all foreigners will be fingerprinted and have retina eyes scans done at immigration control, each time they enter the country. It doesn't matter if you a spouse of a Japanese national or the parent of Japanese children, or that you have lived here for half of your life and have a permanent residence visa. You might be on business or just passing through.
This does not apply to Japanese citizens.
There has been no terrorist attack on Japanese soil and it is the Japanese who are members of the Red Army ....
Just thought you should know!
Hopefully, you will decide to skip Japan on your travels, hit them where it hurts by depriving them of your money!
If you would like to know more about this, or have strong feelings about it, you may want to support this effort:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fingerprints-japan?e
Thanks!
2007-10-31 00:29:48 · 8 answers · asked by kiteeze 5 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
Please read Ken Y-N's link.
These measures DO exist in the U.S! But not for Green Card folks, that equals people with Permanent Residence visas in Japan.
And the U.K. is handling the problem in its own way. From next year, people who need a visa to enter the country must provide a bio. photo along with visa request.
Not at the airport.
2007-10-31 07:45:23 · update #1
In light of current events, I think its a good idea. I'm not too keen on the eye scanning (well because who knows what that can do to your sight over time). But taking extra precautions of those living in the country is good idea.
What I don't think is equal is making nationals (not ethnic japanese though) go through that process. They have a real issue with treatment of foreigners living in the country; that will take time to ratify equality of its minority population. If they want to do this security measure. ALL entering/exiting should have the process done, not selected persons.
2007-10-31 10:13:11 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Foreign residents have always been fingerprinted in Japan. I think fingerprinting people just passing through will quietly be dropped in a year or two. It's just too much hassle and expense for too little law enforcement payoff. What the heck are the cops going to do with the millions of fingerprints of folks who had a three day tour of Kyoto on their way through from Hong Kong to LA or whatever? That being said, I will be writing my member of Parliment to ask that all Japanese arrivals in Canada be fingerprinted so that Aum Shinrikyo and Chukakuha members can be excluded.
2007-10-31 11:30:03 · answer #2 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No, there is no retinal scan going to be performed.
And Joriental, there is only one known Al Quaeda member who has lived in Japan, despite Hatoyama's recent remarks about butterfly collecting false beard wearing friend of a friend who may or may not have warned him about the Bali bombing, which of course leaves a big question mark that if Hatoyama's imaginary friend of a friend really did exist, surely Hatoyama has been withholding information on terrorists, which is poor behaviour for a Justice minister at the very least.
I don't really see what all the big fuss is despite being a Permanent Resident of Japan, and most of the antis seem purely to be selfish, complaining more about having to perhaps wait in a queue a bit longer than about the civil liberties situation.
Finally, I read that there will be an extra queue made at Narita airport especially for Permanent Residents so that we can get printed and photographed quicker than tourists.
2007-10-31 03:18:08 · answer #3 · answered by Ken Y-N 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Why? What's wrong about protecting their own country? Don't you have to go through the security line before you board an airplane? In your own country? I am a foreigner here in U.S. and Homeland security has my finger prints and everything. Am I upset about it? No. It is the way the U.S. try to protect itself from any terrorists and criminals coming into the country. I don't know why you are so upsetting about it. Didn't you hear the news about one of the terrorists who has a tie with Al keida was using false IDs and passports and entering Japan for sometime? It was in the newspaper yesterday. There was a security breach and any country has a right to protect its own people. Whoever try to help U.S., there will be a chance of attack by Al keida. It's not like Japan is discriminating any foreigners.
2007-10-31 10:05:42 · answer #4 · answered by Cosmos 4 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Yea, you should decide to skip traveling to Japan.
The expats who is already in Japan would be happy and can enjoy different culture from the west more. They would be able to enjoy unique far-east life much better (Who want to visit Japan which is full of westerns? ).
By the way, didn't you know several Al-Qaeda members have entered Japan before? And a few lived in Japan?.
--
ah..Ken-san
I am not talking about Hatoyama's issue. As following site, at least 2 members were confirmed staying in Japan b4.
http://www2.asahi.com/special/iraqrecovery/TKY200405180393.html
2007-10-31 03:00:57 · answer #5 · answered by Joriental 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I agree with superchi...
Instead of the ridicules idea of ID cards for all us English who were born here.
2007-10-31 00:57:38 · answer #6 · answered by Hammer&Drill 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
We should do it in the US. Remember 9 / 11 ?
2007-10-31 03:30:06 · answer #7 · answered by Vinegar Taster 7 · 5⤊ 4⤋
Its about time that they did something like that here.
2007-10-31 00:38:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋