"Compatriots are committing crimes" Report from Shinjuku "We don't want to damage the relationship between Vietnam and Japan"

A weekday afternoon in August, in a room in a multi-tenant building near JR Shin-Okubo Station (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo). Six men and women were staring at their computer screens with serious expressions.

Members of the Japan-Vietnam International Exchange Agency (FAVIJA) (Shinjuku Ward), a general incorporated association made up of Vietnamese residents in Japan. What I was looking at were the "reports" that were sent to FAVIJA via Facebook and email.

"The store I work at is evading taxes," "I'm driving a stolen car," "I paid a deposit, but they won't offer me a job or give me my money back. It's a scam."

It was an accusation of a ``crime'' by a fellow countryman. The members examine the information and report some to the police.

``Is it a crime if I don't report it?'' A message I received

``I'm returning to Vietnam. Can I sell my Japanese bank book to someone else?'' ``I work with someone who is overstaying (illegal stay). Is it a crime if I don't report it?'' There are many consultations. The members discuss the matter and reply, ``Buying and selling passbooks is illegal. Stop it.''

FAVIJA was established in 2018 for the purpose of promoting exchange between Japan and Vietnam. According to representative director Do Quang Ba (47), out of the 100 to 150 calls that FAVIJA receives each month, recently about one-third are reports or consultations about people who have learned about illegal activities by their compatriots.

It was around 2022 that FAVIJA started a ``crime reporting system'' within the Vietnamese community.

Crimes committed by Vietnamese people were reported one after another. Livestock theft, car theft, robbery... Mr. Barr began to feel the Japanese eyes directed at them. I also received a phone call from a Japanese acquaintance who said, ``It's a shame.''

The trigger was a car theft incident.

At that time, the police were involved in a car theft case...