The number of reports to the police about the “street performances” that take place every day in front of the east exit of Kawasaki Station (Kawasaki Ward, Kawasaki City) has been increasing, with people complaining that the performances are “too noisy” and “a nuisance.” Kawasaki Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area in front of the station, receives two or three reports a day and police officers sometimes head to the scene. Legally, squares are considered “roads,” so permission is required to use them, but many musicians perform there without obtaining it. We looked into “freedom of expression” and how it is regulated. Mr. Sagawa (30), a musician who sings in the square in front of the station three times a week, is worried about whether he can continue like this. The station square is considered a “road” managed by the city, JR East, Keikyu Electric Railway, and others, and is subject to the Road Traffic Act. Article 77 of the same law clearly states that “any act that significantly affects general traffic must obtain permission from the chief of the local police station,” and specifically lists “playing music” (in the Prefectural Road Traffic Law Enforcement Regulations), which falls under the category of acts that gather people together. According to an interpretation of this law, “street performances have the potential to obstruct traffic,” and prior application for “road use permission” is required. If you start a live performance without applying for permission and just place amplifiers, microphone stands, music stands, etc. on the street, you will be subject to disciplinary action. If the regulations are strictly enforced, street performances will not be permitted at all without prior application, but the Kawasaki Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the station square, has been forced into a difficult position. A city official explained, “The city’s view is that there is no blanket ban, so we are not saying that street performances are not allowed.” The police have been asked by the city to turn a blind eye to street performances, taking into consideration that the city promotes itself as a “city of music.” Sagawa shrugs and says, “If I’m told to stop, I have no choice but to stop.” It’s the rule of this town… I can’t help it (paid version below) Kanagawa Shimbun | Friday, August 30, 2024 05:00.
“Street performances have the potential to obstruct traffic,” so a “road use permit” must be applied for in advance. If you start a live performance without applying for permission and just place amplifiers, microphone stands, music stands, etc. on the street, you will be subject to disciplinary action. That’s true. When I checked with a prefectural police station, they said that even a single folding chair requires a minimum of permission with a specified date and time. If you don’t sit down, you can stand and follow instructions and move quickly, it’s apparently not a problem under the Road Traffic Act.
Freedom of expression doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want. Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand, so if you can perform on the street while taking precautions to avoid causing trouble, then go ahead and do it.
I was passing by a street performance in front of Kawasaki Station’s Kunihigashiguchi exit when a homeless man attacked someone trying to donate money and ended up fighting with the performer.
>>14 This is it It would be fine if she was good enough to make me stop, but it might be annoying if she’s a former underground idol with just a guitar singing a lame song.
Ah, there was also an idiot who made an elementary school girl sing for the sake of tips. But I guess it’s okay because it’s the Kanagawa Prefectural Police.
Isn’t it strange to make freedom of expression the theme here? Isn’t freedom of expression only possible if you carefully choose the place where it is okay to express yourself?
>>19 I don’t understand why people think that freedom of expression will suddenly go wrong when we’ve been arguing about it for a long time and why they don’t even think about studying it in the first place.
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