MOJ Website on fingerprinting/photos at Immigration from Nov 2007

[Taka-Okami]

Has anyone seen any t-shirts for sale protesting the fingerprinting?

Like, "Gaijin out!" or "Yokoso" with a big fingerprint in the background? I need to do something to show that I think it is bullshit. I am going to petition my government to only fingerprint Yanks and Japs when they enter MY country. Fuckin pricks.

[Iraira]

Has anyone seen any t-shirts for sale protesting the fingerprinting?

Like, "Gaijin out!" or "Yokoso" with a big fingerprint in the background? I need to do something to show that I think it is bullshit. I am going to petition my government to only fingerprint Yanks and Japs when they enter MY country. Fuckin pricks.

I'm from the West Coast, so technically, I'm really not a Yank, does that mean I have to get fingerfucked when I enter your blessed country? We're talking about N. Korea, right?

[amdg]

Has anyone seen any t-shirts for sale protesting the fingerprinting?

Like, "Gaijin out!" or "Yokoso" with a big fingerprint in the background? I need to do something to show that I think it is bullshit. I am going to petition my government to only fingerprint Yanks and Japs when they enter MY country. Fuckin pricks.

No t-shirts but Debito has some cartoons up on his site here:

http://www.debito.org/index.php/?p=667

[GuyJean]

No t-shirts but Debito has some cartoons up on his site here..

He also has the Last Word..

Bad Impressions
Japan’]http://www.metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/recent/lastword.asp[/url]

... What can you do? Not a lot, since this law has been pipelined for years. Moreover, if you refuse your prints, you can’t resort to Zainichi-style civil disobedience. You just get turned away at the border.
But don’t do nothing. Voice your opinion wherever you can. Target people administering the program, as well as those being economically affected by it. Hand over a short letter of protest as you clear Customs. Send feedback online to groups like JETRO, the Japan National Tourist Organization and the Japan Hotel Association. Contact merchant groups in Tokyo or Akihabara that want foreign currency. Cite how copycatting the US-Visit Program will likewise hurt tourism and foreign direct investment. Nuts to “Yokoso Japan.”

If you’re the silent type: when you’re at the border, wait patiently together with your whole family, citizens and all, in the Gaijin Line. Let huge crowds demonstrate just how half-baked and callous this policy is.

Given the exceptional treatment given the Zainichi, policymakers assumed the “gaijin” would not fight back. Show them that’s not true.

After all, if you live here, you are not a “guest.” You are a taxpaying resident, helping Japan face its future demographic demons. Demand the commensurate respect...

Amnesty International and Solidarity for Migrants Japan will hold a public meeting on the biometric data laws on Oct 27 in Chiyoda-ku.

I don't think I'd have a problem if they were using retina scans.. Fingerprints can be left behind where you were, or planted where you've never been.. That worries me. Of course, the government would never fabricate evidence to drive an agenda..

I'm going to superglue my fingertips together before I get off the plane.

GJ

[Greji]

I'm going to superglue my fingertips together before I get off the plane.[/I]

GJ

I think I'll just lay my johnson on the scanner and see what they say....

[American Oyaji]

I think I'll just lay my johnson on the scanner and see what they say....

...Not enough to scan.

[Greji]

...Not enough to scan.

Having more meat hanging down than Oscar Meyer has hanging up, I will not grace that comment with an answer!

[FG Lurker]

Having more meat hanging down than Oscar Meyer has hanging up, I will not grace that comment with an answer!

So it's flaccid like an Oscar Meyer wiener is it? Not sure that's something I would've posted online if I was in the same situation...

[Greji]

So it's flaccid like an Oscar Meyer wiener is it? Not sure that's something I would've posted online if I was in the same situation...

They do make salami!

[Taka-Okami]

What happens if we refuse to be fingerprinted on when leaving Japan?

[ttjereth]

What happens if we refuse to be fingerprinted on when leaving Japan?

To the best of my knowledge the fingerprinting and photos are only when entering.

[Taka-Okami]

Really? I heard different.

[Iraira]

Really? I heard different.

Your avatar is too short....I keep waiting for her to strike paydirt.

[ttjereth]

Really? I heard different.

Read for yourself
New entry Procedures will start http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/keiziban/happyou/pdf/poster-english.pdf

Notice they are ENTRY procedures.

[Iraira]

Read for yourself
New entry Procedures will start http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/keiziban/happyou/pdf/poster-english.pdf

Notice they are ENTRY procedures.

I usually find that after buying her dinner and drinks, the entry procedures are somewhat relaxed.

[Taka-Okami]

Still doesn't say anything about when you leave the country. I guess I'll assume they'll let you straight through.

[Mulboyne]

Really? I heard different.

You've heard wrongly there. These are procedures to screen people trying to enter the country. The only talk about fingerprinting while in Japan is if they institute a system to allow you to register your prints and photo so you can receive a waiver or pass which will allow you to use a fast track next time you try to enter the country. That system would be voluntary.

[Taro Toporific]

... if they institute a system to allow you to register your prints and photo so you can receive a waiver or pass which will allow you to use a fast track next time you try to enter the country. That system would be voluntary.

[INDENT]By debito.com on Fingerprinting non-Japanese
European Business Council and Aus/NZ Chamber of Commerce in Japan: ... Jakob Edberg, Policy Director of the EBC: "After long discussions with the Ministry of Justice, it is now clear that re-entry permit holders will be able to pre-register fingerprints and photo at either Shinagawa or at Narita on the way out. Undergoing this procedure once should grant swift re-entry at Narita (not other international airports) as long as the passport/ re-entry permit is valid."
http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/nyukan63-2.pdf
The Ministry of Justice has also said that for those re-entry permit holders who have not yet pre-registered their fingerprints and photos, there should be a line separate from other foreigners (e.g. tourists) at the immigration counter. However, the MOJ not yet made this commitment in writing - because they may not be able to staff the extra lines at all times of the day.[/INDENT]

[Iraira]

[INDENT]By debito.com on Fingerprinting non-Japanese
European Business Council and Aus/NZ Chamber of Commerce in Japan: ... Jakob Edberg, Policy Director of the EBC: "After long discussions with the Ministry of Justice, it is now clear that re-entry permit holders will be able to pre-register fingerprints and photo at either Shinagawa or at Narita on the way out. Undergoing this procedure once should grant swift re-entry at Narita (not other international airports) as long as the passport/ re-entry permit is valid."
http://www.moj.go.jp/NYUKAN/nyukan63-2.pdf
The Ministry of Justice has also said that for those re-entry permit holders who have not yet pre-registered their fingerprints and photos, there should be a line separate from other foreigners (e.g. tourists) at the immigration counter. However, the MOJ not yet made this commitment in writing - because they may not be able to staff the extra lines at all times of the day.[/INDENT]

So there may be an express lane for ten fingerprints or less. Well, as I have not terrorized anyone lately and have no plans to, I'm more than fine with letting them have my prints before heading on vacation once. I always get to the airport super early anyway and need a better way to kill time than just staring at the one cute chick on my flight and computing the odds that she'll be sitting next to me.
I think most people just don't want to be in long line with 350 lb. Aunt Bobs and Uncle Margrets from Pawtuckett.
As an old Denny's waitress once told me, "Pee-wee Herman was set up. They have cameras in your TV and VCR to record what you are watching and doing. They know everything. Now, who ordered the Moons Over My Hammy?"

[omae mona]

Just to add a bit to Taro's info, there is also an official statement (sorry, no English translation yet) from the MOJ on how this system works. Apparently it's been hiding on the MOJ site for a week and nobody noticed.

As Taro quoted, they have not promised that there will be a separate line for residents who do this pre-registration. However, I have a hard time imagining that even the government would be dumb enough to go to all the trouble of creating this "automated gate" system for select travelers, and then stick it behind the fully manual human-staffed booths with the 2 hour lines. It's gotta be a separate line, right?

Anyway, I think highlights of the document are:

• Registration starts on Nov 20th and can be done at the immigration booths on the way out of the country at Narita, or at Shinagawa immigration at the re-entry permit counter.
• When you register, they take your fingerprints and face photo. You get a stamp in your passport and generally you can use the automated gates starting on that date.
• Validity of the stamp is until your passport or reentry permit expires - whichever is first.
• You can ask them to delete your registration data and cancel your registration on request.
• OK, if I got this right, the procedure for entering/leaving the country works like this:
  • Upon leaving the country, you swipe your passport in a reader. Then you do give your face photo and fingerprints. Then you hand your passport and embarkation/disembarkation card to the official, who checks it and opens the gate.
  • Upon returning to Japan, it's the same procedure except no face photo.
  • For some reason, when you go through this automatic gate procedure, there will be no entry/exit stamp left in your passport!

I am not sure I understand how this procedure is different than for visitors who haven't preregistered.

[Hokuto-shinken]

To the best of my knowledge the fingerprinting and photos are only when entering.

Yes, that is right. Every time you enter.

[Hokuto-shinken]

Just wondering, is there anybody traveling this month from Japan and coming back when the system has changed. Would you be able to post your experiences here so we will know what to expect.

[ttjereth]

Just wondering, is there anybody traveling this month from Japan and coming back when the system has changed. Would you be able to post your experiences here so we will know what to expect.

I have to go to Bulgaria next month for my sister in law's wedding

Will post about the experience if no one else does before then, but I imagine we have a few more active jetsetters on here than me

[Taka-Okami]

I will arrive on the 21st Nov. I plan on taking some video for ppl to have a look at.

[omae mona]

Yes, that is right. Every time you enter.

You don't have to believe me, but referring back to my note above, it appears that you also have to fingerprint (and give a photo) on the way out if you hope to use the fast-track automatic gates when you come back in.

[ttjereth]

I will arrive on the 21st Nov. I plan on taking some video for ppl to have a look at.

You can't take video or photos inside the airport until you get past immigration.

[ttjereth]

You don't have to believe me, but referring back to my note above, it appears that you also have to fingerprint (and give a photo) on the way out if you hope to use the fast-track automatic gates when you come back in.

Yeah, but that's only once and only IF you haven't registered yet.

As I understand it, once you've registered into the system once, you don't have to do the fingerprinting thing again at all, enter or exit (from Narita anyway). e.g. You register when leaving the country on a trip in November, and don't have to do the fingerprinting thing again when you return from your November trip, or at all (upon exit or entry) when you go on a trip anytime after that initial trip.

And you will supposedly be able to register beforehand at the Shinagawa office, so that means you wouldn't have to do it when leaving even once.

[omae mona]

[ttjereth]

[Greji]

Understand it based on what information? What you say is logical, but that's not what the official MOJ document that I linked to seems to say. Did you read it? I'll be the first to admit that my Japanese reading skills are far from perfect.

Good show Omae mona. But what I don't get is why the tons and tons of shit being published in Japanese about this great unique new system. The information published in English is sketchy at best and has been contradictory to say the least.

I mean, since this is targeted at FGs coming into J-land who can't read what they are saying! Really, what are they doing? It would seem like they are just justifying their position by pumping up people like Take who just want to get rid of, or bar all foreigners from their unique country (excluding blond bimbos)?