30 job questions I don't remember...October 7, 17:53

“I have

been questioned more than 30 times

. There are voices from people who have "I received a discriminatory job question from the police".

The selection of individuals for questioning and interrogation by police and other investigative agencies based on their race, skin color, nationality, and ethnic origin is known as racial profiling, and has become a global problem. I'm here.

In Japan, in September, the Tokyo Bar Association published the results of a questionnaire survey of people with foreign roots.

I questioned the way job questions were asked.

More than 30 job questions since junior high school

“Since I was a junior high school student, I have been questioned many times about my job duties, and I gradually came to feel that I was discriminatory.”

Eibel Nakao (27), whose father came to Japan from Nigeria and whose mother is Japanese, reflects on her experience of job interviews.

She works as a model.

From the experience of being suspected of possessing illegal drugs because of the characteristics of his appearance, and being the only one to be questioned many times even though there were many people around him, I feel that the job questions up to this point fall under "racial profiling."

What made Nakao feel uncomfortable was that she was the only one who was stopped by the police when she was walking with a Japanese model friend to go to work for a photo shoot.

Hidesuzu Nakao:

A police officer called out to me and said, 'I really want you to stop for a while.' There were three other Japanese model friends there, but I was the only one with a bag. They looked at me and my wallet, and said, ``It's easy to be the subject of interrogation because you have that kind of hairstyle.''

The first time I was asked a job question was when I was in junior high school.

She said that while she was riding her bicycle, a police officer stopped her and asked her to show her alien registration card.

Mr. Nakao has been questioned more than 30 times in total so far.

As the number of times increases, the way I accept it has changed.

Hidesuzu Nakao:

"Since I was a teenager, I've been asked many times about my job duties, more than I can count. I was asked to show my alien registration card. At first, I was like, '

Did

I do something wrong?'

', but as the police approached me over and over again, I began to feel that I was being discriminated against."

Growing Awareness Worldwide: The United Nations and the U.S. Embassy in Japan

Regarding "racial profiling", the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recommended that each country formulate guidelines to prevent it.

In December last year, the U.S. Embassy in Japan sent a message to Americans living in Japan on social media, stating, "Multiple cases of suspected racial profiling by Japanese police have been reported."

In an interview with NHK, the U.S. Embassy in Japan said, "We cannot comment on individual cases." We have also informed the Japanese authorities that there was a case where racial profiling was suspected."

Issues raised by the bar association's survey

Under these circumstances, the Tokyo Bar Association embarked on a fact-finding survey.

From January to February this year, we asked foreigners living in Japan and Japanese with foreign parents to cooperate with a questionnaire survey on the Internet, and received responses from about 2,100 people.

According to the results announced in September this year, 1318 people, or 62.9%, were questioned about their duties in the past five years, of which 10.8% answered 6 to 9 times, and more than 10 times. There were 11.5% of people.

In addition, 85.4% of the respondents answered, "I think the police officer who called out to me knew from the beginning that I had foreign roots." ” was mentioned.

In addition, there were various voices appealing for discriminatory responses to free descriptions.

"As soon as they found out I was a foreigner, the police officer's attitude suddenly changed and they asked me questions about my duties in a taunting manner."

"

I was investigated like a criminal in front of a large number of people."

It is insulting and discriminatory."

Based on these results, the Tokyo Bar Association believes that "many job questions may be asked based on discrimination and prejudice."

Attorney Moe Miyashita of the Tokyo Bar Association, who conducted the investigation, said,

"According to my interviews, even after just one job question, the person became afraid of going to the same place and started avoiding that place. Some people were afraid to go out for a while.Since there are voices like this, the investigative authorities will look back on their responses and think about what to do with their duties in the future. Would like to have"

I can't get people to believe that "it's my home"

There was also a man who recorded how he himself was questioned, saying, "I want you to know about being suspected of being a criminal just by looking."

It was taken by a man who is an English teacher with roots in the Bahamas and Japan.

When he returned to his apartment and checked his post, he was stopped by the police and asked to search his belongings.

Police officer :

“

We

are also involved in crime prevention.

The man has often been asked such questions in the past, and has been told by a police officer, ``In my experience, fashionable people with dreadlocks often have drugs.''

It is said that many other such videos have been sent to organizations working on issues such as black discrimination.

Naomi Kawahara, Japan for Black Lives representative,

"This man recorded a video of himself being questioned about his duties, and in it he repeatedly explained that he was at home. I was told by the police that it was not proof that I lived here, that it might be my friend's house, etc. It was really unbearable, and I think I was humiliated and frustrated. Something like this is happening all over Japan."

Accumulating "embarrassment" and "anger"

Mr. Nakao says he has been questioned many times since he was a child.

She has also shared her experience with her family.

Ms. Nakao's mother sent a message in response to her interview this time.

Nakao's mother:

"My son has grown up feeling discriminated against since he was little. He is seen as a foreigner because of his appearance, and is suspected of being a drug owner because of his hair style. Even police officers are unaware of discrimination and prejudice. Since I was in junior high school, I have been questioned about my duties, and it seems to be even more common after I become an adult, which is heartbreaking as a mother."

When I asked Mr. Nakao again about his duties, he responded, "I'm ashamed and angry," although he understood that it was necessary to protect public order and that he had to talk to him based on his appearance. I was.

Mr. Hidesuzu Nakao

"Embarrassing" is quite conspicuous when you are asked a job question.It is exposed to people's eyes because it is done in a conspicuous place such as a place with a lot of people.I don't like it. I understand that I have to decide whether to call out.On the

other hand, I think that it is discrimination if you decide whether to ask a job question or not based on the characteristics of your appearance."Anger" related to that I have"

police acceptance

How do the police respond to voices of doubt about racial profiling?

At a press conference on September 13, Tani, chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, said:

Tani, Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission

: "I understand that job questions are asked based on the law, and that it is not permissible to ask questions based on race or nationality."

In the past year, 22,076 cases of criminal law offenses were arrested due to job questioning.

In response to NHK's interview, the National Police Agency said, "Job questioning is a means to contribute to the prevention and arrest of violent incidents, and is an effective activity for maintaining public order."

In addition, in order not to be misunderstood as prejudice or discrimination against race, nationality, etc., we will strictly refrain from inappropriate or careless words and actions when questioning job duties through various opportunities such as national conferences and police academy education. I have been teaching them repeatedly," and answered that they will continue to provide education and guidance.

In addition, the National Police Agency is investigating consultations on job questions based on race and nationality that were received last year by the Public Safety Commission of each prefecture.

Former Police Officer “Thorough Human Rights Education”

Hikaru Shikata, a former police officer who specializes in criminal policy and is a professor at Chuo University's Faculty of Law, points out the importance of thorough human rights education for police officers.

Former police officer, Professor Hikaru Shikata, Faculty of Law, Chuo University

"At the police academy, there is always time for human rights education when new graduates are hired or when they are promoted to ranks. However, there is a concern that human rights education may be buried in the midst of various education on the security situation and related laws and regulations

. The very fact that people with foreign roots think that they are being subjected to discrimination can lead to a division in society. I would like them to be thoroughly educated so that they do not respond or behave.”

Director, Political Science and International Program Department

Mei Asakuma Joined the station in

2016

After working at the Nagoya station and Ohayo Nippon, from 2022,

covering the themes such as foreign workers currently working

Social Affairs Reporter (in charge of judicial affairs)

Kana Kiyosaki Joined the Bureau in

2012

After working at the Fukuoka and Yokohama Bureaus, she has been in charge of trials in the Social Affairs Department since 2019.

Focusing on the Tokyo District Court and High Court.

News Reporter (in charge of the National Police Agency)

Yuri Fukuoka Joined the Bureau in

2008

After working in justice, police coverage, investigative reporting, etc., in charge of the National Police Agency from August 2022

Ohayo Nihon Director

Sakuto Watanabe Joined

in 2015

After working at the Yokohama and Fukuoka stations, he is now at the current position since 2021 Covering

issues of racism such as hate speech