Wait... we live in Roppongi

Whenever you move or travel abroad, you can sign up for automatic updates from various embassies. When I got to Tokyo, I signed up for the US Embassy's updates which come out each month. They usually tell you about events at the Embassy (like Independence or Memorial Day parties, etc.), or about how Hillary Clinton came through Tokyo last month, State Department travel advisories to other countries, etc.

They also send out advisories or warnings regarding the country you are living in. I got this one today:

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Date: March 17, 2009

This is to inform the American community that the U.S. Embassy has recommended that the embassy community avoid frequenting Roppongi bars and clubs in Tokyo due to a significant increase in reported drink-spiking incidents. American citizens may choose to avoid frequenting drinking establishments in this area as well.

The number of reports of U.S. citizens being drugged in bars has increased significantly in recent weeks. Typically, the victim unknowingly drinks a beverage that has been secretly mixed with a drug that renders the victim unconscious for several hours, during which time large sums of money are charged to the victim’s credit card or the card is stolen outright. Victims sometimes regain consciousness in the bar or club, while at other times the victim awakens on the street [jrs: the "victims" I see on the street normally appear to have administered something to themselves].

Because this type of crime is already widespread [jrs: um, first I've heard of it] in Roppongi bars and is on the rise, the U.S. Embassy has recommended that members of the embassy community avoid frequenting drinking establishments in this area [jrs: how much time is the embassy community spending in the bars exactly?]. American citizens may consider this recommendation as it applies to their own behavior. If you, nevertheless, choose to participate in Roppongi night life, we urge you to remain extra vigilant of your surroundings and maintain a high level of situational awareness. Establishments in the area of Roppongi Intersection (Roppongi Dori and Gaienhigashi-dori) have had the highest level of reported incidents.

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Just to put this into perspective for us, here is my walk to the Metro station to get to work:

• Come out of apartment and turn left.
• Walk to Gaienhigashi-dori and turn right.
• Walk to Roppongi Dori (through Roppongi Intersection) and turn left.
• Go down the Metro entrance.

I still think Tokyo is probably one of the safest large cities in the world, certainly much more so than NYC. But it's still kind of surprising to get something like this. I'm gonna have to tell Jenn to be careful out there. ;-)