More on fingerprinting foreigners

Asahi.com has published an editorial in English on its website concerning passing of an amendement to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law by the Diet's Lower House last week. The amendment calls for the fingerprinting and photographing of almost all foreigners upon entering Japan. The editorial states that "exemptions to the rule would be granted to special permanent residents originally from the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan and their descendants, minors under the age of 16, diplomats and individuals invited by the Japanese government". The rule would, however, apply to "non-Japanese residing in Japan as spouses of Japanese citizens or in other capacities will also be required to give fingerprints to gain re-entry upon returning from overseas travel".

Long term residents will remember that foreign residents were fingerprinted for many years and the practice was only done away with in 2000.

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