Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Police and Alien Card in Japan

One thing I was surprised in Japan is the terminology Japan has given to the identity card of foreigners. They call it Alien Registration card. Many times I feel that I came from a different planet to this earth known as Japan. That is why they call our identity card as Alien Card. This implies that Foreigners are aliens. May be this is due to my perception problem.

The police are fairly visible in Japan. Police boxes, called Koban in Japanese, can be visible at regular intervals on major streets. On cross roads and near railway stations and all, these are good places to ask for directions if we are doubtful of the place or feel that we are going to get lost. Policemen, Keikan, and Police women, Fujin-keikan are referred to as o-mawari-san, or the more ruffianly as poriko~.

Foreigners in Japan must carry their alien registration card with them all the times, and we may be asked to show this to a police officer if we are walking alone most probably at night for example.

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