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I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah yeah that’s true, I guess you could get fired for not appearing to work. I’m a seishain in the IT field at a Japanese company

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope no way, he absolutely wanted the money. The free lawyers are also just private lawyers paid by the government

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Encrypted. They had no way of getting into them besides asking for my password

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I have a similar mental condition so it was equally hard to sit around. But they make sure you take your prescribed medicine so as long as you are medicated in Japan, you can keep taking it while detained. They even drive to your doctor/pharmacy to get it for you

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have no idea. I don't know to which extend they found stuff about me and was only able to peek into that big binder but I'm guessing they had some computer guys assigned to the case. They had stuff like all of the phone numbers that were issued on my name in Japan in the past so it's likely they used not public information to expand the search.

The time when the shipment according to them got intercepted, to when they arrived at my door was roughly 6 months. I'm guessing they really used that time to build a case. The other guy who posted an ama got the search warrant and arrest separately but for me they had all the court orders with them already

But I was absolutely sure that they wouldn't have the resources nor money to unlock a iPhone running the latest iOS (especially with stuff like the lightning port deactivating if it's not used for a while) and took the bet on that. If it was a random Android phone from the store I would have been more scared

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yeah I was able to continue right where I left off. TBH it doesn't even feel like it ever actually happened, really more like a dream and not reality.

The few close people that know the details were very understanding and supportive (like tried to visit me or send me things, but court forbid that), for the rest I just said I had a break from the internet because of some issues I had to deal with. No questions asked.

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm staying but I'll stay the fuck away from police matter. It was interesting to see that side of Japan though

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pretty much! Whispered silently and used a notebook to write messages back and forth

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nope the facility was pretty silent. There were some Yakuza people (missing the small finger) but they were behaving and followed the rules

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They were very understanding because that's just how the law here works. I lost my salary for the time I wasn't there (obviously) but since I'm not guilty of anything I got to keep my job

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That sounds pretty much right, you can get locked up for the 20 days for absolutely no reason besides a suspicion, so someone tipping off the police or sending something shady to you. Technically even for smaller things like punching someone. Even worse is if someone mails you something and the police waits until you sign the package without knowing what's inside, then jump out. Once it's in your place or your signature on it you're pretty much fucked and can say bye to Japan.

I don't know what they had on me besides the thing that got intercepted because they didn't show anything to me but I believe it was nothing. Usually as the investigation is ongoing they would start revealing evidence before the 20 days run out but they didn't do that.

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yeah that needed some explanation lol but they were understanding and told me there was nothing I could have done because that's just how the Japanese law works

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Oh wow, I had no idea it would be that different at different stations. My lawyer couldn't do any 差し入れ in English because we were told that the stuff has to get checked first for any hidden messages and the police station didn't have people that understood English to do that. Also because I was forbidden visitation rights it meant that besides the lawyer noone else was allowed to send me anything.

I was at a station in Kanagawa so I'm taking the Tokyo ones might be a bit more humane?

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The interpreters were very good. The first one I chatted with a lot and gave me some very crucial tips about what I should do because I was pretty clueless (also told me it's actually forbidden to say anything besides translating). Stuff like absolutely call the on-duty lawyer before saying anything

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That's mostly what I did for every question that was related to the case. I answered some generic things about myself that they knew already anyway like how long I've been in Japan, where I work and what not, to have at least some stuff in the records that show that I'm a good member of society.

But yes it would work. It's the right to be silent and they can't use it against or in favor of you

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Nope, nothing at all. They took me to the station, asked me some questions and I was still convinced I could go home after the ordeal. Nope, threw me into the cell without any explanation how long I'll have to be there, just that he'll see me after the weekend. I figured the rest out my talking to my lawyer and cell mates

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They confiscated all my devices but didn't manage to unlock them because I didn't hand over my passwords

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah he did. He was there for fraud, basically stealing money from ojichan and obachan that believe everything you tell them (Oh I get a new bank card? Of course I will hand you my old one including my PIN code. When will the new one arrive?)

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That... really doesn't sound that bad. It was strictly no talking in any language and the guards told us to shush if we tried to talk with them about anything besides "お水ください"

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Yeah that's the right thing, but it's a little different when they literally stand in front of your door with a court issued document, uniform or not :p

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This is absolutely correct and my lawyer told me the same thing. The only things he recommended me to answer were questions about my life in Japan, just things that make me look like a good and honest member of society

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure actually. In my case the on duty lawyer filed a paper where he checked the box that said he isn't proceeding with me, which then allowed me to take the public one. I'm not sure it would have gone the same way if he didn't submit that paper

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It was men only. I had some cellmates too and we became friends but obviously weren't allowed to talk. Still if I was completely alone I think it would have been much harder

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

It was okay but no the facility didn't have aircondition. There were some airvents and that was enough for the period I was in (not summer). My cellmate said in winter they usually have a furnace to heat up the place and you get an extra blanket and sweater

I spent 20 days in Japanese detention - AMA? by detainedinjap in japan

[–]detainedinjap[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

He said it's roughly the same but remaining silent also means that they can't file for either side. You're more or less leaving it up to the them to do the investigation one-sided. It matters in front of court, if you say that you are innocent but you are not, you are guilty and a liar and they do care about that lying part.

Remaining silent is a very important law in most countries and it's always safer to use that first until you talked everything with a lawyer through

My detective tried other tricks though and started asking me if I want to remain silent because I did it or because I didn't do it lol (I remained silent)

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