"Mie man arrested for collecting photos he took of female coworker while at work"

To illustrate the complexities and anxieties of public/nuisance photography, especially when unrequited love is thrown into the mix...

From Japan Today, 2/18/18:

Police in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture, have arrested a 25-year-old man on charges of violating the Anti-Stalking Control Law. He is said to have taken numerous pictures of a female coworker without her knowing using his smartphone camera.

The incident was uncovered in October of last year when a man doing some weeding in an area of thick grass stumbled across a plastic box containing several items including a USB memory stick. On the stick were over 100 images of a 24-year-old woman that appeared to have been taken without her knowing.

Police managed to trace the images back to the suspect who had secretly taken the photos of a coworker with whom he was infatuated while she was in and around their workplace. The man reportedly admitted to the charges saying, “I took the pictures because I liked her but I couldn’t bring myself to speak to her.”

Reaction to the news online sided largely with the suspect. Many felt that he was simply a shy person suffering from a case of unrequited love rather than a threat to anyone’s safety.

“You can get arrested for only that? Shocked.”

“I sympathize with him.”

“While it certainly is unpleasant to photograph someone without them knowing, does it really fall under the anti-stalking law?”

“This makes me furious. They regulate smartphone cameras like they were guns.”

“I know how he feels… that’s a terrible story.”

“The man who picked up the memory stick seems more suspicious. Why did he snoop around like that?”

“We live in an age where being shy is an arrestable offense.”

“That’s scary. So anytime I take pictures in public places where there are other people I can be arrested for it?”

“His motive seemed more cute than malicious.”

The investigation is still ongoing and police are looking into whether or not similar incidents involving other women exist. They also have yet to interview the woman whom he had photographed.

Source: https://japantoday.com/category/crime/mie-man-arrested-for-collecting-photos-he-took-of-female-coworker-while-at-work

Also note the reader comments after the article.

"Limber up for Osaka's full-on 'winter of love'"

From Japan Times, Kansai: Who & What, 2/5/12:

The "Love @ Osaka Project" at Osaka Station City has started, aiming to celebrate Valentine's Day this month and White Day on March 14, the final day of the event.

Part of the event is a "Love Photo" project, seeking photographs of your special ones and snaps of affectionate — though not overly intimate — moments with them. Photos can be submitted via the project's website until Feb. 29 and will be posted on the site. A drawing will be held and the winners will receive prizes such as digital single-lens reflex cameras and travel coupons.

For the event's "Love Message" project, photo sessions will be held at various places in Osaka Station City on Sunday, and then from Feb. 11 to 13 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Participants are invited to write tasteful love-related messages on a heart-shaped board and have their photo taken with it. The photos will be shown on digital signs throughout Osaka Station City, located at JR Osaka Station in Kita Ward, or a panel on the 16th floor of the South Gate Building.

Other events are planned during the "Love @ Osaka Project," including a free concert from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on March 10 at Atrium Hiroba plaza on the second floor.

For more information, visit osakastationcity.com/love/ (in Japanese).

Link: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120205k1.html