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Asahi Shimbun
6 days ago
- Asahi Shimbun
Police, transport ministry work together to stop unlicensed cabs
Investigators direct a black minivan suspected of operating as an illegal 'shirotaku' to a side street to question the passengers and driver. The driver was then arrested on suspicion of violating the Road Transportation Law. This photo was taken on July 1 in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Arisa Inaba) Police across Japan are using a new strategy to crack down on unlicensed taxi services—catching illegal taxis in the act at sightseeing destinations with the help of the transport ministry. The strategy, which is proving effective, is part of an effort to combat a rise in unlicensed taxis that mostly target foreign tourists. The relatively cheap but potentially dangerous services are called 'shirotaku' (white taxis), because the cars usually have the white license plates that are issued for non-commercial vehicles. Previously, the police were unable to act quickly against suspected shirotaku, due to the lengthy process of confirming whether a taxi was properly licensed or not. However, the new collaboration with the transport ministry has sped the process up significantly. THE STING On the morning of July 1, 10 investigators from the Kanagawa prefectural police conducted a crackdown on shirotaku in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture, a bustling hotspot for foreign tourists. About 40 minutes into the investigation, a luxury minivan with a white license plate stopped near the approach to the famed Tsurugaoka Hachimangu shrine. Seeing four passengers get out of the car, the officers called out to them and to the driver. The passengers, who were from two Chinese families, and the driver, who was also Chinese, were then questioned separately. The prefectural police said the male driver insisted to investigators that he was 'just giving some friends of a friend a ride.' However, the passengers stated they had booked the ride through a Chinese travel app and planned to pay 40,000 yen ($270). A police official telephoned the transport ministry while questioning the driver and the passengers, asking whether the cabby had the license required to operate paid transportation services legally. The law enforcement officials concluded, 50 minutes into the interview, that the driver did not have the proper business license. The man was immediately arrested on suspicion of violating the Road Transportation Law. According to the prefectural police, the driver denied the allegation, which he called 'unacceptable.' CUTTING DOWN LENGTHY PROCESS With the increase in tourism to Japan, unlicensed taxis targeting foreign visitors have become rampant across Kanagawa Prefecture in recent years. Until last fall, police officers had to submit a written inquiry to the transport ministry each time they encountered a potentially illegal cab to confirm whether it was licensed. This inquiry took two to three weeks to confirm, by which time the passengers of these suspected illegal taxis had often returned to their home countries. Since tracing fare payments became unrealistic once the passengers left Japan, the police often had no choice but to drop charges against the illegal cabs. Following extensive discussions with the transport ministry, the Kanagawa prefectural police established a new system in October last year allowing officers to determine over the phone whether a taxi driver has a commercial license through questioning. This system has enabled the prefectural police to catch shirotaku drivers red-handed. Six people were arrested on the spot in six cases within three months of the system's introduction. Since passengers increasingly reserve and pay for unlicensed taxis before coming to Japan, it is becoming easier to prove that the rides are paid for, making the crackdowns particularly successful. ACROSS JAPAN Similar tactics are being adopted by police across Japan. The Shizuoka prefectural police ramped up cooperation with the transport ministry in May last year. Across seven cases last year, the police found 13 individuals and one corporation involved in illegal taxi operations at locations including Shimizu Port, where cruise liners dock, and the Yume no Ohashi Bridge, a popular photo-taking spot for Mount Fuji. 'We see firsthand that the number of drivers operating shirotaku has dropped significantly,' said a representative from the Shizuoka prefectural police. Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department adopted the same system in April this year. Officials from both the police and the transport ministry, along with interpreters, are said to be on site during crackdowns on unlicensed taxis. 'Shirotaku may not comply with safety operation standards for cab operators,' warned a Metropolitan Police Department official. 'Reckless management can lead to serious accidents.' IDENTIFIED CASES RISE 2.4 TIMES Statistics from the National Police Agency reveal that 80 unlicensed taxi cases were reported nationwide last year, 2.4 times the number in the previous year. With the introduction of ride-sharing services in Japan last year, ordinary motorists registered with taxi companies can drive passengers for a fee. 'Cracking down on illegal shirotaku is indispensable to ensure fairness for drivers working in accordance with the law,' said an NPA representative. Hirokazu Kato, a professor of public transportation policy at Nagoya University's graduate school, noted that the rise in inbound tourism is driving up the use of unlicensed taxis. According to data from the Japan Tourism Agency, the number of overseas visitors to Japan plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic but has rebounded, reaching a record high of 36.87 million in 2024. Kato said the widespread use of taxi-booking apps is another contributing factor. Kato argued that it is essential to work with app providers to eliminate unlicensed taxis from reservation services, while also ensuring that tourists are aware that unlicensed cabs are illegal in Japan. 'Spreading the word online and elsewhere about the good reputation of professional taxi drivers in Japan is significant too,' Kato said. 'Cabbies offer comfortable services nationwide, as advanced driving skills are expected of them here.' (This article was written by Arisa Inaba, Shuhei Nakajima, Natsuno Otahara and Daichi Itakura.)
Tokyo Weekender
16-06-2025
- 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
Yomiuri Shimbun
23-04-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Unlicensed Taxi Operations Rampant in Mt. Fuji Foothills; Man from Tokyo Arrested by Yamanashi Prefectural Police
The Yomiuri Shimbun A private vehicle, which was allegedly used in the unlicensed taxi operation and confiscated by the Fujiyoshida Police Station A Chinese national from Ota Ward, Tokyo, was arrested on Tuesday by the Yamanashi prefectural police on suspicion of violating the Road Transportation Law by operating an unlicensed taxi service catering to foreign tourists in the northern foothills of Mt. Fuji. The arrest comes amid a surge in illegal operations of this kind in the region, coinciding with an increase in inbound tourism. Local taxi operators report a loss of business, highlighting the urgent need for effective measures against these illicit services, which have proven difficult to crack down on. According to the police, the 44-year-old suspect, claiming to be a company executive, allegedly entered into a transportation contract with two foreign tourists on Tuesday, transporting them in a private vehicle from Tokyo toward Oishi Park in the town of Fujikawaguchiko in the prefecture for a fee. The suspect has reportedly admitted to driving the vehicle but said he does not know anything about a contractual agreement with the tourists. Investigators in charge of cracking down on unlicensed tax services in the area grew suspicious of the relationship between the driver and the passengers, leading to questioning and the subsequent uncovering of the alleged illicit activities. The contract is said to have been that the man would transport them to JR Odawara Station in Kanagawa Prefecture. The police are conducting further investigations into the details of the alleged illegal service. According to local governments in the area, there has been a significant increase of foreign tourists visiting the park in recent years due to the panoramic view of Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, consequently leading to a rise in unlicensed taxi operations. Similar situations have been observed around Arakurayama Sengen Park in the prefecture's Fujiyoshida city, popular for its iconic five-storied pagoda with Mt. Fuji in the background, as well as a nearby convenience store in the town of Fujikawaguchiko that offers a view of Mt. Fuji above the storefront. Concerns are mounting regarding the safety and reliability of these unlicensed services. Unlike licensed taxi drivers who are required to possess a class 2 driver's license, unlicensed taxi drivers may lack the adequate driving skills and knowledge on how to respond in the event of an accident. There have been reports of accidents involving unlicensed taxis and instances where legitimate taxi operators have lost passengers to these illegal services, causing harm to their businesses. A Yamanashi prefectural police senior official acknowledged the challenges in tackling the proliferation of unlicensed taxis. 'White unlicensed taxis are difficult to distinguish from licensed taxis, and even when we attempt to intervene, drivers often claim they are simply giving friends a ride, making it difficult to confirm whether a paid contract exists,' the official said.
