If You Charge Your Phone Without Permission at a Cafe, It's 'Theft'... Different Culture from Korea [Nichiyou Nichi Culture]

Checking if charging is possible is essential first
Cases of punishment for charging at convenience store outlets also exist

"I don't have a portable charger, so I'll need to charge my devices when I go to a cafe later."

Many people carry chargers that plug directly into outlets instead of portable batteries when going out. I also tend to look for a cafe first when my laptop or phone battery is running low during reporting assignments.

These days, it seems that more places in Korea are starting to block access to power outlets, but in Japan, the rules are even stricter. There are stories about travelers getting into serious trouble for charging their devices at cafes without permission. Since there have been cases where people were penalized for plugging chargers into outlets, caution is advised. Today, I will share some insights about Japan’s somewhat different 'charging culture' compared to Korea.

'No Outlet Use' sticker sold on Rakuten Japan. Rakuten.

In Japan, even if you find an empty outlet at a cafe or family restaurant, you should not charge your phone or laptop without permission. Staff may stop you. In fact, questions and posts about this issue frequently appear on Japanese portal sites like Yahoo Japan.

Places that prohibit charging explain that electricity is legally considered property. Article 235 of the Japanese Penal Code states that "Anyone who steals another person's property shall be punished by imprisonment with work for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than 500,000 yen." Article 245 clarifies that electricity is also regarded as property in this context. Therefore, unauthorized use of electricity at a business establishment can constitute theft. For example, in 2007, two junior high school students in Osaka were investigated on theft charges for charging their cell phones using a convenience store outlet. At that time, it was uncommon for customers to use store outlets, unlike today, but even minimal use of electricity was considered theft, drawing public attention.

There are even stories that charging smartphones at schools or workplaces could be considered theft. Many companies have strict rules. A question posted in a community of Japanese HR professionals went like this: "Although the company has not issued any official notice, recently it has been noticeable that employees are charging their personal smartphones by plugging them into work PCs. This could be considered unauthorized theft of company electricity and also poses a significant risk of internal information leaks. I would like to know how other companies handle this." The poster added, "For reference, I always carry a portable battery with me at work."

Many responses agreed that this could be problematic. The representative of Hattori Wage & Labor Support Office said, "The act itself does not clearly distinguish between public and private use," and added, "It is related to company regulations prohibiting removal of company property, so rules should be promptly revised." Others suggested, "Even if charging is prohibited at personal desks, companies should consider flexible measures such as providing dedicated charging corners."

A branch of Japan's Mos Burger that has created rechargeable seats. Basis Tokyo.

Japan’s Atom Law Office also noted in their newsletter, "If there is a notice saying that smartphone charging is allowed, it is fine, but in places without any such notice, charging without permission could be considered theft. If you want to charge, you should first check with the staff."

In Korea, it is generally accepted that if there is an outlet at a company or cafe, you can charge your device, and places that block charging are often seen as stingy. In Japan, unauthorized use of electricity is called "electricity theft (Touden, ?電)." This is partly because electricity costs are very high.

That said, not all public facilities prohibit charging. For example, power outlets at seats on the Shinkansen high-speed trains can be freely used. Cafes and family restaurants that allow charging often display signs like "Charging OK," and especially cafes that have signs saying "Power Available (電源あり)" allow you to charge your smartphone or use your laptop while plugged in.

In any case, this different culture can confuse not only Koreans but also other foreigners. Since problems can arise if you use outlets without staff permission, it is best to be cautious if you plan to visit Japan.