Mike Trees
Director, 43
I disagree. I did my masters on discrimination against foreigners and fingerprinting Koreans was a big issue. I agree with the ID cards, but fingerprinting is for criminals, unless they're going to fingerprint everyone, Japanese included.

Motoko Arakane
OL, 26
I think that it's necessary so you can make a data base of foreigners. It may not be able to reduce foreign crime itself, but if something does happen, it'll make it easier to find the people who committed the crime.

Yoshiyuki Kanagawa
Programmer, 30
I think we need it. There is a lot of terrorism in the world. If we have the IC-card system, it will improve security. Maybe it's a bother for foreigners, but to make sure of security for Japan, we need it. Every country will have to do it eventually.

Phil Hester
Engineer, 47
No, not really. I don't think it would help. Criminals will still get in if they want to get in and even if you have their fingerprints, it doesn't stop them from doing anything. In the U.S., the system doesn't seem to have worked.

Fernando Gueler
Business planner, 41
There's obviously privacy issues, but the world is changing and sacrifices have to be made. I wouldn't have a problem with a new system. Standing alone, though, it may not be effective. Other measures will need to be taken.

Aymeric Forgit
Journalist, 26
No, I don't think so. I think it is bad for international exchange, for relations between countries and people. It doesn't encourage people to come to Japan. Perhaps less foreigners will come in the long term.