New Procedures At Japan Immigration

Anti-terrorism effort is what Japan is saying about its new procedure each time you step into Japan.  Whether you are a tourist or coming in on business, as long as you are a foreigner going into Japan you get fingerprinted and photographed.

Looks like Japan is even a lot more strict than United States because even if you are a foreigner already living in Japan, you get check too - each time.  Some may think it is pretty ridiculous .. but they are Japanese you know. Looks like the Japanese has lots of beef about terror target.

“Japan says the new move is an anti-terrorist measure that will also cut crime. Human rights organisations say it violates foreigners’ rights to privacy and could encourage xenophobia. They complain it implies that foreigners are most likely to commit acts of terrorism or commit crimes on Japanese soil. So far there has been no terrorism in Japan committed by foreigners.  Incidents like the sarin gas attacks on commuters on the Tokyo subway were carried out by other Japanese.There are also concerns that the information gathered will be shared with immigration authorities in other countries.  Foreigners who have visas which allow them to live in Japan, meanwhile, are angry that they will now be treated the same as visitors and subjected to longer waits when they re-enter the country.

Japan insists, though, that the measures are needed to help keep terrorists out.  Tokyo’s staunch support of the US-led invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq have raised concerns that Japan could be a terror target.”

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