Interpretation of the Law 4: Interrogation
The interrogator begins with questions I’ve already answered, pressing for specific details about why I carry a multitool and how I used it that day. With my limited Japanese, I rely on a young cadet to translate, aware that any inconsistency could deepen their suspicion. Sensing the adversarial tone, I try to shift the dynamic, steering the conversation toward something less hostile and more human-even a touch romantic.
Interpretation of the Law 2: Arrested without Handcuffs
Detectives comb through my belongings, treating my multitool as if it were a deadly weapon. Thanks to modern technology, I manage to contact a trusted colleague, who urges me to cooperate fully and insists I confirm my destination before I lose all contact with the outside world.
Interpretation of the Law 1: Not Just Another Friday Night
On my way to a Friday night bachata lesson, what should have been a simple walk turned into a police ambush. Suddenly, I found myself defending my freedom over carrying a multitool with a knife that exceeded Japan’s strict 6-centimeter legal limit-a law that forbids carrying such tools outside of work, and one that carries serious consequences if violated.