Fingerprinting policy- don't let the issue die

[Glenski]

Geez, so are permanent residents, Kyoto Returnee, yet we have to be printed and photo'd. Your argument doesn't hold water, just like the government.

Plus there are other registered people (human beings, Homo sapiens, not just Japanese citizens) that are actually exempt from the process!

 

[Kyoto Returnee]

Plus there are other registered people (human beings, Homo sapiens, not just Japanese citizens) that are actually exempt from the process!

So not all have to go through with it?

 

[caster51]

I dont understand what the problem of figerprinting policy is ...
It cooperates with pleasure if going to the foreign country.
I think no Japanese complain about that if there is same policy in foreign country,

btw
it checked english language ability to work in England?
I think it is a discrimination

 

[nyouyaku]

I dont understand what the problem of figerprinting policy is ...
It cooperates with pleasure if going to the foreign country.
I think no Japanese complain about that if there is same policy in foreign country,
btw
it checked english language ability to work in England?
I think it is a discrimination

Actually, they don't really. Many Japanese were fingerprinted by the USA.
By the way, Malaysia does the opposite. It has tighter security on its own citizens than foreigners, and is vilgilant in looking for dual citizens, sharing that biometric strip with singapore and thailand to cross reference dual citizens.

 

[Glenski]

Gosh, there is actually a requirement for foreign workers to speak/read/write English in England? Shocked.

 

[careless-whisper]

I don't like the idea but they'll do what they do... If it continues then i guess i can't do too much about it... But it feel it is very discriminatory...

 

[Dogen Z]

I've been fingerprinted in both Japan and the U.S. In either case it didn't hurt nor was it very inconvenient. It won't harm you if don't commit a crime and it might save you from living next to an Interpol criminal--such as a serial killer.

BTW--yoiotoshio

 

[centrajapan]

U.S. tries to ease entry for foreign travelers.

In February, Eric Rozenberg, a Belgian travel executive, was en route to a convention in Cancun, Mexico, from Brussels when, he said, he experienced firsthand what other foreign travelers had told him about the problems of getting into the United States.

He said an official took him aside with no explanation as he went through immigration in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport and sent him to a separate room.

After waiting there nearly 90 minutes, Rozenberg, who travels to the United States on business at least six times a year, said, he "very politely" asked another officer what was taking so long. The officer glanced at Rozenberg's passport again, told him to wait another 10 minutes, then handed it back to him without explanation.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/18/business/entry.php?page=1

This is how it will be in Japan from now on.

I hope the new American president will rid off the finger printing devices in US as that would probably help make Japan do the same.

 

[Dogen Z]

....This is how it will be in Japan from now on.
....QUOTE]

I highly doubt your ability to predict the future of Japan or even your own country.

 

[nyouyaku]

I will like to inform you that now there are two checks. One at the part where you get fingerprinted, or in the case of Japanese citizens, the line where you will only have your passport scanned and stamped. But in the second line, Japanese immigration has decided to throroughly flip through your passport to ask you thoroughly where you have been. Virgin passports and passports having only entry, exit stamps of Japan are now thoroghly questioned. To go home therefore, Japanese citizens who are dual citizens with another country will now have to fly to a third country where there is only an entry but no exit stamp to appear as if you spent a long time there. Then, when you return to Japan, I recommend you fly to Hong Kong or somewhere and collect a bunch of stamps taking some cheap flights on Air Asia then go to Japan.

Sorry to sound paranoid for you all, but this is what will be required.

 

[centrajapan]

I highly doubt your ability to predict the future of Japan or even your own country.

Why not just stick a micro chip up your bum? Then we don´t need any passports or anything. Would that not be great? The finger printing device has been blasted in the media here. But who knows Norway is a part of Schengen so there is a chance that it might be introduced in Europe althogh I sincerily hope not.

In Europe they don´t even stamp your passports when going out or in. It seems alot looser and I like it that way more than being monitored every single move. I don´t believe in giving too much power to the authority like that. I think it is rather scary. It remins me too much of George Orwell.

 

[Astroboy]

Japan's fingerprinting policy must be annoying to foreigners, I understand. I experienced that in US airport, and it was annoyed. But it's just an extra precaution against terrorists. Plus, better screening criminals and ex-criminals especially from certain countries.

Used to be...Japan was a heaven for North Korean spy, South Korean/Chinese illegal immigrants.

But funny thing is .... if Japan introduced fingerprinting policy first in the world, what will have happened? I'm sure there must have been a big anti-Japan movement in the world.
Fortunately, USA introduced first, and then Japan followed. Thus, it is none of anti-Japan movement.

BTW, I don't know why EU has not introduced the policy yet? Is EU safer than USA/Japan in terms of terrorists? Or cannot introduce it because the policy contradicts with its "philanthropism"?? Personally I am very interested how long EU can keep non-fingerprinting policy.

 

[Glenski]

Japan's fingerprinting policy must be annoying to foreigners, I understand. I experienced that in US airport, and it was annoyed. But it's just an extra precaution against terrorists.

And, how do you respond to the statement that none of Japan's terrorist acts have come from foreigners?

Or that the fingerprinting system is flawed, not just because the machines don't work or because fingerprinting itself if not 100% accurate, but because the fingerprinting policy does not include all foreigners.

Plus, better screening criminals and ex-criminals especially from certain countries.

I am neither a criminal nor ex-criminal, yet I am screened.

But funny thing is .... if Japan introduced fingerprinting policy first in the world, what will have happened? I'm sure there must have been a big anti-Japan movement in the world.

The movement is on, and it starts at home, here in Japan.

Fortunately, USA introduced first, and then Japan followed. Thus, it is none of anti-Japan movement.

The policies are different in Japan and the US. That's one reason for the major complaining.

 

[centrajapan]

My 2 yens.

Call me stupid but did not the so called hijackers who crashed the airliners into various buildings in US enter US leagally? What if the terrorists are home grown? Up until now there has been no foreign terrorsim in Japan only terrorism carried out by Japanese.

Besides US today is a police state. A step before Martial Law. The government has the right to detain you with no charge or sentence and keep you locked in for god knows how long but long. The government has laws saying that they can tap your telephones, read your emails.Liberties are getting stripped away.

I would be very critical to any measures where my rights are being stripped away. The fingerprinting is one of them.

This is how USA is. It is basically a police state under martial law more or less. It would be sad to see Japan heading the same direction.

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-6495462761605341661

Japan needs to get rid off Jimintou and have Minshutou who seem to respect liberties and human rights more than jimintou.

 

[centrajapan]

Call me stupid but did not the so called hijackers who crashed the airliners into various buildings in US enter US leagally? What if the terrorists are home grown? Up until now there has been no foreign terrorsim in Japan only terrorism carried out by Japanese.

Besides US today is a police state. A step before Martial Law. The government has the right to detain you with no charge or sentence and keep you locked in for god knows how long but long. The government has laws saying that they can tap your telephones, read your emails.Liberties are getting stripped away.

I would be very critical to any measures where my rights are being stripped away. The fingerprinting is one of them.

 

[Goldiegirl]

Fingerprint me. I had to give fingerprints to open my bank account. If I want to go to Japan, I have to follow the rules. My husband gets fingerprinted and his photo taken to get into the US. I do think it will keep some undesirables out; not that Japan is a hot bed for terrorists or the like.

 

[centrajapan]

Giving liberty brings tyranny and not security.

 

[Astroboy]

And, how do you respond to the statement that none of Japan's terrorist acts have come from foreigners?
Or that the fingerprinting system is flawed, not just because the machines don't work or because fingerprinting itself if not 100% accurate, but because the fingerprinting policy does not include all foreigners.
I am neither a criminal nor ex-criminal, yet I am screened.
The movement is on, and it starts at home, here in Japan.
The policies are different in Japan and the US. That's one reason for the major complaining.

That's why I said But it's just an extra precaution against terrorists.
Nothing perfect in this world.

In Broader definition, "Passport" is the same concept as fingerprinting policy. It's just more sophisticated technology than passport.

 

[Astroboy]

The movement is on, and it starts at home, here in Japan.

And you must be feeling "powerless" because you do not have Japanese supports.

The policies are different in Japan and the US. That's one reason for the major complaining

Yes, Westerners often tell "Japanese are ethically wrong but we are right."

 

[hideway]

I don't really see the problem here.
I've my fingerprint taken and presented in my national identification card every 4/5 years. It is stored by the Portugal government and I guess used to identify people that commited crimes and such, or just to undoubtely identify someone.
About the discrimination, I don't see the big fuzz, what so if it is discriminatory? :

It sure won't ruin my japan trip this year.

 

[nanook]

About the discrimination, I don't see the big fuzz,

Talking Europe, what would you say, if France would start to fingerprint the Portuguese, but not the Spanish? Just for your own safety, of course...

Talking US, what would people say, if the US would start to fingerprint blacks, but not whites, just for their own safety, of course...


Anyway, have a good trip to Japan

 

[Glenski]

I don't really see the problem here.

Well, no offense, hideway, but you need to read more. As has been mentioned on several threads on this web site alone, the fingerprinting policy here has major flaws and is very discriminatory. Moreover, as a tourist to Japan, you might be like Goldiegirl and not feel miffed at all, but as a resident like me, one will. Oh, and the Japanese don't have national ID cards, mostly because the Japanese refuse to have them. Big difference.


Astroboy wrote:

Originally Posted by Glenski
The movement is on, and it starts at home, here in Japan.

And you must be feeling "powerless" because you do not have Japanese supports.

Actually, there is some Japanese support, just not enough.

Astroboy wrote:

Quote:The policies are different in Japan and the US. That's one reason for the major complaining

Yes, Westerners often tell "Japanese are ethically wrong but we are right."

Don't change the subject. I am not saying anything like that. In fact, I tell many foreigners who want to come here to be very careful about imposing western morals on Japanese ways. The fingerprinting policy is blatantly discriminatory and wrong.

Astroboy wrote:

That's why I said But it's just an extra precaution against terrorists.
Nothing perfect in this world.

An "extra precaution" that is horribly flawed, not just "imperfect".

Goldiegirl wrote:

Fingerprint me. I had to give fingerprints to open my bank account.

Do you have to give fingerprints every time you make a bank transaction? No. Do your fingerprints at the bank get scrutinized by the government everytime you enter the bank? No. Are your fingerprints shared by other banks and government entities and the police and Interpol? No. Big difference, but you just don't seem to get it.

 

[Astroboy]

blatantly discriminatory and wrong.

I don't change subject but I am pointing out "behind the scene".

How it's possible to state flaterly blatantly discriminatory and wrong.
Because you believe that Justice is on your side???

Let me tell you in different way.

1. I have NEVER EVER heard that Japanese living in foreign countries protest policies of those foreign countries.

2. But I sometimes (not often) heard that foreigners living in Japan protest policies of J-government.

WHY is that?

 

[Goldiegirl]

Actually I have no idea what my bank did or does with my fingerprints. Why are you so worried about your fingerprints going to interpol, or other governments? Seems like you are making a lot of noise....more noise than what this issue is worth. If you don't want to get fingerprinted then give up your American citizenship and BECOME JAPANESE. That would solve your problem. It seems that you are miffed because you are being treated different than a Japanese citizen, well, hello, you are different, you aren't even Japanese. I don't care what paper you have...resident...whatever, you still can't change the fact the you ARE a USA citizen and that's what your passport says, and that is legally the country you "belong" to. If you want to live and die in Japan and not have to follow there rules for non-citizens turn in your American passport and get a Japanese one. Make a commitment to the country you want to claim as your own.

 

[BBRyukyu]

What was the catalyst or reason for reinstating this policy now?