First of all, sorry to hear it. Personal theft is more than just the stolen valuable--it's a violation, and causes anger, resentment, fear, all sorts of bad feelings. Thanks for taking the time to write it all down. IMO you did exactly the right thing, and I'm glad you had a native speaker you could contact. Japan is a structured society and even a fully bilingual hotel clerk won't help you as much as someone you know.
Things in Japan are to-the-minute, and no matter WHAT she did, she can't go over time (trains leave/arrive on-the-minute etc). Thus the X with the arms and all that. However, if valuables disappeared in a place of business it is THEIR responsibility and of course the police are in charge of investigating crime.
I lived in Japan for a year and speak a bit of the language. The society is deeply xenophobic, with a fear of foreign people, foreign ideas, etc. This seems at odds with all the Westernized stuff you see around the cities, but it is what it is. Most Japanese people don't have passports, are monolingual, and live in a web of obligations. They're wonderful people (with of course their share of jerks, creeps, serious nationalists & racists like most other countries), and they can be infuriating.
I note that a lot of bros posted their own mongering-safety-strategies as responses, and it's good to read all of them. I have a PacSafe wallet (I don't work for them or anything, but I think they make effective gear) with a short slash-resistant cord that attaches to belt or belt-loop, which I think would deter pickpockets. That's the theft I fear most as professional pickpockets are skilled, as Austin821 noted.
Crime's not as common in Japan so it's easy to let your guard down, but here's: 1) a foreigner, 2) in a sex establishment. I don't know, but I can pose a question: could it be that organized crime elements in Japan have a financial stake in such establishments? Could it also be that the police are not as keen to investigate crimes at such places for that or a similar reason?
Anyway, I don't have any special advice after what happened, but I want to thank you for writing the report. I have yet to monger in Japan (when I lived there, there were no gaijin-friendly options that I knew of) but I'm considering it, so this is important information for me and other bros. I would NOT expect a technician at a Japanese soaplands to boost my wallet. From your description, it sounds premeditated and slick. I'm a bit shocked, and I wonder if they'd do the same to a Japanese client, perhaps a seriously drunk one.
Weird. Anyway, at least you had enough change for the train, and your passport.
JtB
[ Last edited by JackTheBat at 14-11-2017 14:39 ] | |
