I just want to say I understand the reasoning behind the gaijin card checks, but think the number of times that some of us are stopped is unfair and just a way to embarrass and harass us.
The best place to meet in Nagoya, for instance, is the "golden clock" in front of Takashimaya. A particular female police sergeant must have a bad memory because she has stopped me the most. I don't want to use the "race card" here, but being black doesn't help in this country. I've been stopped in front of Takashimaya about 13 times and have lived in Japan for only six months. I am pretty tired of it, and have started to take pictures of the officers who stop me with my phone and show them every time they decide to stop me.
I have tried asking the officers for their ID card before handing mine over but I'm greeted with threats, or what seem like threats, the walkie-talkie microphone held in my face. It's unfortunate I can't go to Takashimaya to meet my friends now.
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