Regarding Hideo Kaito's Nov. 20 letter, "Common protection and control": While Kaito's comment seems sensible, it is in fact completely mistaken and filled with false truths.
First, it is not fingerprinting itself that bothers us foreigners, it is the fact it is being done in the name of "fighting terrorism." Japanese nationals are just as likely (and as history shows, even more likely) to commit terrorist attacks on Japanese soil. Mind you, for my safety, I would like all Japanese nationals to be fingerprinted as well. If that happened, I would be more than glad to offer my biometric data as means of identification.
Second, I don't know about Kaito, but personally I don't trust the Japanese government with my personal data. After all, it has a history of losing and leaking data over the Internet. And if there is no accountability for that, then I am afraid of what might happen with this new information.
Finally, no matter how much you want to defend it, this can do nothing but create an even more alienated Japan, isolating itself from the rest of the world. In an aging society with a shrinking workforce, Japan will be doomed without foreign workers -- whom the ruling party seems eager to scare away.
Of course, you might still argue that fingerprinting is a helpful measure to combat terrorism. Well, mind you, the terrorists of the 9/11 attacks entered the United States legally, under much stricter immigration rules than in Japan. Tightening borders will not deter someone who is willing to die. It will only create hassle and resentment for the 99.9 percent of the rest of us who want to live peacefully here.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.