Rules regarding life in Japan

Mie Prefectural Police Department

Preface Japan is a company ruled by law. Various things in our lives are specified in laws and there are lots of things that are prohibited by laws. We believe rules regarding life and things that are prohibited by laws dont basically differ from country to country. However, there are some cases where the rules and laws differ depending on various cultures and customs. We created this document so that you can understand basic rules and laws regarding life in Japan you should abide by and will not get involved in trouble resulting from the differences in rules and laws between your countries and Japan. There are lots of other rules and laws in Japan. We hope you can learn them and have pleasant lives in Japan.

Contents

Rules under the laws

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) Possession of weapons Use of drugs Acts such as thefts Illegal dumping Use of cell phones Other rules Business permit basic

Protection of minors
1 Things protected by laws (1) Physical protection of minors (2) Consumption of alcohol (3) Smokin g (4) Employmen t (5) Adult Entertainment Businesses (6) Prowling and Loitering at night 2 Things prohibited by laws (1) Consumption of alcohol (2) Smokin g (3) Adult Entertainment Establishments

Driving in Japan
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) International License Obtaining Licenses Renewing Licenses License Plates

Driving Driving Driving

Car Inspection Title transfer when selling a car Certificate of Parking Space

Traffic violations/Traffic accidents/Bicycle Safety

(1) (2) Driving under the influence Use of seatbelts/child seats 3

10

(3) (4) (5) (6) (7)

Talking on cell phones while driving Priority of pedestrians Measures in case of traffic accidents Suspension of driving license Safe use of bicycles

To reside in Japan
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

12

Permission to engage in an activity other than that previously authorized Extension of Period of Stay Change of Status of Residence Obtaining a Status of Residence for children born to foreign couples in Japan Reentry permit Application for Alien Registration Changes in the Registration Obligation to carry and produce the Passports or Alien Registration Certificates

Rules under the laws

In Japan, if you commit acts in violation of laws, you will be severely punished and sometimes have to go to prison or get fined. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world. This is because the Japanese people abide by the laws and the police severely crack down on law violations. In Japan, the following acts are prohibited by laws or in some cases if you neglect to do the following acts, you will be punished by laws.

(1)

Possession of weapons You must not possess guns and knives except when you are specifically authorized by laws to carry weapons . You must apply for a permit in order to possess guns and weapons. You must not possess knives with blades longer than a certain length unless you have a legitimate reason to do so such as businesses, or any other reason. You must not conceal knives and iron bars etc. to endanger life without a legitimate reason. You must not conceal spar keys and chisels, etc. to break in other peoples houses and buildings without a legitimate reason. You must not conceal screwdrivers and crowbars without a legitimate reason.

(2)

Use of drugs Any involvement with drugs including use, possession, transfers shall be punishable by laws. You must not posses paint thinners and adhesives to inhale. Acts such as thefts You must not take things that dont belong to you. You must not take home bicycles without permission even when they look abandoned. You must not knowingly receive or buy/sell stolen things. Illegal dumping You must dispose of waste according to the local rules. You must not burn your waste unless you are specifically authorized by laws to do so.

(3)

(4)

(5)

Use of cell phones You must not report false information such as names, dates of birth, or addresses when you purchase cell phones. You must not transfer cell phones under your own names to others without permission from cell phone carriers. You must not transfer or receive cell phones under other peoples names.

(6)

Other basic rules You must not use fire in the vicinity of buildings, forests or anything that is combustible without proper care. You must not trouble the neighbors by shouting or playing loud music. You must not peek into places such as other persons homes, public baths, or bathrooms where people usually remain unclothed. You must not defecate, urinate, or spit or force others to do such things in public places such as the streets, parks. You will get punished if you stalk someone despite the fact she/he is rejecting you. You will get punished if you commit acts of violence or make offensive remarks against spouses including common-law spouses or children. You must not prostitute yourselves or seek the services of prostitutes. When you find lost items, you must return it to the owners of the item, or take it to the Police Department (Police Station/Police Substation)

(7)

Business Permit If you wish to engage in general/industrial waste disposal businesses, you must obtain permits. If you wish to engage in the sales/exchange of used cars, machinery, or jewelries, you must obtain permits.

Protection of minors
Minors are protected by the laws. On the other hand, there are things the minors are specifically prohibited from doing by the laws. 1 Things protected by laws (1) Physical protection of minors You must not conduct obscene/indecent acts against anyone under 18. (2) Consumption of alcohol Parents or any other person with parental rights must make efforts to stop minors from drinking alcohol. Business owners must not sell alcohol to minors. (3) Smokin g Parents or any other person with parental rights must make efforts to stop minors from smoking. Business owners must not sell cigarettes or smoking tools. Employmen t Employers must not employ anyone under 15 except under the special circumstances. Even if he/she is st following th birthday hasnt arrived yet, they must not 15 years of age, if March his/her 31 15 be employed . Employers must not hire anyone under 18 to work dangerous/late-night jobs except under the special circumstances.

(4)

(5)

Adult Entertainment Businesses Owners of Adult Entertainment Businesses must not hire anyone under 18 to entertain customers or provide services to customers. Owners of Adult Entertainment Businesses must not allow anyone under 18 to come to adult entertainment establishments as customers. Prowling and Loitering at night Parents or any other person with parental rights must make reasonable efforts to stop anyone under 18 from going out from 10PM through 5AM.

(6)

2 Things prohibited by laws (1) Consumption of alcohol Anyone under 20 must not drink alcohol. (2) Smokin g Anyone under 20 must not smoke. (3) Adult Entertainment Establishments Anyone under 18 must not go to Adult Entertainment Establishments such as Pachinko parlors.

Driving in Japan
(1) International Driving License Even if you have an International Driving License issued by countries such as China which are not signatories to the Geneva Conventions, you can not drive in Japan. Obtaining Driving Licenses When you ride motorcycles or dive cars on the roads, you must obtain a driving license according to the kind of vehicle. Here are ways to obtain Driving Licenses in Japan: (1) If you have driving licenses issued by foreign countries, you can take exams to change them to a Japanese driving license (You can take exams in 9 languages such as Chinese). (2) If you dont have driving licenses issued by foreign countries, you can take exams to obtain a Japanese driving license (You can take exams in Japanese). Renewing Driving Licenses Japanese driving licenses have to be renewed every 3 or 5 years. The renewal dates are shown on your driving licenses. Further

(2)

(3)

For Details: Driving License Center TEL 059-2291212 (4) License Plates

If you put other cars license plate or false license plate on your car, you will be punished by laws. (5) Car Inspection We have a vehicle inspection program in Japan. Vehicles over 250 cc in engine displacement should be inspected regularly (Personal cars and 2 wheeled motorcycles have the first inspection last 3 years with every 2 years requiring a new inspection. Personal light trucks they must have an inspection done every 2 years. Personal trucks have the first inspection last 3 years with every year requiring a new inspectin.) and pass the inspection to be deemed safe for use on the roads. You must also take out an auto insurance policy that covers collateral injuries/damages (jibaiseki). (6) Title transfer when selling a car When you purchase/sell a car, you must you have to perform a transfer of title of that car. (7) Certificate of Parking Space You must not park your cars on the roads. When you purchase or register a car, you must seek to obtain certificates of parking space (parking permit) except in the case of motorcycles. Inquires regarding car inspection, transfer of title: Chubu Unyukyoku Mie Unyushikyoku Car Inspection: TEL 059-2348412 Transfer of Title: TEL 050-55402055 9

Traffic violations/Traffic accidents/Bicycle Safety

In Japan, you will be severely punished according to the degree of responsibility, when you injure others or cause deaths in traffic accidents. Also, graffiti violations will be cracked down on severely. Please abide by the traffic rules. (1) Driving under the influence You must not drive cars, ride motorcycles when you drink alcohol even if its a small amount (You must not ride bicycle either). You must not let anyone drink alcohol or encourage anyone to drink alcohol, when you know he/she is going to drive afterwards.

(2)

Use of seatbelts/child seats When you are in a car, you must wear a seatbelt. When babies are in a car, you must use a child seat appropriate for the size of the child.

(3)

Talking on cell phones while driving You must not talk on the cell phones, or pay too much attention to the car navigation system (TV, DVD, VHS) while driving. Priority of pedestrians You must not drive your car in a way that obstructs pedestrians. Pedestrians are prioritized over vehicles.

(4)

(5)

Measures in case of traffic accidents When you are involved in a car accident, you must stop your car immediately and park it in a way that doesnt block the traffic. When there are people injured, you must dial 119 to call an ambulance. You must perform first aids on the injured while you wait for the ambulance. When you are involved in a car accident, you must dial 110 to call the police and report the time the accident occurs, the accident location, the number of the injured, and the extent of injuries then wait for the instruction. When you are not injured in a car accident, you must not leave the site until the police arrive. When you case a car accident and neglect to call the police or an ambulance when there are injuries, you will receive severe punishment. 10

(6)

Suspension of driving license When you commit traffic violations or cause traffic accidents, your driving licenses will be suspended for a certain period or be cancelled.

(7)

Safe use of bicycles You have to ride your bicycles on the roads. However, you can ride your bicycles on the sidewalks under the special circumstances. Bicycles are regarded as a vehicle in Japanese laws. You have to ride a bicycle on the roads when the roads and the sidewalks are distinguished. You can ride bicycles on the sidewalks only when traffic signs permit. You must ride a bicycle on the left side of the road. Pedestrians take priority on the sidewalks, so you have to ride your bicycles slowly on the right side of the sidewalk. You have to ride a bicycle at a speed you can stop immediately and stop when you are blocking pedestrians. You have to abide by the road safety rules. Riding under the influence, two people riding on a single bike, riding bicycles parallel to each other, and using an umbrella while riding a bicycle are prohibited by laws. You have to use lights during night. You have to abide by the rules of traffic lights, stop and check for safety at an intersection. You should recklessly. not ring bicycle bells

You must not ride a bicycle while talking on the cell phones or using head phones. Children must wear helmets while riding bicycles. Parents or guardians must make efforts to make sure children and infants wear helmets while riding bicycles.

11

To reside in Japan
When foreigners reside in Japan, Status of residence and Period of stay are set. You will engage in activities according to your Status of residence and remain in Japan within your authorized period of stay. If you desire to remain in Japan beyond your authorized period of you must apply for and obtain an stay, extension of your period of stay. When you commit a crime and become convicted, you will be deported or your application for an extension of period of stay will be rejected. (1) Permission to engage in an activity other than that previously authorized When your status of residence does not allow you to work (Resident Status of Dependent, Resident Status of Student), you can not engage in work activity such as part time jobs unless you obtain the Change of Status of Residence at the local Immigration office.

(2)

Extension of Period of Stay If you should desire to remain in Japan beyond your authorized period of stay, you must apply for and obtain an extension of your period of stay at an Immigration office. Change of Status of Residence If you should desire to change your status of residence, you must obtain the Change of Status of Residence at an Immigration office. Obtaining a Status of Residence for children born to foreign couples in Japan If children born to foreign couples in Japan are to continue to stay in Japan, you must apply to obtain the Certificate of Status of Residence at an Immigration office within 90 days of his/her birth.

(3)

(4)

(5)

Reentry permit When you leave Japan for your home country or other country and re-enter Japan during you authorized period of stay under the same Status of Residence, you must apply for permit for re-entry.

Inquires regarding Status of Residence, Period of Stay Immigration Office General Information Center TEL: 052-559-2151 Web: moj.go.jp http://www.immi12

(6)

Application for Alien Registration Foreign nationals staying in Japan must register at the local government office where the person lives within 90 days of his/her entry. When a child is born into your family, you must register the baby within 60 days of his/her birth.

(7)

Changes in the Registration If there is any change in the registration information (address change, visa-status change, etc), you must notify the local government office within 14days from the date the change becomes effective. Inquiries regarding Alien Registration: Local government office where you live (8) Obligation to carry and produce the Passports or Alien Registration Certificates Foreign nationals staying in Japan who are over 16 years of age must always carry the Certificate of Alien Registration. Foreign nationals staying in Japan who are over 16 years of age must always carry the Passport or the equivalent certificate. However, if they carry the Certificate of Alien Registration, they dont have to carry the Passport. You must produce your Certificate of Alien Registration or Passport if you are required by Police officers etc to do so.

13