Comedy duo Onigoe Tomahawk served as one-day police chiefs at the Otsuka Police Station in Tokyo on May 21 to promote bicycle safety.
The event comes as Japanese authorities seek to increase public awareness following the introduction of a "blue ticket" system for bicycle violations. This system allows police to issue citations for traffic infractions that were previously handled with warnings, aiming to reduce accidents and improve road discipline.
Members Ryo-chan and Kin-chan, 38 [3], participated in a traffic safety classroom to educate the public on proper cycling etiquette. During the event, Kin-chan addressed the behavior of cyclists on sidewalks. He said, "Please absolutely stop ringing your bell to tell people to move because they are in the way."
Ryo-chan emphasized the importance of caution, saying that cyclists must prioritize pedestrians. He also joked about his frequent appointments to these honorary roles. Ryo-chan said that because he has served as a one-day police chief more than five times [4], it proves he is a "clean" comedian.
The campaign highlighted the immediate impact of the new enforcement measures. According to data provided during the event, 501 blue tickets were issued in Tokyo last month [1]. The data further revealed that approximately 50% of these citations were issued for failing to stop at a temporary halt sign [2].
By utilizing popular entertainers, the Otsuka Police Station aimed to reach a broader demographic and soften the image of the new penalties while maintaining a firm stance on safety. The duo's participation focused on the most common errors made by cyclists, particularly those involving pedestrian right-of-way, and failure to obey traffic signals.
“"Please absolutely stop ringing your bell to tell people to move because they are in the way."”
The shift toward 'blue tickets' represents a significant tightening of bicycle regulations in Japan, moving from a culture of verbal warnings to formal financial penalties. The fact that half of the initial citations involve failure to stop suggests that many cyclists are either unaware of specific traffic laws or habitually ignore them, necessitating high-visibility public awareness campaigns to avoid widespread litigation and fines.
