Will we always need our Gaijin cards?

[Hokuto-shinken]

[IkemenTommy]

Yep a complete bullcrap but it's the law. Gaijin card.. "Don't leave home without it(TM)"

[Adhesive]

IMO, I think a better question to ask is whether or not gaijin will always be viewed as outsiders by ordinary Japanese people. Any problem I might have with carrying a gaijin ID is only symbolic of the frustrations I may feel being treated as an outsider in my adopted home country.

For example, if my wife was required to carry a similar card here in the states, she probably wouldn't have a hard time with it, because here, in California at least, people automatically assume she was born in America, speaks fluent English, and is familiar with, and capable of understanding, American customs.

[Greji]

Having lived in Japan for quite a while, but not as long as some people here, I feel it quite demeaning being classed as a foreigner having to carry an ID.

Two comments. Become a Japanese citizen is the solution to your problem. Number two is what is falsified terror?

I have carried either a SOFA identification card, or my gaijitoroku for many , many years and it does not make me feel different, or inadequate! Neither does it make me think I don't look like, or act like a Japanese. Nothing's ever going to do that for you or me and I, myself, am really not interested in doing so. I think you are being "a bit" over sensitive.

If you have been around long enough to remember the short lived (several years) FG objections/demos against FGs being required to submit their to fingerprint (your left index finger in Japan), you might also recall that these efforts were a total "bust". Several people got kicked out of Japan and/or drew some detention time for their "windmill" quest before they got a clue. However, at that same time an alien had to furnish a complete set of finger prints going into the US for permenant residence.

Also, thirty years ago in the states, green card holders were required to keep their green card in their possession the same way as we do in Japan (I do not know about know). I suppose you don't think passports are necessary either? They are also a pain in the ass as well as visas

There are people in this world that are not nice people and use any means possible to go to foreign places and do anyone they can (and the easy ones twice). This is not a polyanna world. The authorities of any country need a system to keep track of visiting, or resident aliens (whether we like it or not) for myriad reasons and I would wonder what type of sheltered life you have led to date, if you can't see that. Just my NSHO.

[Doctor Stop]

Become a Japanese citizen is the solution to your problem.

The problem with that G, is that you'll then have to be able to provide proof that you're a Japanese citizen because the cops just aren't going to believe you. How do you do that other than carrying your Japanese passport around with you?

There's been a few cases reported in the press recently where honest Japanese citizens were mistakenly held by the police until the citizens were able to prove that they were Japanese.

[Greji]

There's been a few cases reported in the press recently where honest Japanese citizens were mistakenly held by the police until the citizens were able to prove that they were Japanese.

That happens in the states as well. But where it is a pain in the ass in Japan, it is a ticket to financial security in the states.

Class action lawsuit for false arrest, probably never see the light of the courtroom with the immediate offer of private settlement, then easy street. In Japan for the same false arrest, you'd be lucky if you got a bowl of ramen outta them!

[omae mona]

Also, thirty years ago in the states, green card holders were required to keep their green card in their possession the same way as we do in Japan (I do not know about know).

It's the same now.


I agree with just about everything gboothe said. Foreigner registration cards are quite comparable to the systems in place in other countries, they serve a legitimate purpose, and I really don't think they are a burden to carry.

The physical card and your feeling of acceptance into Japanese society are two different things. I doubt you would feell like you were treated any differently if you suddenly were allowed to walk around without your card. In fact, I bet you wouldn't feel any different if you acquired citizenship. It's not the legal status that affects how well foreigners (or foreign-origin Japanese citizens) integrate into society here.

[momotobananaoishii]

In fact, I bet you wouldn't feel any different if you acquired citizenship. It's not the legal status that affects how well foreigners (or foreign-origin Japanese citizens) integrate into society here.

Sure it is...it's all part of the package. Integration involves personal and business relationships, language ability, emotional ties, family, legal issues and much much more.

[Taro Toporific]

,,,The physical card and your feeling of acceptance into Japanese society are two different things..

I'll repeat what I said before:
In 23+ years I have never been asked on the street for my gaijin card even though I am a 110% blue-eyed pale alien with a long a nose and appendages. Weird. It's not like Japanese have wildly accepted me.

(Weirder: Sometimes at post office I've used my meishi as ID and never my gaijin card.)

[Hokuto-shinken]

Yep a complete bullcrap but it's the law. Gaijin card.. "Don't leave home without it(TM)"

When you live in another country, I think it is normal to feel quite privileged that you have the opportunity and permission to reside in that country. I think sometimes people thoughts on politics change radically.

Some people seem to love everything the government does and change their previous view on the world in an act of chauvinism for ones new country. On the other side some people tend to oppose the government and detest everything they do. Also, I have met some people who do not have the slightest interest in the government and are just concerted about finding women and getting drunk. Finally I think there are some people who try to keep an unbiased view about their current government and their previous one. I like to think I am in the latter.

So I understand what you are saying Ikemen Tommy, even thought it is the law and even though we are proud to be in Japan. We pay are taxes and we contribute to the government. Even thought we don’t have the right to vote (I am hoping one day Gaijin card holders will) I think we have the right to say something when the current system is not working.

[Hokuto-shinken]

[Kuang_Grade]

[Kuang_Grade]

Green cards (they are actually called Permanent Resident) primarily entitles a foreign national the right to employed in the US any job you can get hired for although some federal jobs require US citizenship. It isn't viewed as groovy, its viewed now as "now I can use my Ph.D. to do something other than working under the table for cash at a restaurant washing dishes". SO if you want to work at something beyond a 3K/food service type jobs in the US (where most illegals work in the US), you need a Permanent Resident card to be legally employed. So its the same thing as Japan...only foreigners have them and only foreigners need them.

And it is about as trackable as drivers license, which isn't saying much. All the government knows is where you work and where you "said" you lived, which is about the same they already knew from your tax records...So we're not fitting foreigners with locked collars with tracking devices. As it is, the only thing being "chipped" with RFIDs in large scale in the US are US passports, and only US citizens get those.

Also the US is so totally retarded when it comes to any form of identification that even the states and Federal government can't agree on ID for US citizens, let alone something difficult like keeping an eye on foreigners...To improve security, congress passed the REAL ID act which standardizes technical and data information to be used for state drivers licenses....As it stands now, there are 51+ different drivers licenses in the US and each one has its own rules and regulations....drive drunk in your home state and lose your license, hey, just move to the next state and use a slightly different name and get a new license. However, some states are balking at this because it will cost a fair bit of money to make the changes (and the feds aren't paying for it) and just because states don't like the feds intruding on their affairs. Some states have effectively told the feds to go fuck themselves, most notably one state which passed a law not only outlawing the implementing the REAL ID requirements but went so far to forbid state employees from even talking to the feds about it. So in about 30 months, people from non-REAL ID states won't be able to board airplane (in the US) using their drivers license (airlines flight regulations are under federal control) nor will they be able to open up bank accounts using their drivers licenses as proof of identity.

[Hokuto-shinken]

[Hokuto-shinken]

The problem with that G, is that you'll then have to be able to provide proof that you're a Japanese citizen because the cops just aren't going to believe you. How do you do that other than carrying your Japanese passport around with you?

There's been a few cases reported in the press recently where honest Japanese citizens were mistakenly held by the police until the citizens were able to prove that they were Japanese.

Doctor, I agree how do you prove you are a Japanese citizen to the cops without carrying your passport around with you.

I think the law needs to change.

[Hokuto-shinken]

It's the same now.


I agree with just about everything gboothe said. Foreigner registration cards are quite comparable to the systems in place in other countries, they serve a legitimate purpose, and I really don't think they are a burden to carry.

The physical card and your feeling of acceptance into Japanese society are two different things. I doubt you would feell like you were treated any differently if you suddenly were allowed to walk around without your card. In fact, I bet you wouldn't feel any different if you acquired citizenship. It's not the legal status that affects how well foreigners (or foreign-origin Japanese citizens) integrate into society here.

Thanks for your comments, I am sorry but I feel that the physical card and your acceptance into the Japanese society are very much connected. I think Gaijin`s would be treated much differently and not looked upon as being an outsider. I feel that the card labels people as an outsider. If they did not have this card, would it be possible that they could be a Japanese citizen. Maybe there would be less prejudice.

This is just my opinion, and I am not attacking you for not having the same views as mine. I would be surprised if everybody has the same opinion.

[Hokuto-shinken]

[FG Lurker]

I don't have any trouble with carrying my gaijin card around. I also prefer that I don't fit totally into Japanese society. The day I'm totally assimilated into Japanese culture is the day I pack up and leave!

Gaijin cards are very useful to have. Some gaijin have drivers licenses, but most do not. Without government issued ID, how would you do things like get a cell phone, open a bank account, or even rent videos from your local Tsutaya? Life with no Japanese gov't ID would be a lot more fucked than life with it.

I haven't been here as long as Taro (13 years for me) but I have also never been asked to produce my gaijin card. I've been pulled over for speeding (got a warning for 140 in a 60 zone!), gone through countless road checks, talked to cops for all sorts of reasons, even spent a few hours recently in the local copshop (as a witness, lol). Never have I been asked for my gaijin card. It's not that it *never* happens, but it certainly is not a regular occurrence.

[martindesu]

I'd just like to say it wouldn't bug me. I am not Japanese and when I go to live there, I don't think I'd ever think of myself as Japanese. I'm not, I am British.

Anyway, in the UK, there's talk of making everyone have ID cards. That would suck. I think only foreigners should have them. I don't think there's a real problem here and I wouldn't change my passport.

[Greji]

[IkemenTommy]

[ttjereth]

Just the way you post that tells me something. How many Japanese Only signs have you seen in Japan?

You will not find many. Debito lists them in conjunction with his activism and he has to really hunt for them or depend on people to notify him. The normal practice is for the J-people to tell you at the door, "No big noses".

According to a friend of mine a lot of brothels (soap lands, whatever you call them) and call girls won't do business with foreigners, does that count?

Personally, I'm happier to carry the gaijin card around in my wallet (which is already filled with 1800 other mostly useless documents anyway) than to have to carry my passport at all times, which I have had to do in some other countries I've visited.

[Charles]

Personally, I'm happier to carry the gaijin card around in my wallet (which is already filled with 1800 other mostly useless documents anyway) than to have to carry my passport at all times, which I have had to do in some other countries I've visited.

Just wait 'til they pass a law requiring you to have an RFID chip injected under your skin..

[IkemenTommy]

According to a friend of mine a lot of brothels (soap lands, whatever you call them) and call girls won't do business with foreigners, does that count?

We have gone over this topic many times in many other threads. There is a specific reason why (hint: size).

[ttjereth]

Just wait 'til they pass a law requiring you to have an RFID chip injected under your skin..

My bet is the U.S. will beat Japan to that.

Little bar code social security tatoos or something

[ttjereth]

We have gone over this topic many times in many other threads. There is a specific reason why (hint: size).

I don't want to railroad the topic or anything, and I am admittedly not very knowledgeable in this particular area, but I thought the "legal" brothels in Japan didn't offer actual intercourse anyway, so wouldn't size be irrevelent?

People getting injuries like the hot-dog eating guy or something?

[momotobananaoishii]

I don't understand.. You have to carry your wallet anyway so who cares if you have to stuff a gaijin card in it? Also like everyone is saying no matter what you do you will always be a gaijin. Card or no card.

All salary men look like penguins, girls look like Koda Kumi or Otsuka Ai and the guys look like Arashi or SMAP members. Pretty much zero individualism. I'd much rather prefer to stand out as a gaijin.

[FG Lurker]

I thought the "legal" brothels in Japan didn't offer actual intercourse anyway

Nudge nudge, wink wink.

[FG Lurker]

All salary men look like penguins, girls look like Koda Kumi or Otsuka Ai and the guys look like Arashi or SMAP members. Pretty much zero individualism. I'd much rather prefer to stand out as a gaijin.

Not fresh off the boat or anything are you?

[momotobananaoishii]

New to living here but no staying here. And are you denying that on the OUTSIDE there is no individualism? Everyone looks the same. Are you telling me different even though my Japanese friends agree? I guess my Japanese friends are not really Japanese or just amusing me ne.