Michael Cash <buggeroff@fake.com> wrote:

> On 17 Mar 2004 10:35:05 -0800, worthj1970@yahoo.com (John W.) brought
> down from the Mount tablets inscribed:
> 
> >tokyoelbow@totalise.co.uk (Elbow) wrote in message
> > news:<515ab8e4.0403162302.6580c3f3@posting.google.com>...
> >> Is this legal?  Anyone else had similar shit happen to
> >> them?  
> >> 
> >> Would appreciate some comments or just plain old
> >> ranting  (insert horse).
> >> 
> >As others have pointed out you actually got lucky. Because it was your
> >birthday perhaps it's a bit blown out of proportion; but you have no
> >legal reason to gripe. I suggest putting your ID card in your wallet
> >and carry it with you at all times, as the law says you need to do.
> >
> >And yes, it's happened to me. But I had my ID card.
> 
> I think in three trips to Japan, I have been asked for my card
> precisely one time...and even that is only a very very vague
> recollection. So vague that I'm not even sure it actually happened.

I've only been stopped once, on my first trip (it's possible that the
two cops passing us in their car thought it odd to see a couple of
gaigin scruffs walking through a posh area of Itami, or maybe they was
just curious to see what an ARC looks like--except that it was a book
then). 

As it happened, we did have our cards with us and I would have forgotten
about the experience except that I thought it'd be something vaguely
interesting to mention at Japanese school the next day. Oh boy was it
interesting--most of the other students were asian and had some horrific
first- and second-hand tales to tell of being held for long periods by
police for not having their ARCs with them. 

Elbow was lucky.

________________________________________________________________________
                   Louise Bremner (log at gol dot com)
   If you want a reply by e-mail, don't write to my Yahoo address!