Arisa Yokoyama
Real Estate, 28
As far as I see on TV that is the case, for example, with the Chinese mafia, but I don't think there is a correlation between the rise in crime rate and the rise in foreigners, it depends on individuals.
Daniel Williams
Maths Teacher, 30
From my experience, Japan is safer than many other places and I can see why the Japanese are worried about the increasing crime rate. I think there is a sense that there is less crime here, but that foreigners cause a lot of it.
Greg Gustafson
Petrochemicals, 46
I think the rise in crime rate is in part due to Western influence. The only crime I've witnessed here involved Westerners. I've heard a lot about rising crime from Japanese colleagues and friends, but I don't see it, I don't feel it and I don't have a real sense of it on the ground.
Yukiko Tsuchiya
Accountant/Hooligan, 35
I think it's a bit connected. Some people sneak into Japan illegally and stay for one or two years because their countries are poor and here they can earn a lot of money.
Mariko Imai
Office Worker, 28
I saw one program about the Chinese mafia doing things like breaking and entering. I saw lots of news about it. Maybe because of this coverage I think that if more foreigners come to Japan, then we will have more crime.
Robert Bartnicki
Language Student, 27
I feel safer here than in Europe -- I don't have to worry about pickpockets, for example, although I saw a program about Far Eastern pickpockets in Shibuya. Maybe that's why they are so strict on foreigners.
