If you heard someone screaming or what sounded like a violent argument nextdoor, would you call the police, or do nothing and just mind your own business?

If you're not Japanese, probably best to tell someone else,who'll then inform the authorities.

Depends on what's being said and the nature of the screams... there are instances where I would and others where I wouldn't

piskian

Today 07:23 am JST

If you're not Japanese, probably best to tell someone else,who'll then inform the authorities

I noticed the down votes but this is a reality in Japan.

My wife would say no to me calling and she will call and we have multiple times called the police in our previous residence with the upstairs neighbors having regular full one fights with furniture crashing dishes flying.

Presently we are in a situation where we have to think hard before calling, we have a center for special needs children and adults and a few neighbours with special needs adults that on occasion get upset and a little violent ( they are not dangerous just upset and don't know how to deal with it) they will yell, fight late at night but we now know to wait a bit and usually they calm down.

The danger is we get so use to it that we may end up ignoring a real DV or problem one day.

I noticed the down votes but this is a reality in Japan.

Maybe if you don't speak Japanese. I called the police on different situations a few times in Japan, and talked with them to get it straightened out. If you speak Japanese it's no problem.

If you don't, you could be opening yourself up for troubles.

It's just not a blanket situation, though you have to speak Japanese at a fairly advanced level to know that.

Yes, it’s a pity to agree, but you quickly might end up making you the very first suspect even if you are only the far away witness.

If it's just "basic yelling" about hanging underwear on the shower curtain rod or not doing the dishes or something: No.

If I hear gun shots, a katana coming out of its sheeath, or a grenade pin: I lock the door.

If I hear a child continually being yelled at, scream crying, something odd or banging around: Yes.

Maybe if you don't speak Japanese. I called the police on different situations a few times in Japan, and talked with them to get it straightened out. If you speak Japanese it's no problem

I speak very good Japanese, I interact with the police on a monthly basis due to the nature of my business.

No I still wouldn't!

My wife still says don't!

My 2 mixed children say don't.

But the " nothing wrong in Japan" group that have never done it will say otherwise.

 the upstairs neighbors having regular full one fights with furniture crashing dishes flying.

Is this a real story?

nishikat

Today 11:26 am JST

the upstairs neighbors having regular full one fights with furniture crashing dishes flying.

Is this a real story?

Why you think things like that don't happen in Japan?

I speak very good Japanese, I interact with the police on a monthly basis due to the nature of my business.

Then talking to the police is no problem. I guess you'll just have to trust me.

 crashing dishes flying.

Is this happened every night it would be very expensive if they had to replace their dishes on a daily basis.

Why you think things like that don't happen in Japan?

True, I don't know of any stories of people breaking all their dishes on purpose on a nightly basis. I hear stories of murders once in a while. But I don't know of anyone just breaking all their dishes out of anger and violence.

nishikat

Today 11:51 am JST

crashing dishes flying.

> Is this happened every night it would be very expensive if they had to replace their dishes on a daily basis.

Now where did I say "every night" ?

Did you just invent that part?

Yes you did.

I wrote regularly! And anyone that knows anything about abusive regulationship is knows it is rarely a one off thing!

Why you think things like that don't happen in Japan?

> True, I don't know of any stories of people breaking all their dishes on purpose on a nightly basis. I hear stories of murders once in a while. But I don't know of anyone just breaking all their dishes out of anger and violence.

So because you have never seen or know someone, that must mean it never happens, right?

If if don't perhaps reading the news more closely would help

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/man-arrested-for-beating-wife

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/woman-arrested-after-beating-husband-with-wooden-coat-hanger

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/man-arrested-for-assaulting-wife-with-rucksack

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/self-defense-force-member-arrested-for-assaulting-wife

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/police-officer-arrested-for-assaulting-wife

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/woman-arrested-after-stabbing-mother%E2%80%99s-hand-with-scissors

Would you like more?

I only used Japan Today and notice the variety of things used?

@Antiquesaving and @piskian

Genuine question: What specifically are you worried about happening if you called the police? I never have, so I'm missing what you're implying here as the potential problem.

nishikat

Today 11:51 am JST

Invents or modified my comment to make it look different and certain people think this is a good thing.

Interesting.

Do I know basically who because they do the same.

Domestic violence is rarely a one off.

If you have ever had neighbours in this type of relationship you would know it will happen over and over again especially when alcohol is involved.

But it seems when I point out reality that Japan is not some paradise void of the same problems as other countries this gets the japanophile noses out of joint.

Here is the reality, if you have neighbours that are in a volatile relationship chances are it will be on multiple occasions not just in other countries but also in Japan.

And for those that think a Gaijin calling even if you speak perfect Japanese and a Japanese calling is the same, please stop the fantasy.

Even my mixed children understand that even they are not treated equally as so-called pure Japanese.

The Original Wing

Today 01:17 pm JST

@Antiquesaving and @piskian

> Genuine question: What specifically are you worried about happening if you called the police? I never have, so I'm missing what you're implying here as the potential problem

I once stopped to help an elderly man that fell off his bicycle, he hit his head and was bleeding.

I did call the ambulance and the police came also, the old man was not Ok and incoherent,

I told the ambulance personnel what I saw, but not 5 minutes later I was in the back of a police car being accused of causing injury to the elderly man.

Luckily someone else witnessed the going on and told the police I had nothing to do with him falling.

They still held me for another 2 hours.

Learned my lesson!

I once came out of my former home on a narrow lane with a crashed scooter and a pool of blood. I didn't know what had happened but was concerned for the rider so I immediately called the police. They were happy I called. After a few hours, they were able to locate the owner of the scooter, who was still alive. I guess driving drunk. The police returned to my home and gave me the details and thanked me for calling them.

They also cleaned up the blood and removed the scooter.

I have never had any other reason to phone the police.

It's an interesting one. I've had predominantly positive interactions with the police here, and while I don't actually think the cops would give you a hard time just for calling them -that's the anti-Japan brigade making up stories again - you'd still be living next door to the person you called the cops on. That could be inviting a bit of trouble your way. But if it did sound violent, I'd call.

I guess it depends on your neighborhood, but in the various places I lived in Japan, I think it would be normal to consult with other neighbors first. (Did you hear that? Shall we knock on the door? Shall we call the police?)

It all depends on what time it was.　If they were keeping me awake they would be in trouble.

A person with a firearm or weapon, yes call the cops. If it a physical and unequal fight, I will attempt to quiet the situation at the appropriate time. If it a verbal unequal fight. I will attempt to use verbal reasoning.

I once found a driving license and handed it in to the police. They treated me as if they thought I had stolen it. There is no way I'm ever helping anyone ever again in this country if it's likely to bring me into contact with the police.

All my neighbors are perfectly happy and decent people-never need the cops

Did call in the koban once and reported some chimpara riding three up which elicited a grunt from the cop on duty -funny

If you are a foreigner or a non-Asian looking naturalised Japanese, you never ever get involved in other people's business, ever. You will lose if you do, you always will, it doesn't matter your intentions.

If they are watching a horror movie very loud you might think something going on and call the police.

I had the jcops called on me since my subwoofer was so loud shaking and vibrating the neighborhood lol

I was bumping music like an American with my 2o inch speakers and apparently Japanese do not like it.