Covering the economic and industrial might of Japan

During Japan's heyday, late 80's and early 90's when the world thought Japan's economy might surpass the economy of the United States, the value of assets was not the only thing that became inflated.

Companies also inflated their staffs - bubble staffs?

Private companies recruited new students with money and overseas visits resulting in fewer candidates being left for the government jobs - police force and such.

As a result, the government jobs faced slim pickings.

Japan's police force is called a 3K job - (kiken, kitsui, kitani - dangerous, hard and dirty.).

But somebody has to do it.

During the bubble era, one in 3.7 applicants became policemen. Today it is one in 23.8.

Problem...with less to choose from, the quality of the police force went down.

Bigger problem: those hired during the bubble economy days are now in the 37-43 year old range and are becoming the core of the cops.

Really big problem; Those who lacked ambition, who joined the force because they could not get a job in the private sector are now running the show.

Biggest problem of all: These policemen felt like they did the country a favor by joining the force.

Uh...now, we have cops being arrested for drunk/dangerous driving, molesting schoolgirls and ....

Japan has a serious problem with these men and women running their law enforcement.

What do you think?