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new stalker/nanpa/scam tactic?
First time posting in this sub! I've been living in japan for 2 years now, but I've never heard of this happening to someone else so I would like some input.
The first time this… edit: grammar error
First time posting in this sub! I've been living in japan for 2 years now, but I've never heard of this happening to someone else so I would like some input.
The first time this happened it was around 10 pm. I had been walking about a minute away from my station, thankfully not in the direction of my house. A man walking ahead of me (japanese mid 20s/30s, white shirt, jeans, brown crossbody bag) appeared to have dropped some credit cards, ID, business cards, etc. It seemed like we noticed at the same time, as he seemed surprised. He bent down to pick them up and as I bent down to help him he waved his hand, gesturing for me to help him. I thought this was odd, as usually people say that they're okay or thank you. He started speaking to me and realized I could understand him, which was definitely my mistake for engaging. I stood up to get going and he continued talking to me and walking with me. He asked my age and if I lived nearby. I told him I was visiting a friend I and asked him if he lived here, which he denied. Then he claimed to be my age, which was very clearly bullshit. I only engaged until I could safely brush him off and duck into a conbini to hide until I felt I could head home. I stayed for a bit, checked outside to confirm he was gone, and proceeded. A few minutes into my walk I realized he had come up behind me. We were now in an empty street in a residential area. He called my attention and I realized he was holding the same stack of cards he had dropped earlier. Literally a foot away from me, looking me dead in the eyes, he threw them on the ground between us and pointed at them for me to pick them up. I had already started walking away but then he started following me and shouting "Hey! これ, pick up!" I ended up getting away safely. That first incident was a couple months ago, but last week, around last train I saw him at my station. I wasn't sure it was him until on my walk home he walked by me again (wearing the same outfit) and dropped the same cards, it was once again an empty street (this time, I noticed, in front of a parking lot entrance. I'm hoping it was a coincidence.) He started following me again and speaking to me, but this time I turned around, got in his face, and started cursing him out and shouting. I'm aware this wasn't the best idea, but I scared him off long enough for me to get away.
Is this something anyone has experienced here? Is there any legal way for me to defend myself in this kind of situation? I'm worried he will try to follow me home or continue harassing me by the station. Moreover, the way he acts makes me sure he has definitely done this to other women. I've dealt with regular nanpa, I'm a foreign woman in my early 20s, but this is very different.
the fact he's wearing the same outfit months later is the creepiest part, that's not a coincidence that's a pattern. if you haven't already, take photos of him from a distance next time if you can do it safely, even just his silhouette or the bag. having visual proof makes the koban report way more serious than just a description
also worth telling your station staff, like the guys in the booth near the ticket gates. they see the same faces every day and they'll keep an eye out if you describe him. i've had friends do this for different issues and the staff actually remembered and warned them when they spotted the guy
for self defense legally you're pretty limited in japan, pepper spray is technically not allowed but those alarm keychains are fine and honestly just as effective. also consider carrying a coin purse with loose change, throwing coins at someone's feet when they're close can buy you a second to run without it being considered assault
yeah that's not nanpa, that's a setup. the dropping cards thing is weirdly specific, i've heard of similar from friends in shinjuku and ikebukuro where they try to get u to bend down so they can get close or grab u. if he's at ur station same outfit months later that's stalking, not a coincidence. file a koban report even if they brush u off, just having a paper trail helps. also change up ur route home for a bit and maybe get one of those alarm keychains from donki, they're cheap and loud as hell.
honestly that's terrifying and i'm sorry you're dealing with this. the card drop thing is a known hustle, i've heard of it near shinjuku and roppongi where they try to get you to bend down so they can get close or grab your bag. the fact he's doing it in the same spot months later in the same outfit means he's targeting you specifically, not just a random creep.
file a report at the koban near your station, even if the cops seem useless. they can at least note his description and maybe patrol that area around last train. also swap up your timing if possible, leave 10 minutes earlier or later and take a different route home even if it's longer. those alarm keychains from donki are like 500 yen and they're loud enough to wake up the whole block, definitely worth grabbing one.
if you see him again don't engage at all, just head straight into a conbini or a taxi stand and call the police. your safety is more important than being polite.
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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