'Slam Dunk' manga fans less of a nuisance at east Japan crossing amid security boost February 6, 2024 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese version Tourists remain on the sidewalk, obeying the rules, as a train passes by near Kamakurakokomae Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway Line, on Jan. 25, 2024. (Mainichi/Toshiaki Hashimoto) KAMAKURA スーパーコピー信用できるサイト  Kanagawa -- A railway crossing here known as a sacred spot for fans of the popular basketball manga "Slam Dunk" has drawn throngs of foreign visitors, sparking concerns of "overtourism" as photo-snapping tourists spill over onto roads ブランドコピー  among other problems. But recently there has been a marked drop in such problematic behavior. The Mainichi Shimbun looked into the reasons for the improvement. On the evening of Jan. 25, an elderly security guard called out loudly in English near the popular railroad crossing close to Kamakurakokomae Station on the Enoshima Electric Railway Line ブランドコピーN級品  "Step up (onto the sidewalk)." "Don't stay on the road!" The guard kept an eye on the tourists' movements while paying attention to the passing cars. At the slightest sign of someone stepping onto the road, the guard warned them each time. Tourists obediently followed the instructions, and no one ventured onto the road even when there was a photo opportunity as a train passed by. In this photo taken in August 2023, tourists step onto the road to take commemorative photos at the railroad crossing near Kamakurakokomae Station in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Mainichi/Toshiaki Hashimoto) Previously near the crossing, tourists taking photos would behave dangerously, including stepping out onto the road and approaching the train tracks. There were also instances of illegal parking, people trespassing onto private property and littering. To address the traffic disruption in particular, the Kamakura Municipal Government deployed traffic control security guards. From April 2017, one security guard was deployed on weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and from September last year ブランド服コピー  a guard was employed on weekdays as well, providing security throughout the year. At first the guards used only traffic control batons and gestures to warn tourists, but recently they have also started to directly call out to them in English. Kamakura Police Station has also stepped up patrols and taken other countermeasures. Since July last year, it has stationed a mobile "active police box" near the crossing practically every day. It has also frequently stationed police cars in the area, conducted patrols and cautioned visitors in English and Chinese. As a result, reports to the police station regarding illegal parking and other acts in the area have been decreasing. There were 37 such incidents in July last year and 40 in August, but the figure dropped to 11 in September, 16 in October, 10 in November and just six in December. An official in the city's urban planning division commented, "The number of tourists visiting hasn't changed, but as we have communicated the rules verbally, our concerns have been getting through." From April, the city plans to have two security guards on duty at all times to step up nuisance behavior prevention, and will allocate related funds in the initial budget for fiscal 2024. Kamakura Mayor Takashi Matsuo commented, "With the cooperation of police (in front of the railroad crossing), we have been able to create a much less dangerous situation. There is a limit to what a single guard can do when it comes to watching over that many tourists, so a two-person team will be effective." (Japanese original by Toshiaki Hashimoto, Yokosuka Local Bureau) Font Size SML Print Go to The Mainichi Home Page Related Articles Japan's Kamakura tightens measures at crossing popular with fans of manga 'Slam Dunk' 2023 Rewind: Inbound tourists are back, and so are crowds ブランド財布コピー  cultural shock