything other than North America and Western Europe.

I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for the next instalment of this thread.
 
Tuesday arrives. now after sweeping the cell floor I was brought 2 bukets with some water and a tiny washer in each. I asked what they were for. Points to 1 bucket and says scrub floor, points to the second bucket and says scrub toilet. Apparently this is done twice a week as well.
Then I noted that the guard when he went to the next cell he talked to a woman calling her Okusan. usually used talking to another person's wife. So here I was having had a car accident not being allowed to even see my wife yet the fellow in the next cell being Japanese had his wife in 2 nights running.

About 1000 the call was for number 59 to step out of the cell. Once again frisked and wanded, Then handcuffed but this time with a covering over the handcuffs as I was going to walk through a public space - the hospital waiting room. Do they think everyone is going to miss the fact that I am obviously handcuffed and a prisoner. I was taken in to an old Japanese doctor.May even have been older than I. Didn't talk to me just got out a pair of snips and cut the toe nail off. The male guards laugh but the woman guard had to go outside and when she came back asked if it hurt. After that she had a few short conversations with me. Asked if one of the men could drive us back and she would be tied behind me. that meant she sat beside me.

As for the doctor he said my nail would grow back to normal in 2 months. I disagreed showing him my right great toe where I lost the nail 36 years ago and it definitely isn't a normal looking nail. He looked at it and said tinea. Under my breath I muttered that old John Elliot - Pig's A,,,
Then he looked at my birth mark - a Port Wine stain - haemangioma . Told me he would cut it off. He got told very definitely he wasn't touching it seeing I have had it 77 years.

After lunch the nice guard said do you want to read a book. He showed me a list of 5 English books. Tom Clancy Dead or Alive. At least something to do whilst I sat on the throne. Unfortunately they take the books off you at 1830 so doesn't make the night go any faster. So another sleepless night.
 
Didn't talk to me just got out a pair of snips and cut the toe nail off.
nail bed ok?

...
Sounds like maybe one or two guards nice. Did they have the same demeanour when Sensei Warden was around?

Sorry, how many bodyguards did you have in your Entourage?
 
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nail bed ok?

...
Sounds like maybe one or two guards nice. Did they have the same demeanour when Sensei Warden was around?

Sorry, how many bodyguards did you have in your Entourage?
When I left the detention unit I was always handcuffed, tied to a guard behind me and usually 3 quards in total but when I saw a judge there were 4.
 
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What makes it even more painful and if you believe in Fate, just think of this:
The whole ordeal probably just because rdRon missed the turn or GPS was playing up.
This is that intersection on Google streetview
If you look at that route from Sonia hotel to Ryugu shrine, he could never had to do that right hand turn. Instead he could dive that intersection in straight direction and be just fine.

It drives me nuts how such minor detail could cause that staggering consequences ☹️

Screenshot 2024-08-21 215331.png
 
While nowhere near as bad as drron's incident, had a uni mate some 20yrs ago locked up in the UK overnight after being pulled over for a medium speeding incident (some 15-20mph over).

Apparently in the UK, police have discretion to either send you to a magistrate or fine by notice. Believe in this case the officer didn't take kindly to an argument offered that he shouldn't fine my friend because if he did he would just go back to Australia in a month and not pay it.. and so decided on a Fri afternoon that he would send my friend down the court path, knowing that a magistrate was unlikely available at the time.

Also heard a few stories from Thailand where after an accident with a local you might need to be concerned about other locals wanting to enact revenge, and then the police.
Did that mean he would be detained until Monday ?
 
Having similarly caught up with the saga, I have to express my dismay at the way you were treated as a gaijin @drron and @mrs.dr.ron - that article posted about foreigners and the law was very informative.

Makes me glad that on my upcoming trip to Japan in January, I’ll only be taking public transport (trains) and the Shinkansen with my family. Would hate to think how they’d cope if I was arraigned.

Makes me wary about hiring cars - in 2011 I paid a massive premium for Mrs QF WP and me to be driven from Prague to Germany in order to pick up a short term leased car. At least in Germany I had confidence with the language and driving but not in Czechoslovakia.

I trust you’re both home and planning trips in the future to other destinations.
 
What makes it even more painful and if you believe in Fate, just think of this:
The whole ordeal probably just because rdRon missed the turn or GPS was playing up.
This is that intersection on Google streetview
If you look at that route from Sonia hotel to Ryugu shrine, he could never had to do that right hand turn. Instead he could dive that intersection in straight direction and be just fine.

It drives me nuts how such minor detail could cause that staggering consequences ☹️

View attachment 403901
To be fair to Google I missed the original turn Hence my route.
Then I compounded my mistake by counting 2 intersections that were then on my left instead of one. I realised about 250 metres from the correct intersection hence a reasonably fast slowing.
Amazing what can happen just missing a turn.
 
A friend worked in PNG many years ago and was told that if you’re in an accident don’t stop and get out the hell of there for fear of retribution by locals.

I was given the same advice when buying timber there, 20 years ago
 
So Wednesday arrived. I had become used to the way things were done. If I say though myself I thought my bedding was the most tidy in the storage cupboard. The fellow who came next said well done. He was the only detainee that would look at me. Everytime I passed him he would nod and smile, I would do the same. The interesting thing was that he was covered in tattoos. In this context a fair chance he was a gang member. Maybe he had some knowledge of how it was for someone who looked different in the Detention centre.
Then at about 1100 number 59 was called to step outside. I wasn't handcuffed or searched. Wondered what was going on. Need not have worried. Taken to the room to see visitors. In walked my lawyer followed by Mrsdrron. The emotions were nearly out of control. Even better the lawyer told me that they had negotiated my release later that day. The darkness evaporated. I couldn't stop the line from MLK's speech going in my brain. "Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty I am free at last."

Returned to my cell feeling totally different. didn't even mind being frisked and wanded. Hardly ate any lunch as dinner was definitely going to be better. After lunch again called and handcuffed again and taken down to the Police Station. Wondered what was going on. Put in one of the Interview rooms and in walked the Prosecutor. The look on his face I thought was supercilious in all of it's meanings. He obviously thought he had done a wonderful job. Maybe in the future that look might change as if we do make a complaint to the UN he will be the one I single out as being responsible for the denial of my rights.

He read out the deal that had been made - naturally all in Japanese. Didn't worry me this time as the lawyer had told me all the details. The deal had to be approved by a judge. However within an hour I was on my way to see a judge. I had been able to change into my own clothes but still handcuffed. Ushered straight into his room. Another fellow who had some humanity. Started off with my full name and saying i have heard and read a lot about you recently so I have looked forward to seeing you and be able to tell you you will soon be free. Then excused himself saying but now I have to read out the official words but all in Japanese.

After that I was kept in the Court House for a while then transferred back to the Prosecutor's office where the fine was to be paid. The lawyer had told me that they initially wanted a 400000 fine ($A4000) but it had been negotiated down to 300000 yen which was double what I was told by the first judges staff was the usual fine given in these circumstances.

However we were able to come up with the cash after changing the USD that we had brought with us. After paying the fine we had 27000 yen between us. We were able to get rid of most of that. But importantly I had the cuffs removed for the first time and able to hug Mrsdrron and walk outside as a free man once again. Though forever to be known by Mrsdrron as her felon.


So finally a picture of a free man. the criminal lawyer standing behind us. the Embassy's choice of lawyer was taking the pictures.
IMG_0428.jpg

IMG_0429.jpg

Then a taxi back to the room Mrsdrron basically had to accept as there was very little last minute accommodation left in Otaru. A real bed!
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Wow what an ending! If you wanted you could make this an episode on Banged Up Abroad. Travellers have no idea things like this can happen with a routine traffic accident. And not many people could come up with that much cash for a fine. I hope wherever you travel next is a happier experience.
 
Well I am so glad to hear that it ended with a bit of a whimper after such a dreadful experience @drron, and I can only imagine how relieved you and @mrs.dr.ron must have felt as you were able to walk out as a free man.

Now I am wondering - what happened after this? Were you expected to leave Japan immediately or allowed to continue your trip - assuming you wanted to of course, which would be unlikely I expect? Did your shameful incarceration cause you to miss your flights home etc etc. So many more questions!

I absolutely second getting some media attention here in Aus at least to warn others of the risks. And I do hope that you find the fortitude to take further action about the terrible treatment you experienced. Bullies thrive on the silent compliance of their victims. I understand the toll it takes to stand up to them (had an employee steal from us once, and had to take legal action that took 4 years to finalise - we won, but the personal and financial cost was high) - but if you don't they are emboldened to keep on doing it.
 

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