Kirk here. I’d like to share some old news from our friend and Kumamoto resident, graphic novelist Sean Micheal Wilson. Sean shared this with me months ago, soon after it was published in the Kumanichi Newspaper (Kumamoto’s most widely read newspaper) in late October. I neglected to post it then but, as the basic issue remains unchanged, I thought it would be better to be late than not to share it at all.
Sean is writing about the tendency many drivers in Kumamoto have to ignore crosswalks. According to Japanese law, drivers are required to yield when a pedestrian is standing at a crosswalk. Unfortunately, however, many don’t. Sean mentions a particularly dangerous intersection in front of Hitsuyukan High School. The newspaper editor follows up with a report from the police confirming that a pedestrian was recently struck by a car there and confirming that, yes, drivers are supposed to stop if a pedestrian is attempting to cross the street at a properly marked crosswalk.
Actually, Kumanichi’s statement is so obvious as to be ridiculous. Of course drivers are supposed stop if a pedestrian is attempting to cross. If you actually read the law, it’s clear that (1) drivers a required to drive slowing enough that they will be able to stop at crosswalks if necessary and that (2) if someone even looks like that are about to cross (not yet attempting to cross) they are supposed to stop. For those of you who read Japanese, here’s the text of the law:
（横断歩道等における歩行者等の優先） 第三十八条 車両等は、横断歩道又は自転車横断帯（以下この条において「横断歩道等」という）に接近する場合には、当該横断歩道等を通過する際に当該横断歩道等によりその進路の前方を横断しようとする歩行者又は自転車（以下この条において「歩行者等」という）がないことが明らかな場合を除き、当該横断歩道等の直前（道路標識等による停止線が設けられているときは、その停止線の直前。以下この項において同じ）で停止することができるような速度で進行しなければならない。この場合において、横断歩道等によりその進路の前方を横断し、又は横断しようとする歩行者等があるときは、当該横断歩道等の直前で一時停止し、かつ、その通行を妨げないようにしなければならない。
https://www.takaragaike.co.jp/doukou/s0303b.htm
My experience is that quite a few drivers understand this and observe the law. I take walks and/or jog regularly, so I use crosswalks every day. I am careful to bow and express my gratitude to the considerate people who stop for me, but, alas, they are in the minority.
Kumamoto is not the worst prefecture in Japan in this regard, but, in terms of the percentage of drivers who actually stop at crosswalks when they should, it’s on the lower end. The following article says that the compliance rate in Kumamoto is about 11%, below the national average. Nagano Prefecture has the highest compliance rate at 68.6% while Mie Prefectures rate is listed as a dismal 3.4%. Obviously, there are significant regional differences in driving culture.
https://bestcarweb.jp/20191011-koutuuihan
The good news is that compliance is improving. I sense that in my daily walks and statistics on the above page show that too. The national average in 2018 was 8.6% but that jumped up to 17.1% in 2019. Kumamoto’s 11% was the figure in 2019 so we were below the national average but I suspect the numbers are on the rise here too.
At any rate, if you drive, watch for crosswalks. You could get a ticket for not stopping and, besides, it’s the right thing to do. If you are a pedestrian, don’t assume people will stop but it’s probably a good idea to send some positive reinforcement (little bows, smiles, etc.) to the people who comply with the law and stop for us.
Finally, here’s a link to Sean’s website: