The Dark side of Japan Tourism.

justinbrett said:
A culture doesn’t change that quickly.
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I would disagree. Japanese culture is actually rapidly changing.

I would also say that the cause of Japanese entry into WW2 was not because of some Japanese cultural element. Don't worry I have direct family connections which experienced this Japanese aggression.

But this is a discussion about modern Japan.
 
Quickstatus said:
I would disagree. Japanese culture is actually rapidly changing.

I would also say that the cause of Japanese entry into WW2 was not because of some Japanese cultural element. Don't worry I have direct family connections which experienced this Japanese aggression.

But this is a discussion about modern Japan.
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Again, culture doesn’t change that quickly. The superficial part does. The core values, no. They are ingrained in DNA.

This incident is proof.
 
Quickstatus said:
I think so.
Does Rideshare exist everywhere in Japan inlcuding the out of the way places?

I was wondering more behaviour/posture/tone in accidents.
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When I was there a few months ago there was no UberX. The cheapest option was Uber Taxi, which ordered through the Uber app called an actual taxi that took you on the fixed fare charged by Uber.

From what I understood the fare was similar to what you’d pay directly. But it did remove the language barrier.
 
Seat0B said:
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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Justinf said:
Only just came across this.
Wow.
I was both repulsed and equally fascinated by your story.
As a journalist myself, @drron you write very well.
I’m wondering how much out of pocket you are?
Surely we here can arrange a gofundme yo help? I think nearly everyone on here would like to help in some way.
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'To answer some of the questions. Yes fortunately I was a free man. That was part of the deal. It was just beautiful to hold Mrsdron again. However we now had 2 nights in the Green Hotel Annexe in Otaru. The smallest room we have stayed in. was called a double bed but it was very squuezy.
One of the reasons I was really worried about her was that back in December 2022 she had a fall at the Regent hotel in Singapore She hit the floor very hard and as well as being unconscious for 2-3 minutes broke her left shoulder. She has no memory of the event or the next 12 hours. Ever since she has had amnesia Virtually no new memories. We were to leave Otaru on the Sunday morning. She asked at the Sonia hotel and they could put her up for just 1 more night. Though she had to move from one of their biggest rooms to one of their smallest.

On Monday morning she went to the nearby hotels but they were all full. So she packed the bags, got into a taxi and took herself to the police Station where 2 E. Fortunatelynglish speaking police looked after her and found 3 hotels that had vacancies. She picked the cheapest which was 22000 yen per night. The problem was Otaru's main festival was starting the coming Friday. Fortunately one of the police was the Interpreter I had and he was one of the good guys. He told me on Monday night where Mrsdrron was staying when he was called up to the Detention centre because I wouldn't sign a form that was all in Japanese.

There really wasn't a language problem. In the police station the Interpreter was very good as well as the one in the Prosecutors office. At the judges on both occasions the interpreters were hopeless.. The first one I recognised as a guide on my cruise excursion from Aomori. She was hopeless at that as well. However they just approved what the Prosecutor had said.

I really don't want to go the to the press. Yes probably the issue would take off for a day or two but soon be forgotten. That is why I am examining the Human Rights angle through the UN. Interesting one of the codicils of the UN treaty mentions degrading and humiliating treatment of detainees should not occur. That might just cause some embarrassment for the Japanese Government.

As to the cost it was 300000 Yen for the fine - $A3000.
The lawyers fees were just over $A23000. I am grateful for the offer @Justinf but I will not go down the go fund me route. I am a bit obstinate and always like to do things my way. It has caused a temporary belt tightening but we have cut our travel budget for the next 12 months. Things cancelled are a road trip to Canberra in October, A short trip to Japan in April 25 which means cancelling the QFF CRs SIN-NRT/HND-BKK and an F award on QR DOH-BKK.
Also gone will be a cruise next May SIN to DOH. Rumours are it might be cancelled any way as the Suez Canal hasn't got a great chance to be safe by then.

And every travel Insurance PDF I have read including the Bupa one mentioned earlier will not pay out if you have been detained.
However if you do decide to rent a car in Japan take out the top cover. I hadn't before but did this time and I didn't have anything else to pay and it covered the other fellows health bills.

We will not be travelling to Japan ever again. Mrsdrron is adamant on that. I did ask the lawyer if I would be prevented from travelling to Japan in the future. He said no but you would be interviewed by an Immigration Officer before entry. No way I want to go if there is a chance i will be turned around at the border.

I will now go back and finish our trip to Hokkaido
I will come back and say how I would cope with such a happening in light of my experiences
 
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Doesn't travel insurance cover legal liabilities? I just looked at my Tick policy for the South America trip, they definitely have legal expenses and liability benefits.

For me, the lesson learned here is don't rent a car unless you are sure that the country involved won't imprison you for a routine accident, drunk driving the exception.
 
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Tiki said:
Doesn't travel insurance cover legal liabilities? I just looked at my Tick policy for the South America trip, they definitely have legal expenses and liability benefits.

For me, the lesson learned here is don't rent a car unless you are sure that the country involved won't imprison you for a routine accident, drunk driving the exception.
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Mine also says it covers legal fees but as said below there are exclusions such as if you are detained or broken a countries law.
 
Tiki said:
Doesn't travel insurance cover legal liabilities? I just looked at my Tick policy for the South America trip, they definitely have legal expenses and liability benefits.

For me, the lesson learned here is don't rent a car unless you are sure that the country involved won't imprison you for a routine accident, drunk driving the exception.
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The AmEx Explorer TI PDS does too under its Personal Liability Cover section, except for.......

"liability arising directly or indirectly out of the ownership, possession, control or use by You or on Your behalf of: a. mechanically propelled vehicles, aircraft (including drones), hovercraft or watercraft (other than non-mechanically propelled watercraft less than 10 metres in length)"

There's no exclusions for being at fault or detained, arrested etc, but there is if your act was unlawful.

I'd be surprised to learn of a policy that didn't have an exclusion for liability arising from driving a car, negligently/unlawfully or otherwise.
 

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