By Spencer McCall
On November 20th, 2007, Japan implemented a regulation to fingerprint and photograph all foreigners entering the country. This new regulation extends not only to short-term visitors, but also permanent residence, work visa and spouse visa holders.
Once a foreigner enters any airport or port of entry, they must wait in the foreign immigration line to be fingerprinted and photographed. Once this has been done, their information will be cross-referenced with an immigration blacklist, which will determine their eligibility to enter the country. The main goal of the program, the Japanese government contends, is to bar entry of suspected terrorists or criminals. However, this is the first time an all-encompassing approach is being taken in fingering foreigners as they enter a country. Even the United States, the only other country currently fingerprinting foreigners, still allows visas and residency holders to enter the same way, as do American citizens. Japan, so it seems, has made no such distinction.
This is yet another blow to the ESL market in Japan, which has been reeling from the recent scandal of Nova Corp., the nation’s largest ESL franchise. The new immigration regulations will most likely further decrease the desirability of the country for teachers. Coupled with Korea’s upcoming regulation to ban visa runs to Japan, these new steps leave little doubt that both Korea and Japan are becoming less interested in supporting an ESL market as both governments continue to pass laws which restrict foreigners in entering, leaving or staying in their countries.
For further details on the new Japanese regulations, read The Yomiuri Shimbun, of Nov. 19, 2007
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20071119TDY04310.htm
Both Japanese and foreigners have begun to speak out on the new changes. Several foreigners have expressed their outrage at the new treatment. To see what two have had to say in the Japan Times, click on the links below:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20071120zg.html
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20071101a1.html
Not all Japanese consider the new changes negative. To find out what some Japanese people think of the new system, go to Japan Today at:
http://www.japantoday.com/jp/popvox/758
On November 20th, 2007, Japan implemented a regulation to fingerprint and photograph all foreigners entering the country. This new regulation extends not only to short-term visitors, but also permanent residence, work visa and spouse visa holders.
Once a foreigner enters any airport or port of entry, they must wait in the foreign immigration line to be fingerprinted and photographed. Once this has been done, their information will be cross-referenced with an immigration blacklist, which will determine their eligibility to enter the country. The main goal of the program, the Japanese government contends, is to bar entry of suspected terrorists or criminals. However, this is the first time an all-encompassing approach is being taken in fingering foreigners as they enter a country. Even the United States, the only other country currently fingerprinting foreigners, still allows visas and residency holders to enter the same way, as do American citizens. Japan, so it seems, has made no such distinction.
This is yet another blow to the ESL market in Japan, which has been reeling from the recent scandal of Nova Corp., the nation’s largest ESL franchise. The new immigration regulations will most likely further decrease the desirability of the country for teachers. Coupled with Korea’s upcoming regulation to ban visa runs to Japan, these new steps leave little doubt that both Korea and Japan are becoming less interested in supporting an ESL market as both governments continue to pass laws which restrict foreigners in entering, leaving or staying in their countries.
For further details on the new Japanese regulations, read The Yomiuri Shimbun, of Nov. 19, 2007
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/editorial/20071119TDY04310.htm
Both Japanese and foreigners have begun to speak out on the new changes. Several foreigners have expressed their outrage at the new treatment. To see what two have had to say in the Japan Times, click on the links below:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20071120zg.html
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20071101a1.html
Not all Japanese consider the new changes negative. To find out what some Japanese people think of the new system, go to Japan Today at:
http://www.japantoday.com/jp/popvox/758
4 comments:
This is a further extention of Japan's policy of descrimination of foreigners. When I was still living there in 2002,and needed to drive to get from one job to the other due to their locations, the japanese government institutued a policy of restricting any Americans from driving in Japan with an international licence except those who were there on a short tourist Visa, then refused to grant driver's licences to us. I personally completed the written test at 100%, and the CLOSED course flawlessly 3 times, but was failed each for some false pretense.(I've driven about a million and 1/2 miles in the U.S. for 23 years, everything from a Porsche,a skip loader, watercraft, trucks and motorhomes to 2 types of light aircraft, and have a perfect driving record) I saw and drove with frighteningly inept Japanese drivers who seemed not to have had any problem passing.
This was one more reason for me to finally leave the country and return home. Anyone else experience this ? Was this a temporary situation or is it still like this ?
In Korea, 4 years ago, I was able to get a Korean drivers by just showing my Canadian. But, I heard recently they take away your drivers and refuse to return it until leaving the country. There was an eye exam, but no other required testing. However, since I got the drivers, I have only driven 5 times. If you ask me it is too dangerous on Asian roads.
I lived in Japan from the Summer of 2000 to September 2001. I left a week after the terrorist attacks in the US.
The level of mocking and taunting I experienced around that time just after 9/11 was unbelievabe. I experienced such an incredibly high level of hostility by virtually everyone, from taxi drivers, to restaurant managers, to my new employer, etc. Since that nightmarish ordeal, I have been living and working in Taiwan for the last 5 years and like it so much more. I rarely feel self conscious about being different racially and the people here are far more easy going and straight toward foreigners than the Japanese are.It's a double edged sword really.Considering the horrific crimes the Japanese committed during the war, they are hypocritical to judge other races the way they do. In retrospect, I think they deserved 100% getting 2 nukes dropped on them, not from my own personal disdain for them, but because, essentially, in a nut shell, they are a very cruel and sadistic race!The only people on this planet worse than the Japanese in my mind are the 2 faced back stabbing foreigners who live there. Beware, if you plan to relocate to Taiwan, if you dont want to get the shit beaten out of you by an x marine or biker, dont play that kind of shit here!
Jonathan
Need a venue and a "voice" for your disapproval of this policy?
Visit http://samuraicanuck.tripod.com
The original "Yokoso Japan 11/20 Commemorative Tee"
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