When I read this I was initially shocked and in disbelief almost at the same time.
I have previously lived and worked in Japan for 20 years. Making many trips in and out.
The same applies to my wife.
Never in all of our dealings with Japanese immigration, Japanese Police or in fact any Japanese Government Authority have we ever experienced or heard about such goings on.
Reading this guy's account a second and third time reveals plenty of worrying inconsistencies.
Something just does not ring true with this. I would even go as far as to suggest he may be using 'journalistic license' for at best exaggeration, and at worst making up a story.
Gun control in Japan is the most stringent in the democratic world. The only people issued with guns are the Police and the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
There is just no-one else allowed anywhere near guns in Japan. Especially not these so-called 'rent-a-cops'.
There is absolutely no mention anywhere about his visa status. Indeed The Economist states that “his lawyer advised him not to discuss it.”
To my mind this is a totally key issue.
If the truth be known, he was most likely in contravention of multiple immigration rules and maybe even other Japanese laws, and was most likely not in posession of a valid visa or nay other supporting paperwork.
There's a big difference between being deported and being refused entry.
Plenty of British Passport holders get refused entry by US immigration for far less.
