Middle Schooler Hit at Slam Dunk Pilgrimage Spot Amid Unlicensed Taxi and Reckless Driving

On the afternoon of August 25, an incident occurred. In a residential area near Kamakura-Koko Mae Station, a middle school boy was hit by a taxi driven by a foreign driver, who then fled the scene. The boy’s father recounted the situation.

“That day, my son was riding his bicycle home. He noticed a silver HiAce parked blatantly in front of a private house and made an X sign with his fingers, saying, ‘You shouldn’t park here.’ The woman in her 50s behind the wheel, a foreigner, lost her temper and replied in broken Japanese, ‘Why are you only telling me?’”

Local residents in the area are careful to report low-quality unlicensed taxis or suspicious vehicles to the police, and this protocol had been shared with the family. Following instructions, the boy called the police from his smartphone. That’s when the foreign driver launched a frightening retaliation.

“The woman moved her car forward, then reversed while turning the wheel, hitting my son’s bicycle. She also took a photo of his face with her smartphone and threatened him, saying, ‘You’re in the way! I’ll tell your school.’ Then she drove off.”

Although the boy was shaken, he contacted his family. His father rushed to the scene from his workplace in the city.

“I was relieved that my son wasn’t injured, but he was extremely shocked that a car had suddenly hit him. When I asked, ‘Did you tell the police about being hit?’ he said, ‘No,’ so I called the police again and had the incident officially recorded as an accident.”

When “FRIDAY Digital” inquired with Kamakura Police Station about the case, they said, “The matter is currently under investigation,” and calmly urged citizens: “If you witness such an incident, please take note of the license plate and identifying features of the person involved, and report it by calling 110.”

The hit-and-run incident isn’t the only problem. In this quiet residential area, dangerous tailgating by foreign-operated unlicensed taxis has also been witnessed. A local man shared his account:

“One day, on a residential street, an unlicensed taxi was weaving aggressively behind the car in front, tailgating it. The driver of that car, apparently frightened, pulled over to the side. The taxi then forcefully cut in front and stopped. The driver being harassed was a female resident, and the taxi driver’s behavior was clearly intimidating. Several neighbors, including myself, rushed over and yelled, ‘What are you doing?’

The driver, speaking in broken Japanese, said shamelessly, ‘I chased them because they honked at me.’ When asked why, he explained that he was upset about being told not to park on the road near the train crossing while waiting for a fare. I replied, ‘Anyone would honk if you stopped there,’ but he snapped back, saying, ‘That’s not how you honk!’”

Their brazen behavior isn’t limited to dangerous driving—it frequently irritates local residents in everyday situations.

“For example, an unlicensed taxi, presumably waiting for a fare, parked in front of our driveway, and the driver lit a cigarette. My wife politely said, ‘Excuse me, this is in front of our house.’ The driver, without changing expression, replied, ‘Wait five minutes until I finish.’ His brazen attitude left my wife so frustrated that she couldn’t respond.”

There are even more exasperating incidents.

“Just recently, my wife asked an unlicensed taxi parked in front of our house, ‘Do you have business here?’ The driver casually replied, ‘This is my friend’s house. I’m waiting for a friend.’ Even after my wife explained, ‘But this is my house,’ he showed no sign of being fazed and kept making excuses, refusing to move.”

In response to the proliferation of unlicensed taxis and green-plated wagon taxis, the police have stepped up patrols. However, foreign drivers often seem to flout authority altogether.

“Even when officers warn them, they just smirk and say things like, ‘I’m in the car, so it’s not illegal parking,’ or ‘Okay, okay, I’ll move now.’ The police are doing their best, but there’s little they can do,” said a local resident.

When “FRIDAY Digital” asked Kamakura Police Station about the situation and their response, they stated:

“As a countermeasure against unlicensed taxis, we are strengthening public awareness campaigns and patrols. In 2025, there were no arrests of unlicensed taxis around Kamakura-Koko Mae Station, but there were cases near Kamakura Station. We will continue working with relevant departments and agencies on various measures to address the unlicensed taxi issue. We are aware that cases involving foreign drivers are increasing.”

While the police recognize the seriousness of the problem, effective solutions remain limited.

This kind of tourism pollution isn’t unique to Kamakura. In Kyoto, buses are often so crowded with tourists that locals can’t board. Near the base of Mount Fuji, tourists block roads while trying to photograph the mountain over convenience stores. Under the guise of promoting tourism, the safety and daily life of local residents are sacrificed. Kamakura-Koko Mae Station is now on the brink of lawlessness. Given that the national government has actively promoted inbound tourism, countermeasures against this negative side effect—tourism pollution—have become an urgent issue.