I want to thank everyone who has read my previous 2 post. Here is an update to the situation if you are interested.
[1st part of the story (Banged and screamed at our front door, first time he called the cops on us.)](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/wp33km/just_had_a_neighbor_called_the_police_on_us_for_a/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
[2nd part of the story (Called the cops on us on new years)](https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1013uvb/happy_new_year_everyone_i_started_mine_with/)
TLDR: of Part 1 and 2.
Our neighbor from our detached house keeps complaining about us being noisy. He has called the cops on us twice ever since we moved in about an year and a half ago. We have tried our best to accommodate him, and he just continues to bang on his side of the wall and screaming and also banging at our door in the middle of the night.
Our last confrontation before today was when I was trying to hang a calendar (on Jan 1st) in the afternoon and him banging and screaming at us from his side of the wall. I then went over to his house to confront him, he called the cops and the police pretty much did nothing. However, since that incident, we haven’t heard a sound from him since.
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However, things would change tonight.
On April 8, We came home at 10:40pm after having dinner. I went out to replace my bike’s battery alone after coming back. This was when I noticed him coming home (from drinking), and he was parking his bike. I turned my whole body away from him, since I didn’t feel like interacting with him. He then came over and started screaming at me. I asked what he wanted as he was 2 feet away from my face. I could smell the strong alcohol coming from his breath. He then pushed me and I told him to go back to his house. He then pushed me again and screamed at me. That was when I pulled out my cellphone and started recording the incident. I told him that I am recording and I was going to call the police on him for assault. He kept shouting at me at that point and even put his hand on my arm 2 more times. I shouted at my wife who was upstairs of our house to call the police. Our female neighbor heard from the other side heard everything and came out to assist and see what was going on. She told the guy to back off and the guy retreated to in front of his house. Our Old man neighbor again, tried to call the police again to complain about us being noisy. Then while waiting for the police to come, he kept shouting at us saying “Go and call the lawyer then, I will wait for your lawyer.” He also went in and out of his house since he had to use the bathroom. (most likely from being intoxicated.)
The police siren is heard and the police finally arrived. The police quickly separate and interviewed both parties. I told them he had physically pushed me and that he is clearly drunk. I even had some video evidence to show them since I had some camera set up at our front door (especially for him.) I also showed them the recording from my cell phone which showed his last assault. The police asked if I had any physicals injuries and if I would like to press charges. I told them I am worried if he would ever try to assault my wife (who was a much smaller person.) The police told us that if tried to physically assault you again, they can arrest him next time.
This whole time, we could still hear our old man neighbor screaming at the police officers who was trying to interview him. We overheard him saying things like “YOU TOLD ME TO CALL YOU GUYS WHEN THEY WERE BEING LOUD.” The old man neighbor’s son even came out to talk to the police as well.
The final 2 nails to his coffin was when they interviewed our other neighbors (2 ladies) from the other side and they said we didn’t make any noises and also the old man’s own son, said he didn’t hear any noise from our house.
After taking down our information, His son came over and apologized, we then exchange information with him after. The police basically said quote, “There is no point talking to the old man because he is out of his mind. Please talk to his son because he is normal and acts like a proper adult. You can go back home if you like and please call us if anything else happens in the future.”
We went back into our house as we continue to hear the old man screaming to now all the 6 police officers outside.
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Also, just to answer some of the questions people have asked based on my pervious 2 post.
\- My wife and I live in a detached house japan (we own the place and not renting.)
\- I just moved to Japan for around 1.5 years ago so my Japanese is pretty low level, I am better at listening than speaking. However, my wife speaks perfect Japanese and most of the dialogue you see from my posts is from her. She also has an amazing memory so she translates everything for me when I ask her to recall things that was said by the police/neighbors.
Again, thanks for reading, I will keep you updated if anything else happens and stay safe.
18 comments
If you were indeed not making any noise, the only reason I can think of is because he doesn’t like foreigners living next to him.
You should have pressed charges. At least do it next time.
>they can arrest him next time
You should have pressed charges *this* time.
There will be a next time.
I am concerned that the police will see your situation as a *civil* dispute that they should not get involved in; and that even if they arrest him next time, it will only be for a few hours to sober him up and that they will release him to the custody of his son to go home.
You need to make it clear to them that you are afraid for your *life*: a person this crazy could come at you with a weapon at any time, may break into your home, etc.
Don’t let them think you and your neighbor just have a really bad relationship that will eventually be resolved when one of you moves (which they will presume to be most likely you).
The cops won’t do shit. But maybe you should sell and move:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setagaya_family_murder
Self defense laws are very non existent in Japan. You have duty to retreat even if an assailant is attacking your family.
Personally, illegal or not, if you go after my family, I’m punching your ticket to magic land. But legally I’m prepared to accept the risk of deportation. You might want to just leave. But next time, sue him.
> The police told us that if tried to physically assault you again, they can arrest him next time.
I’d like to know why can’t (won’t?) they arrest him *this* time?
Are you able to press charges this time? Or, is the police saying that you can press charges, but he won’t be arrested at this time if you do… or are you not able to press charges at all this time?
I’ve had a crazy neighbour quite often in my stays around Japan. Non as bad as this guy. I often wonder if they aren’t sparked off by something they see on TV, in the press or social media about foreigners that enrages them somehow. It seems to often come out of left field.
You’ve gone from crazy screaming to verbal confrontation to physical assault.
Would the good sir like to venture a guess as to what happens next? Maybe to your wife when you’re not around?
File charges, you have video evidence and a paper trail. If you don’t like the idea of it, think of it as getting him help he needs before he truly injures someone.
The man seems unstable. Possibly dementia but who knows. Root cause is irrelevant, next time he could pull a knife or punch you in the head
Get cameras up now and get him arrested next time if you still can’t have him arrested now
Would it be ok to assault someone for being noisy?Why is it a point of discussion for police in this cause anyway?
BTW: You still can go to the cops and ask them to arrest him for that. Just tell them you changed your mind. Fill out the report and protect your family.
Had a highly similar situation, lasted 6 years. Police were involved a total of 12 times. Each time same rhetoric, because the fellow was elderly. He then kept escalating to the point of shoving umbrellas in my mail slot and even entered my house to scream at me for making noise when I was sleeping after work and forgot to lock my door. I had some peace when he caused enough of a disturbance to attract neighbors when I wasn’t there. He was taken to a mental clinic for about a month. I finally moved out at that point. I know your situation is different, but the point is…don’t pull your punches out of hope for civility or that the police will actually be of use. I am fairly convinced that even a vacuum cleaner or washing dishes would set him off. I wish you luck with this situation, hopefully one day you can have some people over or witnesses to his nonsense so as to help justify action.
As I said the last time you posted about this, this situation should be taken more seriously by the police in lieu of that retired professor in Tokyo being murdered by a neighbor in December.
Stay safe.
You absolutely should have pressed charges. You may still be able to do it but you’ll need to act fast.
sounds like he’s either extremely racist, slipping into a form of violent dementia, or both. the alcohol is just amplifying this.
i had issues with my former landlady who lived next door, she wasn’t physical but she’d have episodes and come to my door multiple times, ring my phone off the hook, and leave notes on my door – accusing me of not paying rent (i used auto-transfer, so not true). she would scream at me, and started blowing up my 保証人’s phone as well. i was worried she’d cause trouble at work eventually.
realtors wouldn’t do anything but phone her useless son. the police were sympathetic but said their hands were tied since technically none of it counted as stalking. they did keep records and i reported everything, telling them i was afraid of assault or worse false accusations that could get me in trouble with the law.
eventually i moved out (so did the other tenants because she harassed them too). though i do feel like if i’d had to stay the police were trying to help and understood. i got all my stuff out a few days early and requested a police escort to pick up my bicycle on the last day. he was very nice and i asked him if he thought the laws would ever change since this is a quickly aging society and incidents like this are happening more (there’s another guy in that neighborhood who tries to prevent people from walking past his place on the public road, putting up barriers and screaming at pedestrians lol). the cop said he wasn’t sure but yes it’s definitely a problem.
Press charges immediately! There’s a chance he’ll be bolder next time
Should have pressed charges, then this would be over. That was a mistake. Don’t let people push you around (literally).
Op, this sucks. Sorry you and your wife had to go through it.
I was assaulted in December last year, by an old Japanese drunken neighbor oyaji. He blocked the only stairwell and threatened to kill me multiple times even smashing a shochu bottle on the handrail, just because I asked him not to knock bikes over (including mine) in front of our apartment. I recorded him threatening me, and also when he started throwing rocks at me. I evaded the rocks by walking towards a busy street. I didn’t have a phone so I asked passers-by to call the police, but they got scared and drove/walked off. He kept throwing rocks and even hit some woman’s car multiple times. She was too scared to help and drove away. I walked into a restaurant and asked for help, one woman came out and calmed the old guy down and someone finally called the police. I explained everything to them in detail, there was a security camera on the building that caught everything, and he threatened the 3 police officers and, calling them “tax thieves” which admittedly made me laugh out loud!! But, despite all that and it being 4th or 5th time other neighbors and businesses called the police on him…the police did nothing.
I say all this, OP, not because there is strength in numbers, but because misery loves company!!! However, I wish you luck and safety! Take care.
Edit to add: he said he hates all the foreigners in our apartment, and that’s why he knocked our bikes over, and that’s why hates us and wants to kill us. Told all this to the police too. To no avail. And…I moved out in January. Sucks for the people still living there.
YOU SHOULD HAVE PRESSED CHARGES THIS TIME.
I really fear for what he could do to your wife…
I’m not saying that America is the best or that what I’m saying here is even right –
However, I think some people in Japan would have their character benefit from at least SOME threat of violence. If homeboy pulled any of this shit where I’m from someone woulda rocked his ass long ago.