Japanese football fans are often called the “the polite hooligans [1].” They peacefully give each other high -fives while chanting “congratulations.” But for Japan's authorities, the risk of riots and mishaps in any crowded area is always imminent.
And it was no different on the night of June 4, 2013, when football fans were celebrating Japan becoming the first team to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup [2]. During the celebrations, one police officer came under the spotlight for his persuasive microphone performance in marshaling a large crowd at Tokyo's popular Shibuya district.
This video by YouTube user yuuhei1987 captures the scene [3] with lingering excitement:
At the popular Shibuya crossing where hundreds of police officers were deployed to man a barricaded [4]pedestrian crossing, this officer in the following video took his loudspeaker to pacify the large crowd.
Many witnessed the scene via Japanese live-streaming platform NicoNico Live [5] [ja] and praised the way the officer spoke to the spectators. On the Internet, people started calling him “the DJ police” like an eloquent radio host. He eventually became became a viral topic.
@Simon_Sin [6]: DJポリスがいい仕事しすぎだｗ 「皆さん同じサポーターですね。ルールは守りましょう。日本代表はマナーとルールを守るチームです。私も嬉しいんです。日本代表応援したかったんです。でも仕事ですからね、皆さん交通ルールを守りましょう」
This police officer talks like a real MC. Let me transcribe what he says to the crowd;
“We are all supporters of the Japanese team. You know that all the players follow the rules and have good manners. So let's together follow the rules! I am happy for Japan to be qualified to World Cup. I was rooting for them in my heart but you see I have work. Now let's follow the traffic rules!”
@t_miya_1214 [7]: 渋谷のＤＪ警官、「けがをするとＷＣ出場の後味が悪くなります。皆さんのチームワークで道を広く開けましょう。駅の方向に流れを作っています」
Here you go, the DJ police officer talks the talk again. “I don't want anybody to get hurt here today. Causalities makes you feel bad despite all these wonderful results we had today in football. Let's try to keep everybody safe with our team play. Now let's clear the way and move over to the station!”
While television news emphasized the chaos and fanatic hooligans, social media users highlighted this police officer [8] [ja] and emphasized cooperative supporters and peaceful scenes.
@KS_1013 [9]:
本当に日本は平和。勝っても負けても暴動が起こる国も多いけど、日本のこの群衆管理は他の国にまねできないだろうなぁ。
I can't help but to think Japan is really a peaceful country. In other countries, they riot win or lose. I think the way authority manages the crowd is peculiar to Japan and no other nation can imitate.
@t_miya_1214 [10]: ＤＪ警官「警察官も心の中では出場決定喜んでいます。こんな日に怒りたくありません」もうｗｗｗなにこの平和な日本ｗｗｗ
The DJ police says “See, all the serious-looking officers here are in fact happy inside to find Japan qualify for the World Cup. We don't want to yell at you on such a wonderful day.”
It's making me laugh given how peaceful this country is.
@tarareba722 [11]:ワイドショーでは繰り返し「渋谷は大混乱」を繰り返していたが、実際は「共感」を利用した暴動（？）の完全なコントロールに成功。こんなことが出来るのは世界中で日本だけだ。凄い。
Variety shows on TV repeatedly reported about Shibuya being in turmoil. But in reality, the crowd was fully under control by emphasizing empathy. Amazing job of Japanese police.