In Tokyo I went shopping with the wife. She paid for everything in this short round. We returned to the hotel. I had a voicemail asking me to go to the front desk. I went to the front desk. The hotel representative put my wallet on a tray, gave it to me and bowed. I was confused. It turns out I dropped my wallet on the subway. A student found it and brought it to the police. The police brought it to my hotel. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT WAS MISSING !

Its not just about police. Its about citizens being civilized.

We went on vacation in Tokyo 2 years ago and had a hard time finding our airbnb. We asked a man for directions. He did not have a lot of english but we showed him the address of our airbnb. Without hesitation, the man walked with us for about half a kilometer to the exact address. After profusely thanking him, he left without asking anything in return. Later did we know that it was quite a walk and the man gave us his time just to help. I love Japan.

As an American, I have deep respect for Japan and its culture. I wish honor and respect were American things instead of hyper-individualism, selfishness, and violence.

I was stationed in Japan in the US Air Force. Honestly all the problems I saw were caused by foreigners, Japanese people are pretty chill and respectful.

Japanese culture places a very strong emphasis on honor, integrity, respect, family, and education. I wonder if that has anything to do with their low crime rate.🤔

Its true japan has it's own issues, but in MANY areas the rest of the world could really learn something from them. Their culture is simply amazing. For example, i was shocked when i saw primary school kids on a train alone in tokyo, managing just fine on their own with no supervision.

It's not about being paid well, it's a culture that extends to the whole society.

It helps that the concept of respect is instilled at every step of daily life - home, school, work.

It is also the Japanese culture. There is a sense of shame when doing bad things like stealing

I was assigned to the Security Services Command in Misawa, Japan and interfaced with Japanese police often in my duties. Each year we held a joint picnic and softball game. I can say the Japanese Police have earned their respect.

I remember reading about this in the 90’s. The Koban police know their neighborhood and any new face draws attention. They are part of that community. They are trusted and respected.

Back in the 70's my father was on business in Tokyo. He left his briefcase on the commter train...it had important work documents. Someone took the time to bring it to the headquarters of the company he worked at. Nothing stolen from it.

I remember when I was in Japan there was a huge manhunt for a criminal, lasting for over a week. It was everywhere in the news headline and media. The guy's crime was punching a police officer.

Amazing what happens when both the police and citizens are respectful towards one another.

I went on an exchange program a few years back and one of the people with me had forgotten their camera bag at a station. It was packed with lenses a flash, etc. He thought there was no chance he was getting it back but everyone else insisted we go back and ask. Sure enough it was with the police and they had even fixed a zipper that had been broken on it.

Their culture instills good values in their children at young ages... unlike the US. Their culture is something all countries could learn from

It has to do with culture, values, and traditions. When you are arrogant and brought up in a culture that does not respect authority and each other, you get what we have in America.

I have nothing to add to this wonderful story. Except to say I want to experience this type of living too.

Not really. Japanese society still take honor very seriously and respect one another's well-being and property. Their behavior comes from the samurai code of bushido, which still remains part of Japan's national identity in every aspect of their way of life. Lived in Japan as a kid. Loved it.

I’ve only spend one day in Japan on a layover, but immediately noticed the civic mindedness of the population. Something Americans could and really should learn from.

The fact that there is an entire floor of umbrellas speaks to the honesty and honor of Japanese citizens.

I work as a police officer in the Usa. And after watching. I really wish my job was as chill and community oriented as Japans police force. But, it’s a totally different culture. Totally different constitution. Laws and policies affect the way people think and act. Also, i’m sure they put up with their own fair deal of negativity. This article and journalist didn't cover the more darker aspect(s) to their job. For as long as you’re going to work in Law Enforcement. You will always see the negative sides to people and society.

I've lost my wallet in japan twice. In bost situations, I've realized hours ago that I don't have a wallet. Surprisingly, it was returned to me complete thanks to the honest citizens that have found it and brought it to the koban. Yeah I honestly felt like it is a tourist information office/lost and found station instead of a police station.

I left my camera in a bus in Tokyo in 2003. The next day it was returned at my hotel.

What a well educated and peaceful society overall. They don't take refuge in being loud or openly competitive about things.

Japan is literally the cleanest, kindest, safest and most high tech country in the world. And i'vbe been to dozens of countries world wide.

Honestly, we can learn so much from Japan. Even before the pandemic, they always wear masks as a courtesy to others to stop germs from spreading. Their citizens are civil with each other. Their whole outlook on life is how to improve it and make it better for everyone.

Japan is a nation with a fierce belief in work ethic, family, and respect for authority. As an American, I wish we could instill those values in our schools.

In December 2019 I spent two weeks with my 12-year-old daughter traveling Japan. I never anywhere in the world felt safer than in Japan. I am not naive enough to think that there is no crime, however, Japan was an amazing country full of polite etiquette and helpful people. I needed a little help with directions and stoped in a Koban. I was at Shibuya Crossing for New Year's eve with huge throngs of people and they behaved wonderfully. Not like one New Years in NY.

Im an expat here in Tokyo. Went to a city trip and lost my apartment key which I need to replace around 300-500$. I called the police, and the next day they called me back that they found my key on a bus :D.

The officer said " our responsibility isn't just the safety of the victims, it's also the safety of the suspects". Wow. That is a police force I'd like to have. We wouldn't have all the nonsense going on currently if we did.

Lived their for six years and it truly is safe.

Japanese people are an honest, gentle and gracious people and I admire them immensely. What are the chances here in America if an envelope left at an ATM would be returned to the owner? Probably zilch! I am not surprised to hear that it is one of the safest countries in the world.

my wife going to a conference venue in Osaka, got lost in after got off the train 3 stations too early, asked to a passerby granny for the location. Unbelievably, the nice granma escort her, going three stations, went by few building blocks, to the front door of the venue..! and explain it to the reception officer what happened..!! and she still told my wife "otsukare sama"..!!! .. wow.. just, wow..

The craziest thing I seen while in japan was how fast two police officers can maneuver their bicycles through crowds at a good speed without hitting people

Many newly-police graduates are actually put back in their own neighborhoods because they know everyone.

When I went to Tokyo for vacation I felt very safe no matter where I went or what time it was. Most Japanese people stayed to themselves and rarely spoke but was always friendly toward foreigners.

You picked one of the most homogeneous, structured, respectful, ritualistic, countries. They have virtually no crime to begin with, of course their cops don't have to act the same way as those in other countries.

Unreal n yet not surprising the success of Japan's law enforcement. Kudos for their compassion for their fellow citizens. Many more success n well being to them. Anticipating another well written n produced story. Peace

For the most part Japanese society has a higher level of integrity than American society... It shows in how they carry themselves, how they treat their family, how they do their jobs, etc...

It's simple they are taught from an early age to respect others & have pride & have face.

Japan is the best place on Earth. As a people they have high standards, integrity and respect authority.

I live in japan been here since 2013 became a citizen and I hate tourist so disrespectful I myself follow and respect the culture even married a women here

Never in my wildest dream I'll be hearing citizens complain about their city has too many police and there's not enough work for them to do

Always been crazy for Japan. Favorite Culture in the World, and most Respectful.

"When the race is good, the place is good" Ralph waldo emerson

When I was riding my bicycle at night and passed a police car on the road, the police car warned me with a loud speaker to turn on my bicycle lights, and the police officers got out of the police car and asked me various questions such as my name, address, age, etc. to confirm that my bicycle was really my bicycle... This is common in Japan.

My friends and I visited in winter 2018, and we visited the Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street at Namba area. She lost her wallet, and can't even remember how it could have gotten lost. If you don't know this district, this is super busy. People could be shoulder to shoulder walking the shopping area, that's how crowded it can be especially on weekends! Further more this street is like 1,968 feet long! We certainly thought the wallet was gone forever. It had some cash and a number of credit cards. We thought we should just try our luck on checking the KOBAN if someone might have found the wallet. But we weren't that optimistic. And guess what?!! IT WAS THERE!!! Someone had brought it to the police KOBAN and they tagged it under LOST & FOUND. The police officer was very helpful. It certainly was a memorable experience.

Lol the only person that could find to criticize the police in Japan was American white guy 😂

All this overlooks Japanese kids are taught communal values in school from kindergarten on. Japanese kids walk to school sometimes having to get a train and take it to another train then walk the rest of the way. Also once at school they have very few janitors after lunch the kids all clean the cafeteria, sweep and mop. The kids even clean the bathrooms at school. Meanwhile at American schools police are called for every minor thing.

Around 2017 or 2018, I accidentally left my laptop bag in a used bookstore daiwa around akihabara only to realize two days later, I asked a cop woman for and she helped me then we went back searching for it around the shops, as I was hopping through the stores that day, and bumped into a nephew of a worker there looking for me too. 10/10

Of course police works, Japanese society are respectful and self responsible, add the civics classes to teach kids how to behave in society and there you have the results. No need for religious moral codes either, What an amazing society.👍

I have been to Tokyo in 2019, i think it’s the people and their culture that makes the country safe. They are very polite and taught discipline from an early age

when I lived in Japan, I once found some car keys on the street and brought it to the next Kouban. The police was very friendly!

One of the worst crimes i witnessed in Japan when i worked their for 2 years was a man is saw who crossed the street when the light was red i am still shaken by that

Nothing to do with police!! It’s how children are raised, it’s parenting, it’s their society!

Comparing apples to oranges - Japan has respectful citizens and gun laws, etc. are much different. Citizens actually want to keep their communities safe and pristine. There is a very strict mantra of respect in Japan unlike the USA.

Man every time I see things like this it reminds me of how bad America is compared to Japan

Wish we has a culture like this in USA free from crime especially gun violence.

God i miss japan. Moving to the states was the biggest mistake of my life. cant wait to head back.

It would never work in America. Culture, education, homogeneous society, and mutual respect.

Koban police stations… more convenient than the 7-11 stores in the USA.

My Japanese sociology professor said one of the most important factors maintaining Japan's low crime rate is having a strong middle class. About 60% of the population identify as "middle class" in Japan, giving everyone a sense of fairness, equality and egalitarianism. You are less likely to commit crimes if you believe society is fair and equal.

I left one yen (about 1 cent) on the counter cashier by accident and the shop staff chased me down the street to give it back to me, Japan one of a kind.

OR: "Take care of the small problems, and the big problems take care of themselves." --the polar opposite to American policing.

Japan being a high trust society goes a long way.

America should definitely takes notes from Japan in regards to law enforcement because building trust between police and civilians is important part. It's also worth nothing that the crime rate in Japan is almost ten times lower then that of the US. For police, Japan is basically a paradise for them as they don't always have to deal with crime on a regular basis.

Outstanding. Continued peace to the Japanese. ❤🌹❤🌹❤🌹

Ignore the fact that Japan has 98.1% Japanese the rest mostly other asians, and less than 1%other. It helps when everyone is on the same cultural wavelength.

Unity And Love for the Country Real Respect ❤️✨

I live in Philly and I found a cellphone on the ground. I knew a police substation was on the street so I brought it in and told the cops I found it. The cop immediately took an aggressive tone with me and told me this isn’t a lost and found and that I was wasting his time. I calmly explained that I spent some time in Japan and if you find a lost item, it’s common to return it to the police station and the person who lost the item knows to check there. The cop paused for a moment and said “huh that’s a really good idea”. Then snapped out of it and said “but this ain’t Japan!”

It’s the people that make the community safe not the police.

They would quit before end of shift if they worked in most US cities.

Not all cultures are the same...there are “better” ones. Denying that is foolish and idealistic.

It's low crime rate is also because of the discipline and respect that is instilled into them from a young age. From their parents, teachers, and society in general. They are a collectivist society and believe in the old adage "the nail that sticks up gets hammered".

I went to Japan a year ago for a 4 week vacation with some friend and I’m black the police were so nice to me I didn’t get followed stopped ,for no reason, they even talked to me about how the policing in the U.S needs to change up. I even befriended a officer on Facebook.The U.S needs to take a look at other countries police forces and do a revamp.

“Police are very well paid here” It’s all about money for westerners.

To me, Japan is the first country under Heaven 😌

Japan is not perfect, but it really is an incredible place. Once, I accidentally dropped my money clip at a bar in Tokyo (Roppongi), and someone picked it up and handed it to the bartender. I went to buy a drink and the bartender hands me the drink I asked for AND MY MONEY CLIP... He then REFUSED WHEN I OFFERED HIM A TIP. I am still baffled by that moment. Could you imagine that happening in New York City?

2:04 This has nothing to do with being paid well, that's offensive rather it's called culture, they teach and emphasize to them from childhood in school to return lost items and to not steal.

A big reason that cops are effective in Japan is their very homogenous society. Everyone is part of the same racial/ethnic group and they all pretty much follow a common set of values and code of behavior. This is the big problem we are having in the USA and the rest of the west. Over here we have many different groups and sub-groups each with their own set of values. And when certain groups who lack self control are told by media, "community leaders" and politicians that they can do whatever they want with no consequences, that doesn't end well.

Wish we had that here in the USA. I give japan high respect. Thank you for sharing this great video. 🙏🙂

In Japan, you have more chance to see a unicorn than get robbed.

I have the highest regard and respect for Japan and their culture. This could never happen here in the Land of the Entitled, Home of the Impoverished.

Japan sounds nice. I live in St. Louis where 12 people were shot (3 of them died) over this past weekend, and that's only addressing the shootings. Absolute madness...

everywhere else Almost without a fight. in america: Almost without a shot bruh

The low number and incidence of crime in Japan is due to a combination of factors. 1: The economic policy emphasizing middle-income groups has resulted in little inequality and a very small number of poor people. 2: The compulsory education system and school lunch system guarantee a minimum level of education. 3: The community-based public services, such as the police box system, are well-developed. Among these, the police box system has already been adopted and proven effective in several countries, with remarkable results in improving local public safety. Singapore introduced a police box system in 1983 and halved the number of crimes. The state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, which adopted the system in 2005, saw an 80% reduction in homicides over a 10-year period. The system is now being adopted in Manhattan, New York, USA; Waikiki, Hawaii; Honduras; El Salvador; Guatemala; Costa Rica; and other Asian countries. The system is not suitable for all countries, as it may lead to a surveillance society like China's if it is not adopted properly. However, it is a very good method for security agencies to communicate with local residents to build trust.

Different culture, more civilized with more of a sense of civic responsibility, and policing is in proportion to low crime levels. Bet if a professional Japanese law officer did a six-month stint in NYC, Portland, or LA, as a professional law officer he or she would by necessity adapt to the reality of the job and police pretty much as the officers in those city currently police. Think it has less to do with policing methods and more to do with culture and growing up with civility, honor, and a sense of personal responsibility.

Police put themselves on the line for the public. They should be paid accordingly with benefits.

While the Japanese justice system definitely does have some flaws, the way the police works and operates is just so good, that it looks and sounds unreal. The Koban is such a great idea and I constantly wonder why other countries don't adopt this system. Here in germany, outside the very city centers, you almost never see an officer on the streets, only in cars, totally separated from the public and the streets. That's really not how it should be

Bruh, this will never work in a society full of entitled people

We Americans would not accept their legal system, which for one thing has you guilty and in custody until you are proven innocent. Don’t break the law in Japan.

People tend to blame one side or the other, but really the problem is twofold. More antagonism towards the police means more confrontation and an increasing of the size and strength of the police force. More overreach by the police force and discrimination and belligerence means an increase in the size and frequency of riots, anti-police attitudes, and resistance to police enforcement. Incur feedback loop. Basically you continue to increase the interface between the police force and the public. It falls back to civility and respect, which the Japanese have in droves for the most part. And yes, more equitable socioeconomic conditions as well.

Jake Adelstein is the author of “Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan”, which was made into a television series by HBO Max. He was also the first non-Japanese reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.

Japan has such a pure culture along with its people, something america needs to learn.

family-oriented discipline. self-respect, respect for others and selflessness are instilled in children at a very early age.

Much respect to the Japanese, they still have character and values than compared to here at home, the dumpster fire of the states.

You just have to admire the Japanse and their society. Cant wait to visit Japan.

In Japan, even the lowest of the low among criminals would not strike the elderly, women, and children. Can't say the same about a certain demographic in the US...