Pepper Sprays & Stun Guns

[Manami TMK]

I have bought two sets of small pepper spray online; sorry, I forgot the name of the store but there are tons of them. even at amazon as @MikeH said above.
I bought them just in case when I had a stalker from Japanese shop. Luckly I haven't had a chance to use it so far.

As long as you have a proper reason to carry pepper spray, you should have no problem.
1. It has to be reasonable amount. You don't need to carry whole a lot of pepper spray to "protect" yourself. They won't accept self-defense if you carry too much.
2.Make sure you carry it in a place where other people cannot see e.g. in your purse or pocket. They say "it may intimidate other people by showing that you are carrying pepper spray "
3.If you use it not only on your target but entangling other people, you may get arrested for assault.
4.If you keep spraying it on your target even after he/she become not resisting, you may be arrested for excessive self-defense.

You are a young girl. It should be enough reason to carry appropriate quantities of pepper spray. Though I don't know about stun gun.

 

[MikeH]

As the old saying goes Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

Yep that might have been great advice in the wild west. Here in not so wild east we more logically inclined are asking what are the odds for being judged vs carried?

 

[TheScientist]

As the old saying goes Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

Except it doesn't work that way here on either count.

 

[Kegger]

The random bag searches here..

Is this common? Never heard of it. Only time it has happened is going into sports grounds etc. even then the main rugby stadium at chichibunomiya actually allows you to carry your own alcohol in.

 

[TheScientist]

Is this common? Never heard of it

Its not uncommon as every foreigner I know has experienced it at least once. In my case it doesn't matter if I'm in a nice suit or t-shirt & jeans or seemingly what neighborhood I'm in at the time. The oddest case was one day when I was actually stopped and ID checked/bag searched three times.

FWIW I don't get mad at the cops, that does no good at all. I now have a kind of routine where I ask them if this is a dangerous neighborhood and should I be careful about my personal safety or things getting stolen. I love the momentary look of confusion on their faces

 

[scorpioni6ths]

You can get them in Akihabara - I got them for a friend who thought she was being stalked years ago. There is a store on the main road which sells weapons and self defense items. It's not legal to carry and use so you need to work out just how bad you need to carry it. I think it cost about 3,000 yen and shelf life is 12 months. If you need the exact location let me know.

I probably know this shop too.

Shops at Ueno (under the tracks) have them. "Marugo" (www.malugo.com) sells BB guns, knives, and pepper spray.

 

[namae]

I'm just gonna post this here. I found the article a few hours ago, but it was published in 2009. Opinions?

View attachment 1684


Source: http://www.tokyoweekender.com/2009/08/in-the-right/

Seems the real issue is "secrecy". Maybe if you get a T-shirt printed up "I have Iron Rods and Pepper Spray in my Handbag" you will be fine.

 

[MikeH]

Just went to a shop called Mad in Akihabara, where they btw have always looked foreigners with stingy eye, to consult about this.

I explained I am asking advice for a lady friend and the shop keeper was, if not inviting, at least polite and helpfull. They have also stun guns but we talked mostly about pepper sprays which I initially thought they would only have some tuned down local brands. Actually they had several different foreign brands, some of those I recognised and know they are really effective.

His opinion was it will be perfectly ok for a lady to carry as long it's hidden and for self defense. Then he made sure again I am not going to carry it myself and made it quite clear that 6'4" and 200 pounds will not help making the argument for self defense.

Of course this was an opinion of a sales guy and not lawyer but according to all I have learnt this far it seems legit.

Still I would think long and hard before getting one. And train as long and hard if I decided to get one anyway.

 

[Kegger]

Its not uncommon as every foreigner I know has experienced it at least once. In my case it doesn't matter if I'm in a nice suit or t-shirt & jeans or seemingly what neighborhood I'm in at the time. The oddest case was one day when I was actually stopped and ID checked/bag searched three times.

I feel another survey coming up on TAG!

 

[roots reggae]

With the heat of my peppers, I should go into business.
On second thought, it would be a waste of good food.

 

[User#8628]

Is this common? Never heard of it. Only time it has happened is going into sports grounds etc. even then the main rugby stadium at chichibunomiya actually allows you to carry your own alcohol in.

Never happened to me. Happens mostly to Japanese people with dyed hair because they look like scum to the police. >.<
I did get ID checked randomly on the street by police about 4 times in two years though.

 

[MikeH]

I did get ID checked randomly on the street by police about 4 times in two years though.

My money is on that it was just a new tactics to get your contact info after you didn't know where the Starbucks was.

 

[Manami TMK]

I haven't gotten the random bag searches but my escort friend has. Two police women came talk to her nad asker her to reveal her purse.
She is Japanese, was on her way back from client, carrying a box of two different size of condoms, used stockings and toys...It was too obvious what she did for living. Nevertheless, they didn't care.
They opened up her condom pouch, sliding off the condoms to see if there were something else other than that, closed it off and gave it back to her with no word. Then they asked her to show her wallet.
Same thing. Opened up, check the inside and gave it back to her. They don't care even if you carry 2 dozens of condom and a few toys. What they try to look for is drug. That's why they are always two people, one actually checking your face expression and reaction while the other one is checking your item.

 

[User#8628]

My money is on that it was just a new tactics to get your contact info after you didn't know where the Starbucks was.

There was actually a cop who asked me for my id and a bag search because he thought i was smoking underage while i wasn't even holding any cigarettes or anything.
I showed him my id to prove that i'm over 20. He asked again for bag search but i pointed at my age again and then he went away.

It seemed like he was just trying to talk to me because i don't smoke and i was holding no lighter or cigarettes.
He did flash a police badge though so or he's real or he's really freaky and made a police badge to talk to girls and check their info. :s

 

[MikeH]

It seemed like he was just trying to talk to me

Ain't we all, ain't we all! According to the law you don't even need to show any ID, though in the real world out there it is usually the easier way.

 

[User#8628]

Ain't we all, ain't we all! According to the law you don't even need to show any ID, though in the real world out there it is usually the easier way.

Yea, if i have nothing to hide a rather just tag along with annoying authorities than making a scene for my "rights" and end up wasting a few ours at a police station or something.

 

[TheHunter]

I know from personal experience, that knifes are extremely regulated (pretty much within the same law). Even though the laws are "relaxed" for people going camping or people working to carry a knife, because they show "reason", I have had problems that police think I am actually not "going camping" purely because I did not have the same amount of (unnecessary) equipment as other Japanese campers had. I guess you would need enough "reason" to be stalked.

Also If you are riding a train, that company may find that item a "dangerous" item and most likely is banned. Selfie sticks are banned in almost every station. If you are caught with a "dangerous item" on a train or in a station, you may find yourself in more trouble to deal with (they may sue).

 

[scorpioni6ths]

I am quite lucky (knock on wood) that I haven't been stopped for an ID or searched. I do see people being searched near stations, and have seen people being searched in Kabukicho. In one of my bags I carry an emergency thermal sheet, a plastic see-thru box that has condoms, maybe a metal butt plug, a Leatherman Squirt PS4 (which might give me a one way ticket to the slammer or nah).

I know from personal experience, that knifes are extremely regulated (pretty much within the same law). Even though the laws are "relaxed" for people going camping or people working to carry a knife, because they show "reason", I have had problems that police think I am actually not "going camping" purely because I did not have the same amount of (unnecessary) equipment as other Japanese campers had. I guess you would need enough "reason" to be stalked.

The laws can be very confusing about knives. I have a very small collection of Japanese steel (all within the legal length). I'm always quite "excited" when I get a new knife and have to travel from the store to my apartment. For these cases I always remember not to chuck the receipt in the bin after paying. The only time I get to use them is when I go camping/hiking. For that, I only bring along fixed bladed knives. I wrap it (sheath and all) in cloth and put it in my pack. I've actually never put one on my belt, because I feel it might be too intimidating. Last year was the only time I saw another person carry a knife and a big folding saw.

 

[TAG_Member]

Am I the only one who is still curious as to the reason @MissInsomnia felt in danger?

 

[Wwanderer]

The police have and exercise wide latitude in interpreting and enforcing laws at a precinct level. You can easily be ignored in one part of town and arrested in another for doing exactly the same thing depending on the local police policies. You can also be "taken in" for questioning (a huge hassle from what I've heard) if/when the police feel like doing so without being arrested and without doing anything at all illegal.

Just smile at and be respectful to the nice police person, do as you are asked and move along unless you really need to hide the contents of your bag or whatever.

-Ww

 

[TheScientist]

You can also be "taken in" for questioning (a huge hassle from what I've heard)

To add to this, the cops can hold you for nearly a month without charge.

 

[Kegger]

I find that if you look like you belong, and exude and air of confidence they don't even look at you.

Only time I have ever been asked for ID is while I was meeting people at Narita Airport.

To add to this, the cops can hold you for nearly a month without charge.

Yeah but there has to be some suspicion of a crime being committed. Only time I've ever heard of people being held is when they are quite clearly guilty. (i.e. arrested in the stolen car they were driving drunk)

 

[namae]

I find that if you look like you belong, and exude and air of confidence they don't even look at you.

Yeah, thats the way to go. Just keep out their way wherever possible. When in contact with them .....positive, confident body language and a smile with a few arigatos. I have a gold JPN drivers license which I use for ID purposes....instant respect The police control every aspect of driving - driving tests and licensing. My driving test was where I encountered JPN policemen that don't fit the mould of the chubby Koban keystone cop image. There are some very "scary" ones -- hence, my avoidance policy.

I think most of the time they don't want to stop and talk to foreigners - language/cultural barriers etc - but they get pumped up with orders and instructions to get out there and make sure the streets are safe for the G7. I was riding my bike around the time of the recent G7 meeting and noticed two policemen on foot checking me out. As I stopped at the traffic light, the two of them strangely semi-circled around my bike, checked my face and then retreated. Maybe hunting a Chinese bank robber?

 

[Quietlife]

A couple of years ago as I exited my local station a small guy with casual clothes and dyed hair stood I'm front of me and pushed me in the shoulder, I was just about to gracefully retaliate when I noticed a big guy standing 4m off to my right, watching. "ID! ID!" the tiny guy shouted. I then realised they were cops but felt really angry. It was a ploy to get me to become physical.

I asked to see his ID and then marched to the nearby koban and slammed my permanent resident's card on the counter. The koban boys were a little surprised as I am a local business owner and everyone knows me.

The tiny guy (nothing against small men by the way) sheepishly looked at it as I stared at him. Then I grabbed it back and was on my way.

I have no problem with being politely asked for ID, but they tried to provoke me which was very unprofessional.

 

[TheScientist]

I find that if you look like you belong, and exude and air of confidence they don't even look at you

I'm one of those strange cases where anywhere I go on this earth regular people take me for a local and ask me directions. This doesn't stop the cops here, nor does my PR status.

Yeah but there has to be some suspicion of a crime being committed

They can and will think of something.

but they tried to provoke me which was very unprofessional

Actually that's SOP for the cops here. I've seen their "good cop bad cop" routine now enough that I've almost memorized the script.