Recently I went to Chitose airport to pick up a Japanese friend. I was waiting near the arrival exit and doing nothing that I would deem as suspicious when I was accosted by a plainclothes police officer. He showed me his police badge, then asked me for identification, passport etc. He said he was doing so because of security for the Group of Eight summit.
I told him he was discriminating against me because I did not look Japanese and that if I had been Japanese he would not have approached me. There were other Japanese people waiting in the area and the police never approached any of them. I explained that I had lived in Japan for 17 years and do not carry my passport at all times. He persisted in asking that I show some form of ID, and then four other plainclothes police officers approached in a threatening manner. I reluctantly produced my driver's license and he then relented, without offering any apology for inconveniencing me.
I understand the need for security, but the police should check everyone -- not just foreign-looking people -- if they wish to do their job well and create a good international environment that promotes good public relations.
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