Unlicensed Taxi Drivers Target Foreign Visitors at Haneda Airport
The number of unlicensed taxis at Haneda Airport continues to increase as drivers look to take advantage of the record-breaking surge in international tourist arrivals. The police are aware of them. Catching them in the act, though, is not so easy. A journalist from the weekly magazine
Friday
recently asked an officer why arrests weren't being made when it was clear that unlicensed taxis were operating there.
'To arrest them, we need to prove that they transported passengers for a fee,' replied the frustrated officer. 'In that case, we must tail the car, catch the passengers when they drop them off, and get the passengers to say that they paid. We can't do that on our own.'
Unlicensed Taxi Driver Says Regulations Are 'Lax'
The journalist also spoke to an unlicensed Chinese taxi driver, who was there to pick up a customer from Tianjin. He runs a restaurant but decided to start unlicensed taxi driving as a side job in 2023. He said he earns a monthly income of around ¥400,000 from the illegal activity. In the months around the Chinese New Year and the National Day of the Republic of China, he can sometimes earn more than ¥1 million.
At the airport, the driver was asked to get out of his vehicle by an officer, who used a flashlight to check the inside of the car. Following a short inspection, the officer moved on to the next vehicle. 'If you say you're here to pick up a friend, they can't do anything more. The regulations here are lax,' said the driver, before heading off with his customer.
Moving inside to the second floor of Terminal 3, the journalist spotted men in white shirts with signs in their hands that they never held up. The men, who exchanged brief words with each other in Mandarin, approached foreign guests coming out of the arrival gate. They then negotiated using a translation app. One couple was
quoted
¥10,000 for a taxi to Ginza, which is around ¥2,000 more than a regular fare.
White Taxis
In February 2024, five individuals from China and Japan were arrested for operating unlicensed taxi services, targeting foreign tourists from Haneda Airport. They were accused of violating the Road Transportation Law. A Class 2 driver's license and a business permit are required to transport customers for a fare in Japan. Unlicensed taxis are known as
shirotaku
or 'white taxis' due to their white license plates. Commercial vehicles usually have green license plates.
Related Posts
Tokyo Sightseeing Taxi: Touring the City in a Variety of Routes
A Guide to Taxis in Japan
Need a Ride? Hop on Tokyo's First Autonomous Taxi
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tokyo Weekender
4 hours ago
- Tokyo Weekender
Unlicensed Taxi Drivers Target Foreign Visitors at Haneda Airport
The number of unlicensed taxis at Haneda Airport continues to increase as drivers look to take advantage of the record-breaking surge in international tourist arrivals. The police are aware of them. Catching them in the act, though, is not so easy. A journalist from the weekly magazine Friday recently asked an officer why arrests weren't being made when it was clear that unlicensed taxis were operating there. 'To arrest them, we need to prove that they transported passengers for a fee,' replied the frustrated officer. 'In that case, we must tail the car, catch the passengers when they drop them off, and get the passengers to say that they paid. We can't do that on our own.' Unlicensed Taxi Driver Says Regulations Are 'Lax' The journalist also spoke to an unlicensed Chinese taxi driver, who was there to pick up a customer from Tianjin. He runs a restaurant but decided to start unlicensed taxi driving as a side job in 2023. He said he earns a monthly income of around ¥400,000 from the illegal activity. In the months around the Chinese New Year and the National Day of the Republic of China, he can sometimes earn more than ¥1 million. At the airport, the driver was asked to get out of his vehicle by an officer, who used a flashlight to check the inside of the car. Following a short inspection, the officer moved on to the next vehicle. 'If you say you're here to pick up a friend, they can't do anything more. The regulations here are lax,' said the driver, before heading off with his customer. Moving inside to the second floor of Terminal 3, the journalist spotted men in white shirts with signs in their hands that they never held up. The men, who exchanged brief words with each other in Mandarin, approached foreign guests coming out of the arrival gate. They then negotiated using a translation app. One couple was quoted ¥10,000 for a taxi to Ginza, which is around ¥2,000 more than a regular fare. White Taxis In February 2024, five individuals from China and Japan were arrested for operating unlicensed taxi services, targeting foreign tourists from Haneda Airport. They were accused of violating the Road Transportation Law. A Class 2 driver's license and a business permit are required to transport customers for a fare in Japan. Unlicensed taxis are known as shirotaku or 'white taxis' due to their white license plates. Commercial vehicles usually have green license plates. Related Posts Tokyo Sightseeing Taxi: Touring the City in a Variety of Routes A Guide to Taxis in Japan Need a Ride? Hop on Tokyo's First Autonomous Taxi
Nikkei Asia
a day ago
- Nikkei Asia
Road tripping through northern Taiwan
TAIPEI -- Shaped by waves of colonization, the story of Taiwan -- officially the Republic of China -- is one of layered histories. Neon-lit night markets flashing the latest Japanese and South Korean trends coexist with incense-shrouded Taoist temples steeped in devotional whispers. Teahouses brew centuries of tradition through meditative rituals, while communal hot pots simmer with shared Chinese heritage. On a recent all-girls road trip through northern Taiwan, I discovered that this sweet-potato-shaped island, cradled between the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea, is much more than a technology powerhouse. Despite playing a central role in the global chip supply chain, Taiwan fiercely protects its cultural soul. We were not just chasing landscapes -- we were in search of flavors, stories, rituals and contrasts.
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- The Mainichi
Japan's chief meteorologist calls rumors of a July earthquake a hoax and urges people not to worry
TOKYO (AP) -- The head of Japan's meteorological agency on Friday dismissed widespread rumors of a major earthquake in Japan this summer as unscientific and a "hoax," urging people not to worry because even the most advanced science still cannot predict any quake or tsunami. "At the moment, it is still impossible to predict an earthquake with specific timing, location or its magnitude," Japan Meteorological Agency Director General Ryoichi Nomura told reporters. "Any such prediction is a hoax, and there is absolutely no need to worry about such disinformation." Nomura was referring to rumors in Hong Kong and other Asian cities of a major earthquake or a tsunami in July in Japan have led to flight cancellations and reductions in service, affecting tourism. He said it was "unfortunate" that many people are affected by the disinformation, though he sympathized with the sense of unease that the people tend to develop toward something invisible. The rumor originates from a 2022 Japanese comic book "The future I saw," which features a dream foreseeing a tsunami and is also available in Chinese. The chatter began spreading earlier this year through social media, mainly in Hong Kong. The author previously gained attention for allegedly predicting the 2011 quake and tsunami in northern Japan, which killed more than 18,000 people. Japan, which sits on the Pacific "ring of fire," is one of the world's most quake-prone countries. Last summer, a panel of seismologists noted a slight increase in the probability of a megaquake on Japan's Pacific coasts. The government organized an awareness-raising week but only triggered panic buying, beach closures and other overreactions and complaints. While it is important to inform people about the science, Nomura said, it is also necessary for everyone in this quake-prone country to take early precautions. "In Japan, an earthquake can occur anytime, anywhere," Nomura said. "So I ask everyone to take this opportunity to ensure your preparedness for a major quake."
