Japan Supplement #3: For All You America-Haters

[Pierrot le Fou]

This is a post made originally by me to another forum. I figure that I can post them here and give you all parts of a different perspective from Az's on this job/Japan, as well as giving me a chance to re-read some of my prior experiences, and potentially make someone smile.

Originally Posted: August 18th, 2004

Here is what the 'enlightened' socialist state of Japan did to really chafe my caboose...

So I was coming back from Korea (Pusan, Japan for travellers on a budget it seemed like) and was anxiously awaiting my return to a country where I could at least semi-speak the language, and where I could understand more, as well as a return to the country that I'm currently living in. I couldn't have been more excited, until I hit customs.

My girlfriend and I walked up to the customs agent, he asked if we had anything to declare, my girlfriend (who is a Japanese citizen) stated that we had bought some cigarettes in duty free, but that was it. No liquor, no nothing. So he states, matter of factly, that he is going to have to search our bags.

Immediately, he started rifling through my bags, I mean really checking. I have, for instance, a tiny little pocket in my camera bag where I keep a spare flash memory card. He checked inside that pocket. Not to mention checking all my clothes, everything.

After this absolutely obnoxious experience was over (I was the last one through customs), he lets us go. My girlfriend, pissed off, asks if he's going to search her bag. He tells her nope, that we're okay to go. Basically, only the foreigner gets searched. Ain't that cute?

Now there were a couple other foreigners (non-Korean) on the boat too. The other one I saw going through customs also got searched thoroughly.

The thing that pisses me off about this is that we hadn't done anything wrong, but half the people on that boat were violating Japanese customs law -- most of them Japanese. See, brand names are big in Japan -- Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, etc. Korea has those same bags, only fake, for really cheap. So people go over (like one family we saw with about 10-15 different fake bags) and bring the fakes back to Japan (illegal) so that they can look like they have the real thing without spending that much cash.

Yet none of these Japanese people get searched, on the merit that they're Japanese.

Now you can badmouth the US all you want, and I hate US customs, but in the US you get searched randomly plenty much. You don't get an automatic pass for carrying a US passport, and you don't get an automatic search for being foreign. You can sit here and scream about all the evils of the US regime, blah blah blah, but the fact is that you can come to another 'first world' country like Japan, and be treated like a second or third class citizen.

America may have some bad points, but before you start talking smack about how you'd love to live elsewhere, I suggest you get off your arse and actually see how the rest of the world actually treats people before you get cocky and think there's somewhere else you can live.

The more of this crap I go through in Japan, the more it makes me want to live in the US.

-----

Follow-up: I still feel the same way about Japanese customs agents. A little less strongly, but still irked at Japan for some of the crap here. Not much I can follow-up with about blatant institutionalized racism.

[tekkan]

Actually...nowadays...they do search people just because they look like a suspicous muslim. They won't admit it. And they will search random white, black, oriental, whatever persons to make it look like they arn't, but they do. They're just smarter to keep it on the down low.

I don't hate America. Don't like it either. I love Canada. Love living here.

[Jancen]

I think what our learned friend is trying to say is that at least the US makes an attempt to be fair and unbias. As for the issue of searching muslims I know it isn;t the most PC thing to do in the world but it was muslims that took over planes and crashed them killing thousands and we know if given the opportunity other muslims would do the same. So if you were a security screener responsible for the lives of a couple of hundred people boarding a plane, wouldn't you be a little inclinde to search them? It may be my human fraility or the responsibilty I would feel to "ALL" the passengers but yes I admit that I would be more careful in my searches of people from a certain part of the world. If you had to get on to that flight you would as well and don't lie to me that you wouldn't.

Its just like when we were young punk kids out afterdark. The police know that many crimes are committed by you dumb punk kids so therefore they keep a more vigilant watch over them. And yes, they do stop them just because they are young dumb punk kids.

Now say that you are a buisness owner and you have been experiencing alot of theft from your store. No that does not give you a right to accost any poor black man, woman or child that enters your store. Its rude and not acceptible in our society. Besides if you were going to profile someone in attempts at better security "Race would be the last thing you would want to profile". A better profile would be probably age or economic status. Poverty is proven to lead many to crime and well being a young dumb punk kid you think you can get away with stuff like that.

Anyway, it just my opinion.

[hapacheese]

While I agree that had I gone through a similar situation, I would be pissed, but I have been fortunate enough to never have encountered any sort of trouble going into the country. (Every time I try to leave, though, they open up my suitcase... They do a thorough search, but nothing ridiculous, like you stated.)

On the other hand, for a period after 9/11, I would get everything but the full body cavity search at US airports. I came to Japan in October of 2001, right after the attack, and in one pass through SFO, I was frisked and had my bags searched 5 times. It's primarily because people can't tell what nationality I am, and it didn't help I hadn't shaved in about a week, so the stubble was quite thick and almost beard-like by that point. But still... Was rather amusing.

[Jancen]

Oh and another thing, The United states is an open society. The world knows our short comings because we put them forth and examine them publicly in order to right the wrongs. Would you rather us take say a more Japanese approach and hide all of our short comings so as to deny they exsist?

Let me first start off by saying that I love Canada and Canadians. That being said you never hear of their short comings. Canada seems to want to put forward this stereotype that all things are peace and harmony there. Come on, I've been to Canada and while they do many thing right and its a very nice country they have their problems just the same as everyone else.

I personally feel that it is rude to point out the short comings of another country to one of its citizens. Hell, its not their fault. Most likely there isn't anything that they can do about it. Besides maybe that critisim should be pointed at your own country to better "it" and not to beat down someone else in an attempt to make yourself feel better.

I am not Canadian. I have no right to vote in their elections. I have no say in the way the country should run. Internationally you have every right to have a differing opinion to policy and voice that opinion but the interworkings of the country and its election process is off limits.

I want to express my appologies to any Canadians. I used your country as an example because mainly it is a country to which I have been and feel that I can speak from my own experience. As I have said before I love Canada and have alot of respect for it citizens. For the most part I really enjoyed my time during my visit. I was however physically attacked in a pub for no other reason except for being a citizen from the US. I know that every country has an element that is basically @ssholes and not representational of the country in general. I would not allow these two individuals to taint my view of Canadians in general.

[Jancen]

While I agree that had I gone through a similar situation, I would be pissed, but I have been fortunate enough to never have encountered any sort of trouble going into the country. (Every time I try to leave, though, they open up my suitcase... They do a thorough search, but nothing ridiculous, like you stated.)

On the other hand, for a period after 9/11, I would get everything but the full body cavity search at US airports. I came to Japan in October of 2001, right after the attack, and in one pass through SFO, I was frisked and had my bags searched 5 times. It's primarily because people can't tell what nationality I am, and it didn't help I hadn't shaved in about a week, so the stubble was quite thick and almost beard-like by that point. But still... Was rather amusing.

I am a US citizen who travelled the US by plane shortly after the attacks. Round trip I think I changed planes 4 times. 3 out of the 4 times I was extensivly searched. I am a tall brown haired blue-eye guy who's appearence screams mid-western America. I believe most screeners make the uttmost attempt to be fair and unbais which goes against human nature. As in all things its a small minority who screw things up and people should try to understand that.

[tekkan]

Don't get me wrong. My post wasn't to bash America.

Canada is far from perfect. And you can say far less for many of the other countries of the world.

Its just that the OP made it seem that the United state's customs was completely unbiased. It isn't. I never said Japan's system is any better. I never said Canada's system is any better. I just pointed out that the OP is wrong to say that the United State's customs is as he says.

And yes of course the media has embedded in me the same prejudice that most people now carry towards muslims. But I however have a few middle eastern friends who have lived in Canada most of their lives. Do I think it is fair that they are now treated differently because the acts of a group a renegades? No I don't think it is fair. Do I want the customs people to sacrafice security so that my friends can be treated fairly. Probably not. If it were a renegade group of oriental terrorists, I personally would not mind the extra searches to increase our safety. However, I would not be so complient if it jepordised my freedoms of travel in anyway.

I'm not here to whine to you and bitch about America. But if someone is going to state something as fact that I don't agree with, I'm going to speak my mind.

And in terms of the interal affairs of the United States. United States is a power house country. Everything that happens with the United States will have some sort of impact on the world. The citizens of the world have every right to voice their opinions and concerns involving the United States of America.

Internationally you have every right to have a differing opinion to policy and voice that opinion but the interworkings of the country and its election process is off limits.

That is an ironic statement, when the United States basically involves itself with the interworkings of many countries. The most popular example would be Iraq.

[hapacheese]

I am a US citizen who travelled the US by plane shortly after the attacks. Round trip I think I changed planes 4 times. 3 out of the 4 times I was extensivly searched. I am a tall brown haired blue-eye guy who's appearence screams mid-western America. I believe most screeners make the uttmost attempt to be fair and unbais which goes against human nature. As in all things its a small minority who screw things up and people should try to understand that.

Good to hear. I didn't get pissed or anything, as I understood the reasons. It was just funny that *nobody* else in my group had to go through what I did... They all had a good laugh at my expense (and there was even a guy in our group named Osamu... which was similar enough to Osama that we all decided to refer to him by last name only.)

[Jancen]

ITs good to hear that you are pretty level headed and took it with a grain of salt. I wish I could have said the same thing on the third search to which I had to submit. I arrived at the airport 2hours as all people are told to do. This search was so extensive that I was almost late for my flight. I was pissed and can understand peoples frusteration. You would think that if you were searched once you wouldn't have to be searched again on connecting flights. Anyway hopefully technology will make things better and everyone with be searched without invasion to privacy. There can be no profiling if we all have to submit to the same proceedures.

[Pierrot le Fou]

I also traveled to Japan in October 2001, and I got searched (bags and person) both at Logan airport, and in Detroit. And I was a very scary passenger travelling with his mother.

Oooooooooooooooh...

I never said that the American customs agents were unbiased. I stated that searches are essentially random. I've been searched a whole f'ing boatload at airports in the US. Basically they are forced to search 1 out of X many people who come through a security checkpoint at random, in addition to searching people who look suspicious. I may be the unlucky 1 out of X a whole bunch of times, but I rather doubt it.

I got searched in Japan because I was white. There were plenty of foreigners on that boat (Koreans) who didn't get searched. The Columbian and the few Americans, however, all got searched extensively. Real swell, eh?

Stop talking smack about the US system until you've gone out in the world and realize that it ain't exactly honey and roses outside the land of the brave and the home of the free. Is the US perfect? Nope. But it sure as Hell stands heads and shoulders above other countries in lots of areas.

[hapacheese]

Jancen: The only time I've ever been pissed at someone at the airport was when I arrived 2 hours early to a *domestic* flight, and missed my plane (SFO -> Seattle). The reason? They had to run my bag through an extra x-ray machine, and that took over an hour and a half. There was a family in front of me with two large wooden boxes (that looked like caskets), filled with stuff like bleach, etc. I had to attend a meeting in the afternoon in Seattle, which I ended up being late for, and my business partners had to just sit there and twiddle their thumbs =\

pierrot: The *fairest* searching I've seen was in London at Heathrow. They questioned *everyone*. They were thorough, asked a lot of really surprising questions that caught me off guard, etc. I was really impressed.

Japanese security is a joke, though. I speak Japanese to them and they simply wave me by. I have seen people get caught up like in your case, simply because they were foreigners (particularly those who *aren't* white).

[Jancen]

Hapacheese:The only time I've ever been pissed at someone at the airport was when I arrived 2 hours early to a *domestic* flight, and missed my plane (SFO -> Seattle). The reason? They had to run my bag through an extra x-ray machine, and that took over an hour and a half. There was a family in front of me with two large wooden boxes (that looked like caskets), filled with stuff like bleach, etc. I had to attend a meeting in the afternoon in Seattle, which I ended up being late for, and my business partners had to just sit there and twiddle their thumbs =\

It gets ridiculous at times doesn't it? It took them almost an hour and a half to x-ray and physically search my bag. I had delicate gifts that I had bought in the bag and I offered to take it out carefully so as not to damage them. They said no and of course tossed them out without regard to protecting them. After x-ray and search they had to call in extra people to search my bag further. All that was left was some travel brochers in the front pocket. I was like just open it and take a look! No that wasn't good enough for them. I had to wait until more people got there to rifle through my stuff.

[Rogue_7]

The most intense security (not customs, never been stopped by customs... yet) searches I've dealt with were Munich Germany, where they searched everybody twice. At the gate they had a second checkpoint where they looked over everything. They opened my camera, looked in my pringles box that I had christmas stuff in, and looked in every nook and cranny of the carry on I had. The second most intense one was in Belfast. I was wearing a Guiness shirt and a green cap, so I guess I looked a bit pIRA to them and they gave me a good look over, including a pat down. If he got any more intimate, I was going to ask for some commitment!

[Arilou]

Here is what the 'enlightened' socialist state of Japan did to really chafe my caboose...

WTF are you smoking? Japan has only had like a total of 4 years of socialist rule well, ever.

[Pierrot le Fou]

Japan is more socialized than you realize. The government essentially controls business, it controls the economy, and while it isn't necessarily technically socialist, it comes closer than Sweden does by a longshot.

[tekkan]

Stop talking smack about the US system until you've gone out in the world and realize that it ain't exactly honey and roses outside the land of the brave and the home of the free. Is the US perfect? Nope. But it sure as Hell stands heads and shoulders above other countries in lots of areas.

If that is directed at me, please stop making assumptions. Considering I'm not native Canadian, I've seen my share of the world. If your article wasn't meant to say the U.S. customs system is unbiased the I apologise for critsizing(sp?) you.

I know very well about how bad things are in other countries. I enjoy how WELL the American and Canadian system functions. It just erks me when people think or imply that the North American System is perfect. That is all. But that does not to seem to be your intent. So that is the end of that.

[tekkan]

pierrot: The *fairest* searching I've seen was in London at Heathrow. They questioned *everyone*. They were thorough, asked a lot of really surprising questions that caught me off guard, etc. I was really impressed.


The fairest thing...well not fairest but the funniest attempt at seeming to be fair..is when I went to Mexico.

Anyone who has gone through the Mexican customs knows that they do their random checks by asking you to press a button. It is suppose to be attached to a random generator or something. When you press it, it will randomly choose the green light or red light. If the green light lights up, you pass with out inspection. If the red light lights up, you get inspected.

It was damn halarious. But I must give them props. If anyone questioned them, all they'd have to say is, blame it on the random number generator. :D

[hanacker]

You ever had problems at the airport in Japan? I've only flown to and from the US (a route where there isn't much point in smuggling anything) so that could be why, but I've found the security to be extremely light. I've been searched once but it seemd like they were doing it pretty randomly. Much more pleasant than American airports.

[Pierrot le Fou]

No problems with the airport going to Taiwan, but that's because there are bigger fish to fry than me, since I had a re-entry permit, while there were legit furriners who lived in other countries on the return flight.

[Kustom]

It's funny. There's something about me, but I'm transparent in Japan. I've never been stopped ever by a cop/custom officer, etc. However, I go around alone, in backpacker attire, I don't especially care to shave or even comb my hair and yet, I radiate anti-cops waves (I wish I had that back home!)
Now take my old roommate; American from Tennessee, neatly trimmed goatty, married to a Japanese, pretty low-profile and dressed in a suit... He gets stopped all the time. Even when he is attending his own business, walking with his wife, cops stop them to ID him (never seen that in Japan myself). They tell him of "security concerns because of terrorism", even though the dude looks so American he'd get beheaded within ten minutes of landing in Pakistan...

So I think some people are just unlucky and look somehow suspicious to Japanese law enforcement. Granted, being gaijin makes you extra-suspicious, but it's not automatic...
For me, whenever I check in Japan, the customs are always friendly and welcoming. In fact when I got back from Viet Nam recently, I remember feeling relieved to see the Japanese customs who gave us a warm welcome, instead of the cynical, suspicious looks of the custom thugs in "socialist" Viet Nam. And I never had problems with customs in America either...

To be fair, Pierrot, you could mention the fact that in Japan, even though you might run into trouble at customs, you rarely get stopped by the police for anything except bycicle IDing, while where I lived in the US cops would target you on a weekly basis for random, senseless id checks... Once a cop came to my house, because he saw me drinking a beer on my balcony, checked my id then made me pour the drink (the part I was the most upset about!). Yes, drinking outside is forbidden in California, even on your own balcony... I remember thinking at the time (and on many other occasions while I was living there): "This is a f$#ing police state".
Just like Japan, it isn't, but having bad experiences made me feel victimized. As a smoker you should be able to appreciate some of the extra-freedoms that Japan can offer... ^^