Avoiding Legal Problems in Japan

Under Japanese law, suspects may be held for a total of 23 days without the right to communicate with family or friends. During this time, the prosecution investigates the crime to decide if charges should be laid.  Be careful out there.

This page will be a discussion of some things to be careful about in Japanese law.

Ask In Advance

Here is a list of some police related phone numbers in Japan that you can use in case you need information or are having trouble with the police.  Cooperation is the best policy, but it is always useful to know what your rights are.   You don't need to give your name or number.  In Japan, use 184 so caller-ID doesn't display.

Seikatsu Anzen Soudan Center

生活安全相談センター

For information on civil (minji) and criminal (keiji) matters, crime prevention (bouhan), etc:
民事、刑事、防犯等の相談）

03 3503-8484

Public Information Desk (kouhouka)
広報課 係長

If you are having trouble with the police and want to (try to) file a claim, this number came from the Seikatsu Anzen Soudan Center. Ask for the Kakarichou.
（警察についてのクレームなど）
03-3581-4321

Restraining Orders

Some custodial parents have gotten restraining orders when a parent with trivial or no visitation rights tried to see the child, perhaps at school.  There have been claims that the courts will accept any reasoning to get these and that they are sometimes blatantly racially biased.  I am looking for documentation to post here to back that up.

Stalker Law

Details of this law and what might cause you to become victim of it.

Your Rights When Approached By Japanese Police.

Link to the www.debito.org site where he talks a lot about this.