Some Hotels Ignoring Police Instructions On Foreign Guests

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: 1 in 4 hotels fails to record foreign guests
One in four hotels and ryokan inns across Japan is not complying with government anti-terror initiatives that require them to record nationalities and passport numbers of foreign guests, according to a survey. Many hoteliers and inn owners say they are reluctant to do so for fear of treading on customers' privacy. The issue has taken on heightened importance in light of the Group of Eight summit to be held at Lake Toyako, Hokkaido, in July and fears of foreign terrorists infiltrating Japan. One in three hotels also failed to photocopy passports as directed by the government. Many hotels said it is difficult to single out foreign guests. However, the agency has repeatedly asked hotels to check passports in light of the G-8 summit this summer. "We want to ask all hotels to fully cooperate by April," said an NPA spokesperson...The agency has refused to disclose survey results broken down by prefecture, saying that it may "let terrorists know the areas with poor security"..."We don't want to keep guests on business trips or group travelers waiting (while photocopies are taken)," said an official at a major U.S.-affiliated hotel chain. "In addition, we find it difficult to explain why only foreign guests should have (their identity documents) photocopied," the official said. Reflecting these concerns, the Japan Ryokan Association, which has a membership of about 1,400 prestigious hotels and ryokan inns, asked the government in 2006 to stop requiring them to photocopy passports. The NPA insists, however, that the records are needed for prompt cross-checks in case police obtain the identities of suspected terrorists before attacks take place. "It will also play a crucial role in searching for the whereabouts of terrorists in case they commit an attack," said an NPA official... Naofumi Miyasaka, an associate professor of international politics at the National Defense Academy of Japan, said..."Hotels in Western countries usually cross-check identities of foreign guests, and if Japan fails to arrest terrorists or criminals on the international wanted list by allowing (hotels to) neglect an identity check, it will seriously damage the country's credibility in the international community"...more...

[omae mona]

Oh boy. Well, we know what Debito's front page will be about tomorrow. Actually, if Debito's previous research is correct, then the law isn't what the NPA says the law is. Hotels are only required to check passports for non-resident foreigners, and they are not allowed to deny lodging to resident foreigners on the basis of not showing a passport.

So Japan residents, you don't need to start toting your passport with you to the local love hotel. Though the police seem to be trying to convince hotel management that you do.

[Mulboyne]

[amdg]

Yes, the law (actually not a law, just a government directive) says that people without an address in Japan must show their ID. That's what the directive says, but how that directive is being communicated to hotels is that it says foreigners must show their ID. That's the first problem - police misdirection. The second problem is how does a hotel desk clerk know which people are foreigners and which people are Japanese? Alright, in most cases it's pretty obvious who is a foreigner, but for special permanent residents, they simply don't know, and for naturalized Japanese citizens, they simply don't know. Also, for people who were born and raised in Japan but have since given up their Japanese nationality (don't laugh, I know one guy who did it), they simply don't know. Makes the whole thing a farce.

[GomiGirl]

Over the last week I have stayed at two different hotels. The first one (a family run Ryokan) just wanted our address written on the registration form and the second one (a standard hotel) asked for copies of gaijin cards to confirm the address we had written on the registration form.

I doubt the first one would have sent our details in but am sure the second one will do. Not a huge sample size.

[GuyJean]

Shit. I just 'used' a hotel the other night.

All I did was press a button, hand over some cash for a key, then search for the 'flashing' door on the proper floor.. Should I report them to the 'authorities'? I think I spotted one leaving while I was 'entering'.

GJ

[omae mona]

Yes, the law (actually not a law, just a government directive) says that people without an address in Japan must show their ID. That's what the directive says, but how that directive is being communicated to hotels is that it says foreigners must show their ID. That's the first problem - police misdirection. The second problem is how does a hotel desk clerk know which people are foreigners and which people are Japanese? Alright, in most cases it's pretty obvious who is a foreigner, but for special permanent residents, they simply don't know, and for naturalized Japanese citizens, they simply don't know. Also, for people who were born and raised in Japan but have since given up their Japanese nationality (don't laugh, I know one guy who did it), they simply don't know. Makes the whole thing a farce.

I agree it's a farce. But I don't think they need to worry about the distinctions you're mentioning (do they?). The "guideline" is based on residence, not citizenship. All it should take is them looking at your address to determine if they need a passport or not. If it's a domestic address, then you're exempt. I can understand them asking for some form of ID to prove it, but any "mibun shomeisho" with your address (insurance card, drivers license, gaijin card, etc.) should be acceptable. They have no right to ask for a gaijin card, and there is no need to see one for them to comply with the rules.

I guess that if there were a Japanese citizen who did *not* have a domestic address then it might get into the fuzzy territory you were mentioning. (e.g. a Japanese expat returning home for shogatsu). But no hotel is going to ask for ID from somebody who looks Japanese, speaks Japanese, and has a Japanese name.

[kusai Jijii]

But no hotel is going to ask for ID from somebody who looks Japanese, speaks Japanese, and has a Japanese name.

Of course not. There are no such thing as Japanese terrorists, right?

[Mulboyne]

The problem with this law is that the best way for hotel employees to comply is to ask everyone for ID so they can confirm whether the rule applies to you or not. As it stands, hotel employees are left trying to judge by your name or you face whether they should ask you for your passport. One solution would be to say that anyone not paying by credit card (which leaves the necessary trail) would be required to show some ID. This however, would inconvenience a large part of the local population, especially those who pay cash in hotels.

[bolt_krank]

I don't know what the statistics are like - so I could be wrong here. But Japan seems to be investing a lot of time and effort to find these "foreign terrorists".
Until now, has most terrorism in Japan been the result of domestic ? or foreign bodies ?

[hundefar]

I don't know what the statistics are like - so I could be wrong here. But Japan seems to be investing a lot of time and effort to find these "foreign terrorists".
Until now, has most terrorism in Japan been the result of domestic ? or foreign bodies ?

See, it works!!:D

[amdg]

Since nobody asked what's the difference between a directive and a law, I thought I'd just come back and say that a law has a stated punnishment for non-compliance. A directive does not. That's the major disctincion, I believe (other than the formality requirements of having to go through the process of passing a law).

So when someone does not obey a government directive, does anyone here know what actually happens? Do they get a phone call from some heavy explaining how they should really co-operate if they want to keep doing business, or something like that?

[TennoChinko]

Shit. I predict this will re-trigger another round of hotels demanding resident foreigners to surrender copies of their passports and/or ARC's (see http://www.debito.org/japantimes101805.html )

[Ganma]