Regarding the March 27 front-page article "Report urges closer watch on foreigners": It seems that neither the reporter nor the government panel involved in the story is aware of how the foreigner registration system currently works.
The renewed Alien Registration Card I received last year is emblazoned with a large number of Ministry of Justice logos, obvious and hidden. It contains all of the information I provided on the application form at my local ward office. The card was clearly made by the the ministry; equally clearly the ministry has all the information.
I can't think of a single registration-data-related government service that I have benefited from since coming to Japan, so "providing better services for foreign residents" has no meaning.
What on earth is this panel doing? What is the story about? And why aren't there any foreigners on this panel? If the government really wants to "provide a pleasant environment to foreign residents in Japan," it can start by not bullying us into giving our fingerprints whenever we return to Japan.
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