Here is some advice to rugby fans (especially fellow Aussies) coming to to Japan for the Rugby World Cup kicking off on the 20th September 2019. If you act like a fool, get in a drunken fight, do drugs, or break the law and try to get away with it, no matter how minor it is, chances are you will end up behind bars.

Don’t be a bloody idiot.

Japan has strict law enforcement and can detain you for 23 days without charge. Even a net worth of $US100 million can’t keep out of a Japanese holding cell, as Carlos Ghosn, the former Nissan & Renault CEO can confirm.

A Brief History Lesson of Japan

Japan reluctantly opened its borders to Western trade a little over 150 years ago when some American guy (Perry) with a few warships came knocking. Yokohama and Kobe became the main ports of entry and residence of traders in Japan. Although Japan was “open” any non-Japanese still needed special permission to travel to other parts of Japan outside designated zones.

Jump ahead a century, war is over and Japan’s economy is growing at rapid pace but visitors from overseas remain low for a few decades.

But things have changed recently. Inbound tourism reached 10 million in 2013 and skyrocketed to 30 million in 2018.

This means Japan is still a fairly young country when it comes to tourism and the Japanese government, many Japanese people and law enforcement are still adapting and learning how to handle the influx foreign visitors.

Arrested in Japan

I’ve lived in Japan for 15 years and I have known a handful of people detained or dragged off by police in Japan, mostly for drunken incidents and most released without charge. Public nudity, throwing a bike and getting in a bar fight, to name a few – basically stupid shit and unfortunately all by Aussies.

It’s not just no-names that have been arrested; back in 2016 Motorcycle champion Wayne Gardner and son were arrested for an alleged road rage incident.

Wallabies legend George Smith was held for 18 days for trying to get out of a taxi fare at the start of 2018. And ex-AFL star Brian Lake was detained for a week in July 2018 for a bar scuffle.

In 2017/18 a total of 19 Australians were arrested for drug offenses. This was a 170% increase in one year.

Things to remember in Japan during the Rugby World Cup

Your trip to Japan should be an awesome experience, a trip of a lifetime watching the best rugby players in the world and enjoying everything Japan has to offer, amazing food, picturesque scenery and brilliant nightlife. Avoid adding to the arrest tally and keep these things in mind.

• Legal drinking age is 20 years old.
• Japan has a zero-tolerance policy for drugs.
• Police have the power to stop you at anytime and ask for ID, so keep your passport on you.
• (Bit hesitant to mention this but…) Drinking in public is legal. You can enjoy a beer on a street or park freely but any rowdy or stupid behaviour will be reported.
• Japan essentially has a zero-tolerance policy for drink driving. The law states you have to be under 0.03 blood alcohol content but any hint of alcohol and you’ll most likely be fined. If you are over you could be sentenced to 5 years in prison. You can’t cycle drunk either.
• Smoking on the streets in city centers, especially around train stations is banned. Look for designated smoking booths.
• KOBAN (police boxes) are spread throughout towns and cities. These are useful if you need to report anything. It also means police can respond quickly to any incidents.
• Many police don’t speak English so any altercations, even if you have done nothing wrong, might result in you being brought to a KOBAN until an interpreter can be reached on phone.
• As mentioned, you can be detained for up to 23 days without charge.
• Emergency numbers: 110 for police. 119 for a fire or an ambulance.

Respect the law, respect the culture and show a little common sense. Make it an awesome trip to remember for all the right reasons.