HONG KONG — Japan is still purporting to celebrate "Yokoso Japan" or Welcome to Japan — just as it is preparing to inflict on every foreign visitor measures that are harassing, time-consuming, unnecessary, and would be illegal if done to Japanese citizens in Japan.
The measures have been condemned by Amnesty International as "a violation of basic human rights" and by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, but the justice ministry is determined to press ahead and fingerprint and photograph every foreign visitor to Japan every time he or she arrives in the country. The new scheme will start from Nov. 20.
Japan is the only country apart from the United States to resort to fingerprinting foreigners, but Tokyo is carrying it further and targeting almost everyone, including people with permanent, work or spouse visas, as well as short-term visitors. In the U.S., all permanent residents are exempt. In Japan, only children under 16, diplomats and special-status, mainly Korean, permanent residents will escape the lines and the tedious procedures.