Louise Bremner <dame_zumari@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Michael Cash <buggeroff@fake.com> wrote:

>> 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.

> 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.

No, he probably just didn't do the right thing. 

(Of course, the following doesn't apply if you don't speak Japanese,
but...)

I've been stopped twice, once in Shibuya on my way to work, and once in
Sapporo. I think of my four times without the card (including trips to
the corner 7-11 for ice cream), they got me half the time. Both times,
it took about 2-3 minutes of me apologizing, telling them the card was
back in my apartment in Inogashira, and if there was any information
they needed, I'd be more than happy to supply it. In return, I got 
a mild admonition, compliments on my Japanese, and some pro-forma 
questions concerning what I thought of Japan.

They never even told me to make sure I carry it at all times.

Mike