Bizarre Justification For Fingerprinting Foreigners

[Mike Oxlong]

Yokoso! Japan: 美しい国へ

[amdg]

The Hatoyama family (well, part of it). Emily Hatoyama in the middle - she's a hafu (father is Australian). I don't hate this guy so much any more.

[Doctor Stop]

Emily Hatoyama in the middle

So old Kunio likes a bit of meat on them, eh.

[Iraira]

So old Kunio likes a bit of meat on them, eh.

The entire finger scanning thing is actually a "Big Boned" detector. Kunio's just trying to hook up with some meaty mommas, under the guise of anti-terrorism, so his wife won't get suspicious when he comes home smelling of White Castle and In&Out.

[amdg]

:rofl::rofl:

[American Oyaji]

OK. Comes home smelling like In & Out.

On second thought...I aint touchin it.

[james]

[Captain Japan]

[amdg]

Captain - I'm sure he's had revenge plans for every single country that's ever had anything to do with the US.

[Iraira]

I don't put much faith in this story containing much truth but...
Japan was on bin Laden's hit list, former member of al-Qaida says
Kyodo/Japan Today

Could this person be Hatoyama's friend of a friend of a friend of the Japanese Society for Terrorist Butterfly Collectors?

[sublight]

Since I was going overseas this past weekend I decided to go ahead and do that "pre-registering" at Shinagawa. That wasn't much of a hassle (free and pretty quick) other than having to go out to the middle of nowhere and back.

Leaving Japan, I was able to use the automatic gate, which got me through passport control faster than any of my Japanese co-workers. Coming back, however, I was directed to the automatic gate, only to find it was closed (the dumb drone directing traffic was completely oblivious). After a bit of pointing and complaining I got shuttled over to the 'diplomats and pilots' gate and went straight through (again, way ahead of any of my co-workers).

The only problem is that when I travel with my family, we'll have to split up, which is a PITA.

[omae mona]

Since I was going overseas this past weekend I decided to go ahead and do that "pre-registering" at Shinagawa. That wasn't much of a hassle (free and pretty quick) other than having to go out to the middle of nowhere and back.

Leaving Japan, I was able to use the automatic gate, which got me through passport control faster than any of my Japanese co-workers. Coming back, however, I was directed to the automatic gate, only to find it was closed (the dumb drone directing traffic was completely oblivious). After a bit of pointing and complaining I got shuttled over to the 'diplomats and pilots' gate and went straight through (again, way ahead of any of my co-workers).

thanks for that info. It's helpful. I heard that at Narita, residents can use the re-entry permit holders line regardless of whether you pre-registered or not. Any truth to that? I'm having a hard time understanding where pre-registering would speed anything up on the way in or out.

The only problem is that when I travel with my family, we'll have to split up, which is a PITA.

I heard the rule is that when traveling with a family, as long as there is one Japanese parent and one child under 16, that the entire family can use the citizens line, together.

[james]

I heard the rule is that when traveling with a family, as long as there is one Japanese parent and one child under 16, that the entire family can use the citizens line, together.

this rule still reflects an absolutely pathetic attitude imho. well you're with some japanese so you're ok, but on your own, you're just not good enough. sounds a lot like many of the pink establisments (not that i've yet had the funds or inclination to visit any of them). typical j-bullshit.

[FG Lurker]

I heard the rule is that when traveling with a family, as long as there is one Japanese parent and one child under 16, that the entire family can use the citizens line, together.

Beyond the typical j-bullshit as mentioned by James, this only appears to hold true for Narita. If you are coming in at KIX or through Nagoya then you get split.

[Samurai_Jerk]

not that i've yet had the funds or inclination to visit any of them.

I love how every guy uses this disclaimer when he talks about prostitution.

[james]

[quote="Samurai_Jerk"]I love how every guy uses this disclaimer when he talks about prostitution. ]

lol, i'll be able to remove the disclaimer soon enough

[omae mona]

Everything I've read so far has been vague about the rules at Narita, so I finally decided to call over to the J-immigration branch office right at the airport and have a chat with them. Here's the deal for foreign residents in Japan as I understand it (and this is JUST for Narita):

LEAVING JAPAN:
As before, basically foreigners and Japanese are all mixed together so all the lines are the same. HOWEVER, if you've pre-registered for the automatic gates and you are in Terminal 1 South or Terminal 2, there is apparently an automatic gate for departure. Yes, this means you can actually speed through faster than Japanese citizens.

(note there is no automatic gate while departing from Terminal 1 North)


RETURNING TO JAPAN:
Despite seeing descriptions of 3 types of lanes, there are actually 4. 1) Regular foreigners. 2) Japanese citizens. 3) Re-entry permit holders. 4) Automatic gate. If you have pre-registered for the automatic gate, then you can choose whichever line is faster: the re-entry line or the automatic gate.


My verdict: based on anectodal evidence, it sounds like the re-entry permit holders line has been very fast, so it sure doesn't sound like it's worth a special trip to immigration to pre-register just to use the auto gate when returning. On departure, if the line bothers you (it's usually no more than 10-15 minutes at the worst in my experience anyway) then it sounds like the automatic gate may save a few minutes so you can hang out in the duty free shop for a little longer.

Does this mesh with anybody's experience so far?