Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department made an English service available at two police boxes in the capital Friday to better deal with an increasing number of foreign visitors ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
The foreigner-friendly model police boxes are located in the Kabukicho district of Shinjuku Ward and in front of Shibuya Station in Shibuya Ward.
Both boxes have policemen assigned to respond in English around the clock to inquiries from those who do not understand Japanese. The Kabukicho box also offers a Chinese language service.
When those officers are absent, their colleagues will handle foreigners using tablet computers with a translation application.
The MPD plans to increase the number of such designated police boxes after a six-month test period.
Kanagawa, Aichi, Kyoto and Osaka prefectural police are expected to launch similar services.