Why is there no looting in Japan after the earthquake?

[AznKhmerBoi]

During a state of emergency it is not unusual to hear about looting, so why have there been very few reports of this in Japan? Commentators from across the media have their say.

It's not possible to list them all but reports of looting during disasters are commonplace, like current reports from GNN Liberia on Liberian mercenaries being accused of looting in Ivory Coast.

In the UK there have also been incidents, like Exeter's Express and Echo's report of people scavenging motorbikes on the Devon coast back in 2007, when the contents of a container ship were washed ashore. In the same year, police investigated reports of looting at flood-hit properties in West Yorkshire.

The absence of stories of this kind has been noted by writers around the world. Slate's Christopher Beam says there's more to the lack of looting than honesty. He says that Japanese people are more honest than most, but adds the Japanese legal structure rewards honesty more than most.

His other theories why there isn't any looting in Japan include the police presence and organised crime. "Police aren't the only ones on patrol since the earthquake hit," he says. "Members of Yakuza, Japan's organised crime syndicate, have been enforcing order."

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It sounds grotesque to say we should see reasons for hope as we watch in real time while the earth is shaken six inches on its axis”
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Johann Hari

Independent columnist
The Voice Of America's Steve Herman has been in Japan. He describes the country as "slowly grinding to a halt", which he puts down to traditional Japanese stoicism.

"There's a touch of bitterness in a few voices and some subtle signs of frustration but no show of open anger," he says.

The nearest Mr Herman gets to suggesting anyone taking advantage of the disaster is when he speculates that a black economy in rationed goods may rise up. To back up his prediction, Mr Herman cites the time this happened in the days after Japan's defeat in World War II.

The idea that the Japanese are acting in some way against the grain in an emergency situation is challenged by columnist Johann Hari in the UK's Independent. He says the panicking disaster victim is a myth. He argues that in reality the vast majority of people behave in the aftermath as altruists, saving their fellow human beings and sharing what they have. He goes on to say the same predictions are made about every disaster.


Opportunists made the most of motorbikes washed up on the Devon coast "Once the lid of a tightly policed civilization is knocked off for a second, humans will become beasts. But the opposite is the case. It sounds grotesque to say we should see reasons for hope as we watch in real time while the earth is shaken six inches on its axis, tsunamis roar, and nuclear power stations teeter on meltdown. But it is true."

[Inazuma]

It's because the Japanese are mostly good people. Wish I could say the same about other countries. Many people in the USA are selfish mother fuckers who would loot and then receive acclaim from their fellow Americans afterward. Pretty sad indeed.

[AznKhmerBoi]

cough cough Louisiana

[Ack]

cough cough Louisiana

Also the Rodney King riots. Fun fun.

[AznKhmerBoi]

For all 50 cent supporter


After the tragic natural disaster that claimed the lives of hundreds to thousands of Japanese people, 50 Cent found it o.k to joke about it on Twitter.

“Its all good Till b*tches see there christian louboutins floating down da street s**t gone get crazy.”

“Look this is very serious people I had to evacuate all my hoe’s from LA,Hawaii and Japan. I had to do it. Lol”

Fans didn’t take nicely to the tweets forcing him to respond:

“Some of my tweets are ignorant I do it for shock value. Hate it or love it. Im cool either way”

Japan suffered a massive earthquake of an 8.9 magnitude causing a tsunami towards Hawaii and

[AznKhmerBoi]

Veteran comedian Barry Cryer says that he has long been "fascinated" by sick humour.

"black comedy helps us make sense of occurrences that would otherwise be painful and upsetting"

[Jrecee]

He is most definitely not a Grammer winning artist.


HAHAHAHAH

[saturnfan]

Japan has a different culture, one that has a stronger respect for authority. Japan is also basically homogeneous and therefor they have stronger personal ties to each other, even strangers.

Probably a superficial explanation, but it is the best I can think of.

[hashiriya1]

Japanese are programmed since birth that you must put the group ahead or your own personal wants and needs. Also, the Japanese involuntarily follow the "wa" and anyone who disrupts the "wa" is ostracized. I think the "wa" plays a big role in how the Japanese behave. It also has adverse effects, but for he most part it's for the greater good.

[irixith]

I think it's wonderful. It shows that there is still good and basic human decency left -- even if you have to go halfway around the world during a major disaster to see it.