Photo/Illutration A pamphlet reading “unlicensed taxis are illegal and unsafe” is distributed to passengers of a cruise liner at Shimizu Port in Shizuoka’s Shimizu Ward on Nov. 5. (Toshinari Kuwayama)

SHIZUOKA—The increase in large cruise liners docking at Shimizu Port here has led to an intensifying headache for law enforcement.

According to Shizuoka prefectural police, five non-Japanese were caught operating illegal taxis around the harbor in Shizuoka’s Shimizu Ward between May and September.

They were there to pick up disembarking passengers from abroad.

No such instances were reported in the Shimizu Port area last year.

Cabs operating without government permission are called “shirotaku” (white taxi) because they have license plates with white backgrounds. Licensed cabs use green plates.

A Pakistani and a Vietnamese were arrested on suspicion of violating the Road Transportation Law by using shirotaku to take cruise passengers from Shimizu Port to a sightseeing spot around Mount Fuji in May this year for cash.

Three other foreign shirotaku drivers were apprehended in July and September after targeting cruise passengers arriving at Shimizu Port.

“Cruise ships make more calls in tandem with Shimizu Port’s improvements, leading to a growing number of illegal cabs,” said Asuka Masuda, a traffic officer from the Shimizu Police Station. “We will be firmly cracking down on them.”

Police this year have also arrested 12 unlicensed cabbies who brought people to Shizuoka Prefecture, including one who picked up a visitor from Haneda Airport in Tokyo.

According to the Shizuoka city division that promotes Shimizu Port, a record high 86 cruise ships are scheduled to arrive at the port this fiscal year, up by 18 from last fiscal year.

Taking into account reservations already made, the number may top 100 next fiscal year and continue to grow.

Police and the tourism ministry are raising alarm bells because of the expected corresponding number of illegal taxis.

Tourists often contact shirotaku drivers through popular overseas smartphone apps, and they may be unaware that cab drivers need a special permit to work in Japan.

A publicity campaign to raise awareness of Japanese laws and rules was held at the port for the first time in five-and-a-half years.

On Nov. 5, officials from the transport ministry, Shizuoka prefectural police and Shizuoka city distributed pamphlets in English, Chinese and Korean to inform foreign passengers of the Norwegian Spirit cruise liner that “unlicensed taxis are illegal and unsafe.”

The 75,904-ton ship, operated by a U.S. shipping company, docked at Shimizu Port, and the disembarking passengers were encouraged to confirm their cabs had properly authorized green license plates.

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