MOJ Website on fingerprinting/photos at Immigration from Nov 2007

[Greji]

Time Magazine, for what it's worth, has a cover story on the increasing number of Chinese immigrants to Japan, confirming what we've been reading on FG for a while now.

Well, I don't know where Time is looking at, but I went to that lovely FG gathering point on the wharf side of Shinagawa this morning to register my hoof prints and I would have swore I was at the East exit of Beijing eki. Wall to wall Chinese. I was actually a bit surprised, because in the good old days it was only Koreans and Philippina/Thai hookers, ahh, entertainers and a slick dude could line up some stuff while he was sitting there for the mandatory long wait.

As for the pre-registration for the automatic passport reading and condom machine access, the whole process required about two minutes, no fee and you win a stamp for your passport. The application is a one page, surprisingly simple, form, which is your name passport dates and number, re-entry stamp dates and number and long nose club card AKA gaiji toroku.

Now that I have it, I probably won't go anywhere until my re-entry permit expires which is the date the pre-registration expires and you win the right to register again.

They gave me a nice informational three page document on how to use the new system, who can and can't use it, etc. It is entirely possible that you may need a grammar school student to explain this timely document to you, as most thinking adults would have difficulty. Sometime, I will get around to scanning and posting it.

But, generally speaking the procedure was relatively harmless, fast and hopefully of future value, that is until Hashimoto Swartz seeking to supplement his retirement, sells my entire identity kit to the local Yak field office of the Yamaguchi Gumi, inc.

[james]

that was really awesome. you ever consider working as a translator profesionally?

[Jack]

Went through the process at Narita yesterday and everything went smoothly. However, I still wished they only did it to Americans.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Went through the process at Narita yesterday and everything went smoothly. However, I still wished they only did it to Americans.

Even though I'm American, I agree with you. I have a lot of respect for what Brazil did after the US implemented its finger printing system.

[Iraira]

Went through the process at Narita yesterday and everything went smoothly. However, I still wished they only did it to Americans.

Ahhh...Canada....America's hat.

[GuyJean]

The next step..

Police Begin Fingerprinting on Traffic Stops
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?s=2776926

If you're ticketed by Green Bay police, you'll get more than a fine. You'll get fingerprinted, too. It's a new way police are cracking down on crime.

If you're caught speeding or playing your music too loud, or other crimes for which you might receive a citation, Green Bay police officers will ask for your drivers license and your finger. You'll be fingerprinted right there on the spot. The fingerprint appears right next to the amount of the fine...

Update..

Police Change Fingerprinting Policy
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?s=2797093

Action 2 News has learned Green Bay police are overhauling the new policy to fingerprint anyone receiving a citation for a traffic violation.

Police say many people complained, thinking the fingerprints would go into a database -- something police said they weren't going to do unless the validity of the person's identity was in question.

Under the revised policy, officers will still take a fingerprint for civil ordinances such as disorderly conduct or shoplifting, or if you can't present a valid driver's license for identification.

Police instituted the fingerprint policy last month, saying it would help cut down on people giving false identities to officers..

GJ

[Midwinter]

Ahhh...Canada....America's hat.

Alternatively, wouldn't America be Canada's asshole? :P

[American Oyaji]

Alternatively, wouldn't America be Canada's asshole? :P

Nope. Body.

Asshole'd be Mexico.

[Mike Oxlong]

Asshole'd be New Orleans, and Katrina was an enima!

[Iraira]

Alternatively, wouldn't America be Canada's asshole? :P

You put a hat on your asshole?

Come to think of it, I've eaten at CoCo Ichiban also...so, perhaps I do know what you mean.....

[FG Lurker]

You put a hat on your asshole?

Technically that'd be America putting the hat on their asshole.

[Greji]

[quote="FG Lurker"]Technically that'd be America putting the hat on their asshole. ]

People from Kanukistan have such quaint sayings!

[Iraira]

[quote="FG Lurker"]Technically that'd be America putting the hat on their asshole. ]


All this geography stuff is really getting confusing...damn American private school education. On the plus side, Gary Coleman went to the same school for a year...talked to him once about his model train collection...yeah. Hold on, lemme huff some more airplane glue and see what other repressed memories come back.

[Mulboyne]

The National Christian Council of Japan has protested to Prime Minister Fukuda and Justice Minister Hatoyama about the new fingerprint policy (text in Japanese here).

[omae mona]

OK, setting aside the human rights issues for a moment, I wanted to comment on the practical aspects for resident foreigners with a re-entry permit. These comments are limited to my experience at Narita, though. Just completed a round trip, and believe it or not, it is *more convenient* for foreign residents to leave and enter the country than it was before the fingerprinting policy.

First, do not, I repeat, do not visit Shinagawa to pre-register your fingerprints. First of all, pre-registering for the automatic gate only saves you a few minutes each time you enter or leave the country, and more importantly, you can even do the pre-registration at Narita. Just arrive 5-10 minutes earlier than you planned, and make sure you go to one of the immigration halls which has the registration counter. For me, there was no line at all - I marched up to the agent, and the whole thing was done in about 3 minutes.

OK, now that you're pre-registered, here's where the magic happens:

LEAVING JAPAN: if you haven't pre-registered, the checkpoint is just the same as before. You're mixed with everybody else and usually have to wait in line 5-10 minutes. But if you've preregistered and make sure you go to the room with the automatic gate (e.g. 1 South), then you can go right through the auto gate, in about 30 seconds. That's right - you get to march right past all the Japanese people who have to wait in line along with tourists returning home. Ha ha ha ha ha!

RETURNING TO JAPAN: As long as you have pre-registered, you have two choices. You can use the automatic gate or you can use the specially designated re-entry permit line.
Whichever you prefer. I think you'll find both are fast, and even faster than the line for Japanese citizens. For me, I went to the immigration hall without an automatic gate (the one with the automatic gate was a longer walk). But there was, again, literally no line for the special re-entry permit line. It's been separated from the Japanese citizens' line, and since there are fewer reentrants than Japanese, again, you zip right past the Japanese people. Hahahahahaha! I'm sure it would have also been instantaneous if I walked all the way over to the automatic gate.

Of course, the regular foreign visitors' line looked like absolute hell, just like always.

[Catoneinutica]

OK, setting aside the human rights issues for a moment, I wanted to comment on the practical aspects for resident foreigners with a re-entry permit. These comments are limited to my experience at Narita, though. Just completed a round trip, and believe it or not, it is *more convenient* for foreign residents to leave and enter the country than it was before the fingerprinting policy.

First, do not, I repeat, do not visit Shinagawa to pre-register your fingerprints. First of all, pre-registering for the automatic gate only saves you a few minutes each time you enter or leave the country, and more importantly, you can even do the pre-registration at Narita. Just arrive 5-10 minutes earlier than you planned, and make sure you go to one of the immigration halls which has the registration counter. For me, there was no line at all - I marched up to the agent, and the whole thing was done in about 3 minutes.

OK, now that you're pre-registered, here's where the magic happens:

LEAVING JAPAN: if you haven't pre-registered, the checkpoint is just the same as before. You're mixed with everybody else and usually have to wait in line 5-10 minutes. But if you've preregistered and make sure you go to the room with the automatic gate (e.g. 1 South), then you can go right through the auto gate, in about 30 seconds. That's right - you get to march right past all the Japanese people who have to wait in line along with tourists returning home. Ha ha ha ha ha!

RETURNING TO JAPAN: As long as you have pre-registered, you have two choices. You can use the automatic gate or you can use the specially designated re-entry permit line.
Whichever you prefer. I think you'll find both are fast, and even faster than the line for Japanese citizens. For me, I went to the immigration hall without an automatic gate (the one with the automatic gate was a longer walk). But there was, again, literally no line for the special re-entry permit line. It's been separated from the Japanese citizens' line, and since there are fewer reentrants than Japanese, again, you zip right past the Japanese people. Hahahahahaha! I'm sure it would have also been instantaneous if I walked all the way over to the automatic gate.

Of course, the regular foreign visitors' line looked like absolute hell, just like always.

Seconded. The "biometric data collection" ritual literally took less than a minute. If you walk toward Immigration just a leeetle bit faster than everyone else, you'll be through faster than it takes to change to the Keiyo Line at Tokyo Station. One caveat: everyone apparently has to fill out a Customs declaration, whether you have anything to declare or not. Or so the Customs guy told my wife as we walked past him.

[omae mona]

One caveat: everyone apparently has to fill out a Customs declaration, whether you have anything to declare or not. Or so the Customs guy told my wife as we walked past him.

Believe it or not, that regulation started in July 2007 according to the sign that was posted in the customs area. I am sure I went through customs once after that without this rule being enforced. But last time I travelled, they insisted on the form and sent me back to fill it out. This applies to citizens and non-citizens alike, I believe.

[FG Lurker]

I came back through KIX on January 4th and this is how things are there:

There are three lines at Kansai now. Japanese and Special PR holders on the right, and over to the left is one huge maze of ropes to hold the expected long lines of gaijin for fingerprinting.

However there are two entrances to this rope maze, on the left for "nama" gaijin, and on the right for wizened FGs (aka re-entry holders). There was a guy standing at the entry point making sure everyone went where they belong.

The re-entry holder line was very short and seemed to be given priority over the other line. There were several people in front of me but I don't think I stood there for 30 seconds.

Overall it went quickly and smoothly and I got through immigration faster than my wife and daughter on the Japanese side.

I still hate the system but at least they seem to have implemented it fairly well.

[American Oyaji]

I still hate the system but at least they seem to have implemented it fairly well.

And that was basically the issue. The amount of time it would take to get through.

[FG Lurker]

And that was basically the issue. The amount of time it would take to get through.

For you, perhaps.

[American Oyaji]

For you, perhaps.

no, for most people.

I've got to go through the REALLY fucked gaijin line. I've been gone too long.

[FG Lurker]

no, for most people.

You're projecting.

I would hope that most people would value their privacy a bit more than that, and from the people I have spoken to it does seem to be the case.

Personally I don't like the idea of giving any government agency information about myself beyond the bare minimum. This is far beyond the bare minimum and there are no guarantees at all as to how it will be used or who it will be given to. The data is stored electronically and describing the general state of IT security in Japan as "weak" is incredibly generous. "Trusting" the government is foolish.

Beyond all of that it is important to keep in mind that the system was implemented to help reduce the threat of terrorist attacks in Japan. As has been pointed out many times before the chance of this system actually reducing the threat of a terrorist attack in Japan is minuscule.

Surely even the thickest-skulled j-bureaucrats realize this so it makes me wonder why the system was put in place to begin with. To thumb their noses at the US by making US citizens go through the same process as Japanese entering the US have to? Due to pressure from the US gov't to set up a similar system and thus take some of the heat off the US for being the only country to do this? Some other reason? It isn't going to stop any international terrorist with more than a fraction of a brain though and it won't stop any domestic terrorist at all. Refresh my memory here, what's the percentage of terrorist attacks in Japan committed by domestic terrorists vs those committed by international ones?

I've got to go through the REALLY fucked gaijin line. I've been gone too long.

You'll find that process a lot easier at KIX than Narita. Fewer planes, fewer passengers, shorter wait times.

[ttjereth]

no, for most people.

I've got to go through the REALLY fucked gaijin line. I've been gone too long.

Dude, look at the poll two centimeters above your post.

Most people objected to it for reasons OTHER than having to use the gaijin line.

[American Oyaji]

Yeah I know. I voted in it and chose the privacy issue.

However at THIS point it's like trying drink the ocean dry and it's a fact of life so we'll deal with it, so the issues shift IMO.

[FG Lurker]

However at THIS point it's like trying drink the ocean dry and it's a fact of life so we'll deal with it, so the issues shift IMO.

Yes, I had to deal with it, and I did.

However that does not mean I have to like it or accept it as being "okay" or "normal". Just because the gov't has started to do it does NOT mean that it is suddenly less fucked up of an idea.

[amdg]

[Kuang_Grade]

The wait time was never an issue for me...Of the umpteen times I've flow in to Japan, I've only been stuck in a long line at immigration twice....Most times there were less than 25 people in my foreign tourist line and I barely had enough time to get my jet lagged mind in gear enough to organize all my paper work for entry into the country before I was at the desk. And the time I flew into KIX, I got a little worried because there was hardly anyone there at all and there was only two other people on my bus into Osaka.

My problem was the J gov giving my fingerprints to the US gov for no good reason at all.

[Mulboyne]

Yes, sorry AO, I disagree too. If I was offered a longer line with no fingerprint demand over a shorter line with that demand, I'd take it on principle.

[American Oyaji]

OK. I was wrong.

Somebody hand me a goat. Gonna make me some goat curry.

Don't tell boothie

[Greji]

OK. I was wrong.

Somebody hand me a goat. Gonna make me some goat curry.

What's this? I've taken full control over all goat operations and
that's a sacrilege, if I've ever heard one!