Use of American-Made Wireless Electronic Devices Illegal In Japan
By Mark Elrod, CFAY Public Affairs

In accordance with instructions from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) Japan, the use of American-made 900 MHz range baby monitors and other wireless devices is illegal and therefore not allowed in Japan.

Individuals who do not follow MIC instruction and continue to use baby monitors and wireless devices not approved in Japan can be subject to penalties such as a one million yen fine and, or one year imprisonment under Japan’s Radio Law.

Examples of illegal devices are:
 
• Cell phones.

• Cordless phones (900 MHz range).

• Low power handheld radios (Family Radio Service and General Mobile Radio Service).

• Radio controlled model airplanes.

• Automobile keyless entry systems.

• Various computer components (keyboard, mouse and printers).

• Military equipment. A ccording to an article by MIC, the use of American-made baby monitors cause harmful radio interference to Japan’s cellular phone services and radio communications due to the fact that American-made baby monitors use the same frequency band as Japan’s cellular phone services and radio communications.

However, according to Lead Spectrum Manager Gary G. Vogel, of Navy and Marine Corps Spectrum Office Far East, which is responsible to ensure Navy and Marine Corps access to, and effective use of the electromagnetic spectrum in national security and military operations in Japan, Korea, Singapore and Diego Garcia, very rarely do they interfere.

In theory, they can interfere if, for example, a wireless mouse, which radiates a frequency in an omni-directional pattern, is picked up by another device that amplifies the signal.

“It could find something resonant, nearby and inadvertently be sent much farther than its original path,” said Vogel.

Fortunately, Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY), Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Yokota Air Force base and U.S. Army base Camp Zama have not received many complaints.

“We have received very few reports in the CFAY area.

We have received many more reports in Okinawa, and the Marines in particular have addressed those problems,” said Vogel.

“But, we’ve received very few here in the Kanto plain. And the ones we have received have been very minor. They haven’t been sourced to civilian interference; it’s more [from] military use.”

According to Vogel, devices such as the aforementioned are legal to sell and purchase. However, the use of them in Japan is illegal.

“The practical reality is that our devices are low-powered devices and cause very little interference. But that isn’t the point really, where Japan is coming from,” said Vogel.

“The Government of Japan, the Ministry of Telecommunications is saying, ‘We haven’t allocated any spectrum for that use. Your devices don’t fit into the parts that we have allocated for the use of baby monitors and other wireless devices.’ So, from that standpoint, they’re illegal and they don’t want you to use them. So it’s a matter of legality more than it is a matter of practical day-to-day interference, and that’s where they are coming from therefore we have to comply with their rules and regulations,” he added.

• All radio and wireless communications that are used by US personnel in Japan are granted courtesy of the Japanese government, from the ship to tug comms for the fleet to the MWR wireless hotspots.

• Japan has allocated spectrum in ways which differ from the U.S., making most U.S.-purchased wireless devices operationally incompatible with Japan’s spectrum.

• Harmful interference occurs when an unauthorized operator uses a wireless device on the same frequency, at the same time, as an authorized operator. This interference can affect emergency and critical communication links.

• U.S.-purchased baby monitors, when turned on, act like miniature radio stations capable of transmitting FM signals over long distances which are easily seen or heard by other receivers, eavesdropped and sourced to their point of origination. They will interfere with Japan’s cellular telephone system which operates on approximately the same frequencies. As a result the cellular signals can be rendered unusable, causing outages to telephone users and to emergency services and a loss of revenue to the company.

• Therefore, Japan considers a U.S. baby monitor, when in operation, to be an unlicensed rogue radio station.

• Use only approved wireless devices.

• Cheaters will be caught! (2 found on Monday!)

• The NMCSO maintains an electronic direction-finding capability to track and identify unlawful electromagnetic emissions. NMCSO FE personnel do search for illegal emissions daily or when a complaint is received.

• The vast majority of unlawful emissions come from wireless baby monitors, which have the potential to disrupt vital communications links in Japan. Users will be held responsible.

• Do not use U.S.-purchased baby monitors of any type or variety.

• Do not assume that a device purchased on a military installation is approved for use in Japan—most are not.

Mr. Gary Vogel
GS-13, Lead Spectrum Manager
gary.vogel@fe.navy.mil (NIPR)

Mr. Greg Boone
GS-12, Spectrum Manager
greg.boone@fe.navy.mil (NIPR)

James Robinson, ITC(SW)
Spectrum Manager
james.robinson@fe.navy.mil (NIPR)

Collective email address:
nmcsofe@fe.navy.mil

The only thing I can think of that I have that could violate this is a wireless router. Anyone have any idea whether those are covered under this law? Do I need a new router when coming to Japan? Thanks.