'Teary pencils' to augment police World Cup arsenal
In a country that takes pride in its ability to miniaturise, it should come as no surprise that a 14cm, pencil-thin tear-gas canister will be issued to police officers to battle World Cup hooligans.
What does raise eyebrows is the leeway that has been granted to these officers in using the devices.
The 'teary pencils' are part of an increasingly bizarre arsenal that includes M-16 assault rifles and 'Spiderman' guns that fire nylon nets. Critics point out the rifles, in particular, are unsuited to crowd control.
More than 18,000 of the tear-gas canisters have been issued to police who will be stationed at or near match venues.
Authorities have relaxed hitherto stringent guidelines to allow officers to use tear-gas not just on suspected hooligans but also on fans who become too unruly.
Critics are alarmed because while many of the Japanese stadiums are modern and spacious, the approaches to them are often narrow walkways - danger spots even for well-behaved Japanese fans.
The use of tear-gas in such an environment could cause a stampede.
There may be paranoia among the people, but for politicians the World Cup could offer an opportunity. There are reports that the armed forces have been put on stand-by. If the army is deployed it will be the first time since 1945 that it has been given such a role.
In 2000 a controversy raged over a decision by Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara to send soldiers on to the streets in an earthquake drill.
But an opportunity to send the army out to quell a civil disturbance involving foreigners would boost his standing in a society which remains deeply conformist and suspicious of visitors.
Schools will be closed where England are playing, and children are being told to avoid foreigners.
Many hotels and inns are refusing to take foreigners.
The situation of fear is ripe for a nationalist politician to exploit, especially as hooliganism is loosely defined in Japan.
Any group of chanting fans on a street corner would fall into the hooligan category, and fighting between fans could be seen as a justification for sending in the troops.
