Koban: Neighbourhood Policing in Contemporary Japan

This article outlines the principal features of the koban (policebox) system in Japan, which has generally been regarded as a model of neighbourhood policing. The paper discusses the historical background and critically reconsiders the validity of the 'celebratory' discourse surrounding the koban, and suggests that, far from being uniquely different, Japan is facing similar neighbourhood policing challenges to other police jurisdictions, in terms of raising public reassurance and coping with conflicting demands for policing services.