Catoneinutica wrote: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.