The Minami Ashigaran

Matsuda Police

“But I’ve had my share of dealings with police, in the U.S., Canada, and elsewhere in the world, and there is a universal truth: when police demand submission, it’s best to submit.”
–Neil Macdonald, CBC News

The police that protect Minamiashigarashi have their main station in Matsuda.

I know they do their best. But I have some complaints, and so do others.

Quite a few people in our town feel you are rude. One of my Japanese friends
said he really doesn`t like the local police.

Why are you rude if you stop people?

Admittedly many police are not rude, but I was stopped near my friend Eiji`s house and the police were so rude to me.
I had gone to ask Eiji if he would teach me guitar again. Eiji was out unfortunately, but his wife said that he was busy
and wouldn`t be able to teach me.

I got back to my van (parked next to Iwahara Park) and the two policemen were so rude. I don`t like being stopped and questioned if it is necessary, but I think
the police should be polite and professional about it. One officer said it would be 15,000 yen for parking my car next to the park, then insinuated that I was having an
affair with my friend`s wife. Then they wanted me to cooperate and allow them to search my van, and I said no. Why should I let you? When you are so rude and insinuate
rude things and threaten me with a 15,000 yen fine when I have parked next to a park near my friend`s house.

Their strong handed attitude loses them friends, and makes people not want to cooperate.

Finally I let him search my van, but he left it all messed up. I think if they are going to search, don`t you think they should put things back properly?
Seems logical to me.

Why do so many Japanese feel the police are rude?

Police, the problem is that when you are rude, people don`t feel like helping you.

When one of the AUM Shinrikyo members was spotted the police wanted help from the public. One policeman approached me at Kaisei Station, but I avoided him because of the incident
at Iiwahara Park. I find the police scary and want nothing to do with them.

I am not alone. The local people of Minamiashigara also do not like talking with the police.

It is a shame as the people and the police should work together to help make our community safer.

But when one group is arrogant and rude, the other group doesn`t want to speak with them.

All is not bad. Some of the policemen and women are actually quite polite and professional. I was stopped for an illegal turn and they were very kind about it.
Explained what I had done wrong and gave me the ticket. Which I obviously deserved as I had made the wrong turn. But I didn`t feel bitter about it, and I hold no
negative feelings for these particular police. In fact, I would help them if they had a question about something I had seen etc.

But after a very bad experience with our local law enforcement officers, neither I nor the local Japanese feel like helping.

“Some police are bright, professional and educated. Some are louts. Some are racists. You never know which variety you’re facing.
But what they all have in common (outside Great Britain) is the weapon at their hip, and the implicit threat of its ultimate use to settle matters.”

–Neil Macdonald, CBC News

Speeding in Minamiashigara City

Many cars drive very fast throughout our city. Why?

One reason is the police rarely stop people for speeding. We have asked the police to do it on our street. But they are very inflexible.
They say it isn`t possible. It is possible in Canada, in America, and in Europe. Why is it not possible in Minamiashigara?

They are afraid to disrupt traffic they say. But they disrupt traffic when they stop people to check whether they have been drinking alcohol.

Why don`t they do they same for speeders?

Just today at 7:01 AM a white sedan went down our street at over 100 km per hour I estimated. People were out taking out the unburnable (recycled) garbage.
It could have been my child or yours going to soccer practice or whatever.

What is stopping the police from having one of them with a radar gun, or even a mounted radar gun on a stand, and one or two stopping cars, either at the side of the road, or into a parking lot of
someone who would allow this. I would at my school in Tsukahara.

But no, the police say they can`t. Meanwhile, children are killed in Minamiashigara by speeding cars.

“Most police despise any challenge to their authority. Some will abuse it, if necessary, to protect that authority, and the system can allow them to do that.”
–Neil Macdonald, CBC News

Of course if any of the local police stop me, I`m not talking about you sir. I think you are very talented and handsome! I really do!