6 Racial Profiling Cases Reported In Japan In 2021
Japan's national police have confirmed that there were six cases of racial profiling across the country last year.
Racial profiling, which refers to selective police questioning based on race, color and nationality, is an international matter of concern.
The National Police Agency conducted a survey of prefectural police departments and public safety commissions across the country.
As a result, the agency recognized two racial profiling incidents each in Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture, one case in Osaka and one in Miyagi.
In one case, a police officer asked a person's nationality using rude expressions.
In another case, a police officer told a person to show a residence card just because the name of the person looked like a foreign name.
Also in another case, an officer questioned a person with hair braids, saying that in the past a fashionable person had used illegal drugs.
The national police say none of these police officers had discriminatory intent.
But they say they want to take thorough measures to prevent inappropriate remarks or behavior that can be considered as discrimination or prejudice.