The Japanese police system has come under increasing pressure in recent years. Crimes have become more horrific, and the high level of professionalism generally ascribed to the post-World War II force has been undermined by allegations of drug use, a jailhouse love affair and the planting of evidence on suspects.
L. Craig Parker, Jr.'s behind-the-scenes look at the Japanese police system is particularly timely in view of these events, and addresses a number of interesting issues. What is a typical day like for a Japanese cop on the beat, and how does it differ from that of his American counterparts? How are Japanese police officers trained and organized? How is Japanese law enforcement preparing to combat a rise in organized crime and terrorist activity? What effect has the increased number of foreigners living in Japan had on the police and legal system?
To all outward appearances, the Japanese law enforcement system is a paragon of community-based, service-oriented policing: Police officers make house visits, offer directions, arbitrate neighborhood squabbles, and even counsel distraught mothers. So, what has gone wrong? According to this respected American criminologist, very little. "No system in the world is without its flaws . . . I do not believe that these abuses and missteps, regardless of their widespread, well-publicized notoriety, are symptomatic of a systemic breakdown."