Safety

Yours, Mine, and Ours

Welcome to Japan. It’s perfectly normal to feel stressed at this point - everything is new, you might not know any Japanese, you’re away from your friends and family, or maybe you just haven’t figured out how to use the air conditioner yet! But, there is one thing that you should NOT disregard... and that would be the safety precautions that you take in your everyday life. Japan has the lowest violent crime rates of any first world country, but that doesn’t make caution and safety optional.

By virtue of being a foreigner in Japan, you already have more attention focused on you... and this is both a good and a bad thing. Being different inspires curiosity in the people around you... and can result in anything from having random people approach you on the street wanting to shake your hand, (odd but unthreatening), to being followed home, or being accosted by a flasher (both unacceptable and dangerous).

Toyama Prefecture is a good place to live, and without a doubt 99% of the population are decent people, but even though Japan has a reputation for safety that does not mean that you can disregard all safety precautions. Basically, the most important safety tip is... Use Your Common Sense! Compare situations to what you would do at home... if you wouldn’t go out for a run at 2am at home, then don’t do it here! If you wouldn’t walk home from a bar alone at home, don’t do it here. Do not allow yourself to be lulled into a feeling of “Japan is safe... there’s nothing to worry about.”

One of the best parts of our job as JETs are the parties that are held with the other teachers. These are amazing opportunities to get to know the people we work with in a totally relaxed atmosphere. Enkais are the perfect time and place to chat with the cute teacher you’ve been dying to meet, but a lot of people blow off steam… which could mean anything from complaining about work to sexual harassment. If the situation makes you feel uncomfortable, remove yourself from it, and inform your supervisor. But, do not be surprised if no apology is forthcoming... behavior at enkais and drinking parties is attributed to alcohol and is assumed forgotten by the time sobriety returns...(although the same does not necessarily hold true for the ALT so don’t do anything stupid!!!)

Sexual harassment does occur and not only at enkais. If there is a problem at your school, do not assume you must grin and bear it. Talk to your supervisor, and actively confront the problem. Something important to keep in mind is the fact that the Japanese treat uncomfortable situations differently than how most JETs would think to react. When uncomfortable, often Japanese will be silent, change the subject, or even smile. Many times, their advice will be to do the same as well.

Keep in mind that they want to help, but they are helping you in the only way they know how, by pretending it didn’t happen. On a closing note, do yourself a favor, and set up a friendship network among neighboring JETs. Having people that you can call when things are bad, or you’re feeling out of sorts is one of the best ways of coping with uncomfortable situations. This advice is especially for JETs in remote locations farther from the cities. Keep an eye out for each other, and check in with friends. The same goes for your Japanese neighbors. The more visible you are in your neighborhood, the better. You cease being a stranger, and become a friend. People don’t hesitate to help friends.

Things to Remember:

  • Use your common sense. Do not be lulled into thinking Japan is perfectly safe.
  • Be aware of your surroundings.
  • Always lock your doors.
  • Do not be afraid to ask for help.
  • Do not be afraid to say, “No. Stop. That is inappropriate.”
  • Use the “caller ID” feature on your phone.
  • Be prudent about giving your address, phone number, or email address to people. Even students and teachers!
  • Don’t be predictable - vary your routes and timetables.
  • Keep your curtains drawn when it is darker outside than inside.
  • Do not jog or bike alone in unlit areas, especially in parks at night!
  • Be aware when riding the elevator.
  • If you are asked an uncomfortable or inappropriate question: Ignore it, or change the subject. Curiosity does not justify personal questions of any nature.

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