Lawsuit filed over ‘everyday’ racial profiling by Japan police

TOKYO: Racial profiling by police is an “everyday occurrence” in Japan, one of three foreign-born residents who sued the government over the issue on Monday said.

In the first lawsuit of its kind, the three men accused the police of having repeatedly questioned them because of their ethnicity or appearance.

They are each seeking 3.3 million yen ($22,300) in compensation.

“A lot of apathy here has allowed people like me to be abused and mistreated,” one of the plaintiffs, an African American in his 40s who gave his name as Maurice S, told reporters.

“This is an everyday occurrence,” he said. “We have to do something to prevent that for the future generations.”

Despite rising immigration, foreign-born residents account for only 2.3 percent of Japan´s population, one of the lowest shares in the OECD.

Maurice, who lives with family members who are Japanese citizens, said he has been questioned 16 or 17 times by police during his decade in Japan.

Officers “know that they can waste my time”, he said.

Japan´s National Police Agency (NPA) could not immediately comment on the case.

Another of the plaintiffs, a Pacific islander in his 50s called Matthew who is a permanent resident of Japan, has been questioned about 100 times, according to his lawyers. Matthew said these experiences had caused him to withdraw socially.