The 'IC you' card
Computer-chip card proposals for foreigners has big potential for abuse,
By DEBITO ARUDOU
People are still reeling from September's LDP landslide election, realizing that Koizumi can essentially legislate whatever he wants.
For foreigners, that brings some bad news.
One of Koizumi's platforms is economic recovery through tourism and increased contact with outsiders ("Yokoso Japan") yet his administration can't shake its preconception of foreigners as potential terrorists and criminals.
Koizumi's previous Cabinet bore no fewer than three ministers who mentioned, in their introductory speeches, the alleged foreign crime wave (even though the media, including this column on Oct. 7, 2003, has long debunked this).
In December 2004, the Cabinet released its "Action Plan for Pre-Empting Terrorism," explicitly stating the terrorists to be targeted are essentially foreigners (Community Page; May 24, 2005).
Now Koizumi the tour guide wants to institute high-tech tracking of every foreigner he invites.