New IC Gaijin cards

[JayJay]

Gov't plans to require all foreigners to carry IC cards for crime control


Thursday, June 9, 2005 at 07:29 JST
TOKYO — The Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plan to require all foreigners staying in Japan for more than 90 days to carry identification cards equipped with integrated circuit chips, with all data to be kept at an "intelligence center," party lawmakers said Tuesday.

The LDP and the government claim the new policy is aimed at keeping track of foreigners as part of measures to prevent terrorism and crimes.

But the new system, intended to replace the current Certificate of Alien Registration that foreigners have to carry, is likely to raise concerns over the sharing of information between the immigration and police authorities, as well as protests from foreigners that it unfairly discriminates against them.

Under the plan, foreigners will have to carry with them at all times IC cards that contain information such as their name, nationality, address, birth date, passport number, visa status and place of employment or study. Holders will be required to report any change of address and obtain permission to change jobs.

The data of all card holders will be kept at the intelligence center that the Justice Ministry plans to set up to gather and analyze information on suspicious foreigners. The information will be shared between immigration and police authorities when foreigners are involved in crimes.

Currently, foreigners' registrations are kept at the municipality of their residence. The municipal governments, which issue the alien registration cards, are required to send a copy of the registrations to the Justice Ministry.

Under the new policy, companies and schools where foreigners work or study will also be required to report to the authorities about when the foreigners move or change jobs, and will be subject to penalties for any falsified information.

The government is aiming to submit budget requests as early as for next fiscal year, beginning next April, and to have related law revisions as well as new legislation made in two years.

Short-term visitors in Japan for up to 90 days and those with special permanent residency, including Korean residents in Japan, will be exempt.

Japanese nationals are not required to carry any form of identification, but foreigners aged over 16 who fail to carry their alien registration cards with them at all times currently face a maximum penalty of one year in prison or a 200,000 yen fine. The maximum penalty for special permanent residents is 100,000 yen.

The current alien registration card contains the holder's name, nationality, date of birth, place of birth, address, passport information, visa status, occupation and company or school.

Japan's treatment of foreigners has often been criticized as being discriminatory, especially with the fingerprinting system it introduced in 1952. After decades of protests, Japan finally stopped requiring the fingerprinting of permanent foreign residents in 1992 and of those with nonpermanent status in 2000. (Kyodo News)

Ok, when I first saw this I was pretty shocked but on a second read its on so bad. I think its just like the current system but with all the information on electornically. Its it not really like a "1984" style tracker if you read closely.

The bit about needing "permission" to change jobs suck though.

I also read somewhere else they're planning to reintroduce fingerprinting of foriengers at airports. Sucks I know, but before you jump, remember the US is doing the same thing now.

[scipio]

If I had lived in the USA for 12 years and married an American national, I am sure that it would seem strange to the US immigration authorities that I had not taken up US citizenship - I am a Brit.
However in Japan, they seem very very happy that I don't make an effort to try and join the 'herrenvolk' and up to now I have been happy with this entiente cordial. Every three years I go and renew my spouse visa.
All I ask is to be left alone and live my life.
Yep, everyday I get the looks and at least once a month I have to listen to the ignorant utterances of one of the enlightened few of the chosen people. However I have tried to live my life as comortable as possible.
But this time I have had enough, With each passing year the Japanese state is making it more and more difficult for me to live normally in their 'unique' land.
I will not change my visa status to avoid this and other mentioned measures - sure the measures themselves are not inconvenient to me, but the message about foreigners is very clear - because this would be condoning these xenophobic actions.
I have decided that it is time to leave this place and, forgive me my immodesty, this is Japan's loss and someone else's gain

[kurogane]

I
I have decided that it is time to leave this place and, forgive me my immodesty, this is Japan's loss and someone else's gain

Nice post. I agree.
Sad part is, do you think they realise they are going to lose us Goodies, and get stuck with all the yen grubbers?
Well, at least then they will have a leg to stand on when they complain about foreign scum.

[california84]

Very easy for Japan like the U.S. to make every law and claim it for ant-terrorism measures. Or my favorite, those dirty foreigners are committing all the crime in Japan we must keep an eye on them and track them. Look at the news it is always a foreigner committing the crime or some connect to another country when it a Japanese business or person. I think this is just another way of take the heat off of Japan’s problems and put the blame for the problems on foreigners.

Cali

[eku]

how the hell can they say you need permission to change jobs.......... ??????
thats fecking unbelievable...............
who wants to start a riot....
the other stuff I don;t give a fig about.... I have so many IC cards in my purse that I could probably instal a wordprocessing software with no trouble.... my gas card my visa card etc etc
but ...........obtain permission to change jobs.
that sux

[kurogane]

how the hell can they say you need permission to change jobs.......... ??????
thats fecking unbelievable...............
who wants to start a riot....
the other stuff I don;t give a fig about.... I have so many IC cards in my purse that I could probably instal a wordprocessing software with no trouble.... my gas card my visa card etc etc
but ...........obtain permission to change jobs.
that sux

Isn't that an immigration concern?
The IC thingy seems rather rational. Nice to see the Guvvernment types are finally getting around to using some of the fancy stuff they make, but don't use, and worse, don't know how to use. Like compooters. This has got to be the most technologically backwards advanced country in the world.
Those ward offices are like a Third World bloody government office. If I have to write out one more Goddam form, I am going into 'Radication Mode.
Sheepy,
Prepare for Radication Procedures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We shall spare the Skimpies and the Frothies

[JayJay]

I agree Kuro, but I think what Eku and I are saying, is while the card itself its that bad, having to get permission to change your job is absurd.

Other than that, I dont have that much of a problem with it, and as you say, if it speeds things up at the immergration office, cool. Maybe they have finally entered the information age.

Again its just the job thing that erks me.

[kurogane]

Maybe they have finally entered the information age.

Again its just the job thing that erks me.

Don't hold your breath on the entrance to a new age thing, bucky! ;)

That job thing is intrusive. Makes me wanna quit and go on the dole.
Now there's an idea for next winter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stillnosheep]

Permission to change jobs!

Permission to change jobs!!

Do I look like indentured labour?!!

Radicate! Radicate! Radicate!

[robred]

Sad to say but the society and government here are closing inwards again. Sakoku - closed country. We all know who the biggest crims in Japan are and they are the Yakuza and the politicians as well as their allies in the building trade etc.

I feel really sad cause I have good Japanese friends and the young Japanese are trying to be more open to the world. But they don`t have the political power to translate that into action.

What I want is to hear from Paul H, Glenski , Ms Trip Hop, Kuorgane, anybody who always gives good info on this new card. Please - whaddya think?

[eku]

i have been thinking (ok I ma not in the good advice category but i still have been thinking) :p

maybe this pemission to change jobs cr@p is due to ppl getting a work visa through a specific company, getting to japan and then quitting and changing jobs....

Even if it is, and even if there is some kind of rating sysytem that you need permission to change within X number of months of starting a job... or whether it is just limited to ppl who come on a limited visa like a one year visa, it still sucks.... big time.

recently so many things come under the broad-sweeping to curb terrorism excuse..
what do they say about life... it goes full circle.... does this mean pretty soon we will be back where we started from on the human rights frontier?
Eradicate terrorism by reverting to feudalism....... keep japan safe by closing her shores.....
shix logic if you ask me.....

[arginjapan]

"Permission to change jobs"...what's next-permission to leave the country? Permission to start dating/having sex with Japanese nationals? The day that job thing comes down the pipe is the day I book my ticket to elsewhere. Everyone has their limits, and mine is when the government decides to interfere with the life of a law-abiding resident for no logical reason.

Jesus, with each passing day we take another step backwards towards the 1930s in this country...

Considering that the population is going to start dropping like a stone over here, I'm guessing this new provision will go a long way towards encouraging skilled foreign professionals that Japan will increasingly need NOT to come over here.

I have no problem with Japan asking this of us-provided the Canadian government starts making all Japanese nationals in Canada for more than 90 days do the same thing, with exactly the same restrictions/provisions attached.

[observer]

I cannot say I know much about the Japanese visa / immigration system.

But if what JayJay is saying is true, it makes me think Japan is following in the footsteps of that great big brother nation, the paragon of virtue and the self-proclaimed world police.

Yeap, the United States of America. That great country of immigrants. Ha!


having to get permission to change your job is absurd.


My understanding is, that is exactly what you need in the US. According to the H1B visa regulation (typical route by which professionals gain entry to the US), if a foreigner enters the US but then quits the company that sponsored the original visa, she must find another US company willing to sponsor the H1B visa and give her a new job within - 30 DAYS. Otherwise, the visa becomes void and she must leave the US. That is my understanding of the complex labyrinth of US INS regulations. (Anybody else with better factual information?)

To be fair, during the dot.com days, this kind of restriction was no big deal as there were so many jobs to go around, I heard. But these days, that timeframe is almost impossible to meet and effectively forces out any foreigners who cannot remain employed at their company for the duration of their H1B. Of course, that kind of rule promotes a system of indentured servitude.



if it speeds things up at the immergration office, cool. Maybe they have finally entered the information age.

Again, exactly the same excuse the US INS is telling Asians, Middle Easterners, Africans to justify their high-tech security system and Fortress America. No ethnic minorities I know take that kind of argument seriously. (Having said that, in principle, I am not against them using the IT system in the immigration database and clearance; but this was not motivated by efficiency but by their desire to keep their country as insulated from "evil foreigners" as possible. That is what bothers me.)



Everyone has their limits, and mine is when the government decides to interfere with the life of a law-abiding resident for no logical reason.

In that case, arginjapan, I don't recommend you ever study or work in the US, as that is what you are going to get...

[observer]

In case you have some time to kill, have a look at how the Americans do the visa thing:

http://www.science.psu.edu/hr/HVisa.htm
http://www.usbusinessvisa.com/termh1bw.htm#1

Sounds like one cannot even count on any grace period after being layed off in the US. And your visa is tied to your employment; want a new job? then ask INS.

To me, Japan seems more generous than their big brother - for now anyway. But perhaps that will change...

With each passing day Japan takes another step eastwards towards their big brother, huh?

[california84]

I am amazed how you can change ever issue into a U.S. problem. The only one you have not is the music thread. Let me help you. The U.S. does not trade with Cuba this has leaded to less Cuban Artist Selling Salsa Music. Therefore, the decrease in Salsa music sale has lead to more poverty in Cuba. The decrease in Salsa Music Salsa has lead to the downfall of Salsa Music. Not everything is the U.S. Fault.

Cali

[observer]

Not everything is the U.S. Fault.


True, not everything is the US fault. But on issues related to visa regulations in various countries, the US is playing a big part these days, either directly (both Canadian and Mexican govt came under a lot of pressure from the US to "harmonize" their policies with the US) or indirectly (you heard about the US request (demand?) to other countries to introduce biometric passports, didn't you?). That is why I singled out the US on this specific issue, as it is acting as a negative trend setter.

My point is that, while registering a complaint about the proposed changes in Japanese visa regulations is fine, that should also give people a chance to reflect upon how their countries treat foreign nationals in their countries.

Judging from other posters here, I do not think the Japan's proposed visa rules will endear foreigners to Japan. So if your country has been doing something similar to foreign professionals, that should tell you how your country is going to be perceived by foreigners...

california84, I don't know how you perceive the proposed Jp visa rules, but if you think it is unfair, then perhaps you should also realize how unfairly INS has been treating foreign professionals in your country.

(Of course, if you see nothing wrong with US INS policy, then I assume you will have no complaint with the new Jp visa rules either...)

[robred]

At the risk of sounding stupid, Akahebe, why would that be so dangerous - the scenario you just outlined?

To the person (sorry, forget your name) who made the points re the US doing something similar to foreign workers, that`s valid. Just because an intrusive and unfair system is going to happen in Japan doesn`t mean the countries we all come from are models of fairness in their treatment of foreign workers or visitors.

Speaking for myself only I think this card is terrible because of the reasons for it more than anything. It`s another way for Japan to not look at its own very deep social/criminal problems.

As people have said on other forums and maybe this one, too, do we really think that workers in the sex industry are going to have to have these cards? There will be a way around it for them because just look at who operates this industry (and the drugs industry that is heavily connected with it) - the organised crime called The Yakuza.

Who work together with the `law enforcement agencies` of Japan. I agree with arginjapan completely. I oppose this card because it will hit an overwhelmingly law abiding majority of foreigner workers in this country - teachers, IT specialists, finance people, labourers from South America, etc. We don`t need to be treated like criminals. To me it`s encouraging the xenophobia of too many Japanese here (I am saying `too` many) and they really need to look at themselves first.

Criminals - overwhelmingly majority are the homegrown Japanese who also use Chinese residents to do their dirty work sometimes. Terrorists - the two main terrorist groups who actually did things were Japanese groups. Potential terrorists - the unchecked fascist wing of politics. Sad thing is so many Japanes bury their heads in the sand.

[california84]

Both China and South Korea link your work visa with your company. I. E. you need a letter of release to get out of the job. Recently Korea has loosened up on this policy. South Korea has told Visa holder if you can show that your company broke the contract or did not treat you well you can have immigration give you a letter of release.

As for the U.S. While working as headhunter I often recruited Nurse from the Philippians, Thailand, and the U.K. To bring someone over to the state for one year and (hopefully longer) my client’s hospitals spent about $5,000 for immigration fees alone. Much like teachers in Japan they had to sign a one-year contract. In a one year period the company would spend about $25,000 just on immigration, documentation fees, etc. Even more if you include man-hours spent by HR. I am not including anything to do with recruiting fee or salaries in this either. Needless to say much like in Japan with teacher the demand is huge for nurse in California. The high patient to nurse ration make it almost impossible to fill all the nursing jobs, California also has the highest population in the U.S.. All this combine with some of the highest nurse salaries in the nation. The hospital would often get frustrated hiring nurse abroad. Why, because they would bring them over and then train them. So after about a month or two they would jump to another hospital with a bigger salary. Needless to say many hospital felt frustrated and stop recruiting overseas.

I think the bottle line is that you should be obligated to stay with a company for at least 90 days before jumping ship. In the case of the U.S., Korea, and China they pay for immigration fees, airline ticket, and the apartment. To my knowledge, I could be wrong we pay for all the immigration fees, apartment, and airfare. I know some schools pay for airfare and apartment, but most don’t. As for immigration fee, am I wrong saying we solely pay for those fees?

I think the fairest system is a 90 obligated contract and if the employee left the job before those 90 days terms he/she would have to payback airline, immigration, etc to the company. This should be done in installment. In addition, the employee would have 90 additional days to find a new job before having to return to their home country. This would make it fair for everyone I think.

Cali

[robred]

Good thread,this! California, akahebe, kurogane, paul, glenski, trip hope, all good posters - has anybody thought of what`s going to happen to people who don`t work full-time for one company?

That`s the zillion dollar question here for some teachers because not all of us work at one job. Some of us are freelancers - and Immigration showed no problem when I told them I had different employers. The so called `self sponsorship` is what I do. So where does this card and these new laws leave law abiding, self sponsored teachers such as me?

[california84]

Well, part of the reason I moved from China to Japan was the visa issue. In China and South Korea the company owns your visa. Therefore if your company has a problem with you then your visa will have problems too. The school controls you and often lord over you the fact that your visa belongs to them. In addition, the companies control immigration. The school and the companies have a good old boys system. They also keep black lists in both countries on teacher. The black lists apply for each city. (For example you ____ off one school in Beijing and it is hard to find another school in Beijing) In Japan it is different. In Japan unlike China and South Korea Immigration and the Ministry of Labor are for the most part pro-labor. Where as the opposite is true in South Korea and China.

Companies and school control you in South Korea and China. It is forbidden to work without a sponsor or to do privates. This means that part-time work is not legal for non-citizens. It also means that doing private as your only income is strictly forbidden too. The truth is privet are abounded in both countries. In China I was ask on a daily bases to do private just waking down the street or on buses. I often did barter for lessons and avoid the legal problems this way. I actual learned a lot of marshal art, Chinese, how to play the piano (Left-hand piece only as that was all I was interested in), and I also receive a ton of free meal for teaching too. Only got paid once by a High Ranking Chinese Government Office. To this day I am still scared that it was a set up. Kind of trust him seeing he went to my church (No Joke).

I think the bottle line is that Japan will have a pro-business and anti-labor policy similar to that of South Korea. It will start with foreign workers and then move to Japanese workers next. I am already seeing this take hold with such issues as vacation, sick time, and the bonus system. Under Japanese law the bonus system is a type of retirement and is suppose to be one-month pay. This pay is base on completion of one full years working NOT on job performance. This is case with Japanese work and with China/ South Korea (Both Foreign and Citizens). It is guarantied to you if you complete the year. In Japan this is often taken away for the foreign workers that are miss informed and do not know the laws. Many companies and school tell you that the bonuses are based on you performance. This is not the case that is a separate bonus. In addition, vacation pay is often taken away.


I will say that the Ministry of Labor is still pro-labor and even pro-foreign labor. Still the court have been mixed for foreign labor.

I think the overall trend will be a more pro-school and pro-business by immigration. A Ministry of Labor that will shift to business and a court that will lean to the companies/ schools more. We better look out for each other before it get worst.

Cali

[freetoken]

... but it appears some of the gov't apparatus are moving in a direction you fear.

Remember that "vision" document our Tojo-worshipping friend has been writing about (and it does appear to be a semi-official paper...)? In that paper the writers acknowledge the need to import more workers. To deal with the increased work load on immigration (and the concurrent need to reduce government size) they recommend:

"Immigration systems and employment management should be to be [sic] unified in order to prevent any increase in the number of illegal workers. Corporations and educational institutions that accept overseas students should be subject to mandatory checking of their workers' employment qualifications periodically.

This of course could work either for or against you, depending upon how you get along with your employer or school.

But I think some of you are missing the fun part: embedding the RFID chip into the person's body! After all, cards can get lost or stolen (to frame somebody for instance.) Much safer just to slip the device under the skin when you enter the border. Some links for you to ponder:
http://www.rfidbuzz.com/
http://technology.updates.com/topic.aspx?year=2005&month=3&topic=44
http://slate.msn.com/id/2109477/

BTW, I have nothing against any country doing what they need to in order to maintain the life the *citizens* so desire. I am a guest here, and since they want me to carry a Gaijin card it seems reasonable to me to follow *their* laws. Even if the next card has an RFID device then so be it. I suspect I will draw the line when they want to implant it inside of me.

-ft

[Bearcat]

I don't think its been clarified well enough in this discussion.

It is not the visa that is tied to job permission. It is being a holder of a foreign resident's card. Thus even those on spouse visa's must ask permission to change their job.
As others have said they excuse this as a way to counter terrorism. This excuse though is categorically a lie. It just a politcal playing card and nothing more.
Though I worry the government will use this to arbitrarily say no when they wish to, so far many naive Japanese folks say that wouldn't be the case. Personally I think they place too much blind faith in their own government mechinations.
However, Japanese nationals should as well take a strong hard look at this. Any government willing to so quickly put this into practice is only one step away from doing similar to all workers within the country. It's just another example of Japan's communist/socialist policies rearing its ugly head.
But bitching about it on the forum won't stop it. If you want to make a difference talk it up with Japanese folks and get them worried about it as well. Get them motivated enough to move to action against it.
As well the Foreign worker unions should get involved on this... especially as I see a few ways the some of the exploitive English schools/companies here could go to town on this.

[leafs_fan]

to change jobs, or are we just required to inform them when we do so? I'm quite sure it's just the latter. I've never "asked permission" to change jobs or move or have a katakana alias, but I have "informed" them of said decisions.

[waller]

I think the whole idea is really scary. It smacks of xenaphobia and totalitarianism (Phew, had to use the spell checker for those) Just imagine if you are stopped by the cops for whatever, within a few minutes they know where you live, who you work for and so on. If there were similar measures for all citizens that would be bad enough, but to single out foreigners is scary. I agree with Bearcat, hopefully there will be some unified protest from groups such as unions.

WTF do the clowns running this country think they are going to do? They need immigration more than anything, or are going to pretty soon, yet they are busy introducing draconian anti-foreigner legislation.

[eku]

the exploitation possibilities of needing permission to change jobs is immense. From a long termers point of view, it is not so bad, as most of us are settled in our jobs,but still it isn't nice to know that you have lost some of the little freedom you had.


But, take for example, someone coming in with a job as an ALT for one of the dispatch companies... The teacher arrives here and the contract is rather different to what was discussed in the application process. The working hours are longer or split morning and late afternoon with a long commute between. Promised contract bonuses are strangley linked to conditions that fluctuate and are so vague that noone ever gets the bonus. The so-called housing they promised to provide the teacher with, suddenly comes at a terribly high cost.... I could go on and on.

The reason that this is scary is because these things are happening NOW...
imagine if you knew that you would lose your visa if you complained? imagine that you wanted to change your job and immigration moved in the same slow grinding way, making sure you either fulfilled your warped contract with the dispatch company, or left japan, leaving the job free for some other sucker....

It sounds bad, true. But imagine a foreign labourer from South America or South East Asia who is not sure of what rights they have anyway. These people are already being ripped off by dispatch companies. Their already stunted human rights take a fast dive out the door as they basically become indentured slaves...

Lets move on and take a look at the trackable chip. You are out drinking somewhere and a crime is committed in the neighbourhood... who do you think they are going to round up first? The usual suspects or all the foreigners they can trace to the immediate vicinity?
They don't even have to arrest you, just put a nice little story in the paper. .......
Man beaten to death in Ueno park, 7 foreigners brought in for questioning.
Even if Taro Sato is eventually arrested and convicted, the seed has been sown... foreigners are being questioned in droves whenever there is a crime.

The BOTTOM line ........... the potentials of abuse are mind-boggling.

[eku]

LDP team plans to use IC cards to hunt down illegal foreigners (http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200506100135.html)


Japan to have all foreigners carry IC cards for crime control (http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=126415)
Gov't plans to expand fingerprinting requirement for foreigners (http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&id=339779)

[california84]

“The data of all card holders will be kept at the intelligence center that the Justice Ministry plans to set up to gather and analyze information on suspicious foreigners.”

I.E. a Tracking center and special investigation center.


“Japanese nationals are not required to carry any form of identification, but foreigners aged over 16 who fail to carry their alien registration cards with them at all times currently face a maximum penalty of one year in prison or a 200,000 yen fine”.

As always Japanese citizens are exempt from laws they force upon us.

“Japan plans to expand fingerprinting requirements for foreigners not only upon entry into the country but upon departure as well”,

First they eliminated the fingerprinting requirement and now they are bringing it back twice as bad. We will always be criminals or potential criminal in the Japanese minds

“The Liberal Democratic Party team also suggests recording biometric information such as fingerprints in a separate IC card for immigration control. These cards will allow for more accurate identification checks at ports of entry”.

Now they want us to carry two I.D.s. and get more information on us. I think next they will ask us for a DNA samples. I heard one LDP leader say the reason for Biometric was that many foreigners are deported and then return after plastic surgery. Ya, right. Cali.

[Tyler]

I think the whole idea is really scary. It smacks of xenaphobia and totalitarianism (Phew, had to use the spell checker for those)...

Sorry, waller, but I think you need a new spell checker - it's xenophobia...

... unless you were talking about an irrational fear of Xena the Warrior Princess... ;)

[observer]

As always Japanese citizens are exempt from laws they force upon us.


For now, perhaps. But they could be subjected to the same draconian laws one day.

(btw, california84, I was going to refute your nursing example in the US, but I decided against it... That would take me too far off topic here...)

I just read this article off the web and was stunned by some amazing parallels.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050614.wuspass0614/BNStory/International/

Some words and phrases seem to resonate so much with those articles linked by eku. This got me thinking. Is this all just a coincidence?

Then I have thought up a hypothesis... by connecting some dots together. Sure, it is just a hypothesis and I dont have any hard evidence to prove it, but it seems credible...

Well, this is what I thought of after the recent confluence of events: The US has been badgering other countries to adopt biometric passports, but the progress has been understandably slow in most of the countries. It takes quite a bit of logistic and technical planning, it costs a lot of taxpayer money (not American taxpayer money, but foreign taxpayer money!; especially in countries like Japan, where a big portion of the population have a passport), and it would be politically unpopular... It would be so obvious that foreign govts are basically giving in to the US bullying again.

So, Japanese govt thought, well, why dont we move in stages... perhaps we can have a small trial with biometric ID tracking system, and once it is proven feasible and politically more acceptable, then they will expand it to the rest of the population for passports.

Then Jp-bureacrats thought, hey why dont we try this on foreigners first? Heck, they dont have a right to vote, so they can't threaten their Diet seats, and they dont pay any political kickbacks. They are smaller in number and more visible, so they are easier to track and the system will be cheaper to set up and troubleshoot. Besides, they can play into the public's fear of foreign criminals, so the majority of the public will likely go with it.

So once this big brother experiment succeeds on foreign guinea pigs, then they can say to the Jp public, hey this ID system is really good. Look how we can keep all these foreigners under watch and keep Jp society "safe"... So why dont we do it for all the Japanese too? By this time, all the technical and logistical glitches will have been worked out, so implementing it for Jp passports should be a cinch...Just an issue of scaling up an existing system... and it wont look like they are licking the US govt's boots, they could persuade Japanese that they are doing it for the good of Japan!


... is my hypothesis.

Ok, maybe I am being a paranoid, but sometimes, some serial events just dont look like chance events...

It would be foolish of the Japanese to think they would be immune to govt monitoring... They could be next one day...

[eku]

I think the Japanese are already being eased into an IC tagged society, although in a much gentler way

it started with the credit cards, then the gasoline stand cards then the train passes. Now it has moved onto fresh produce, animal identification and in the near future household appliances like fridges with IC to warn you of the freshness of your goodies inside...
ref see http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/lens/lens115.htm

I might be generalizing here, but I have noticed that once something becomes popular in Japan and becomes the latest catch-phrase so to speak, it becomes integrated quite smoothly into all facets of daily life, without much questioning as to whether it is a good thing or not ... I mean take the minus ion craze that has gone as far to produce minus ion ballpens, minus ion chewing gum etc etc.

[arginjapan]

I have heard that Korea operates with a similar system in which one's visa is tied directly to one's place of employment and if your are terminated or quit, your visa becomes invalid. Comments from somebody who knows?
Confirmed; I've read much the same from a variety of sources, but I can't recall any of them at the moment. A websearch will turn up some of them no doubt.

[arginjapan]

As others have said they excuse this as a way to counter terrorism. This excuse though is categorically a lie. It just a politcal playing card and nothing more.
Of course it is; if it is to counter terrorism then the Japanese themselves should be forced to endure the same restrictions. Last time I checked, the biggest act of terror committed on Japanese soil was done by Japanese not foreigners-a fact quietly forgotten in this equation.

Like I said, sure, scrutinize me all you want-as long as all Japanese resident in Canada have the same restrictions applied to them. Of course, that would undoubtedly invite cries of racism from the offended party...

[JayJay]

As my girlfirend keeps reminding me, this law hasnt been passed yet and probably wont in at least two years. However I have made clear to my J-Girl, that, as much as I love her, if this comes to pass I may concider leaving Japan. Although shes heard me moarn about Japanese xenophobic law before, I think she knows Im serious this time.

Its really quite a dilemma but I wont have the goverment of Japan stick its nose into my life that way. I dont care if the US or Korea do it, my country doesnt and I feel it aint right. I pay my taxes and usually dont cause any trouble, why should I be under scrutany more than Japanese criminal scumbags aka Yakuza, biker gangs or disgrunted 17 year olds that throw homemade bombs into classrooms?

How many others feel the same? How many other will simply pack up and go home if we have to carry IC chips and "obtain permission to change jobs"? Great way to attact more foriegners to fix the aging population, eh.

[arginjapan]

How many others feel the same? How many other will simply pack up and go home if we have to carry IC chips and "obtain permission to change jobs"?
Yes; fortunately I have qualifications that allow me a fair degree of movement. And I would not hesitate to go elsewhere if the situation here deteriorates as it undoubtedly will.