Well, there goes the neighborhood.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police are increasing the number of cells available in local jails, according to an article in yesterday's paper. Due to more stringent laws and tighter control over stalking and molestation, jail cells are full of detainees who must be questioned about their crimes. Questioning takes an average of 34 days during which time the criminal must be housed in a jail.

The number of people in the city jails has increased 2.5 times in the last ten years to approximately 2,4000 daily. The proportion of "foreign nationals" has increased from 10% to 25% of the jailed. That doesn't reflect the population at all--approximately 1% of Japan's residents are foreigners. Perhaps we are as bad and ill-mannered as some Japanese seem to think.