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How do you feel about the Japanese government fingerprinting foreign visitors arriving at airports?

39 Comments

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39 Comments
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I have zero issues with being fingerprinted. What I take issue with is that the locals are not.

16 ( +17 / -1 )

If they are going to do it to tourists, then fine, many other countries do it. I did struggle though tp understand why they bothered to fingerprint me each time I came back as a permanent resident.

I don't know what the marginal cost is of fingerprinting and photographing long term residents but it does seem rather like a waste of time and resources.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

As written before, up until today, all the 'terrorist' incidents in Japan have been promulgated by Japanese nationals, yet the authorities have always concentrated their efforts on foreigners. I guess now that they have some justification for this.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

I say ok if everyone is fingerprinted. Yes, that means the Japanese that travel, as well.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

In principal fingerprinting for security reasons I don't mind, foreigners only is unfair. Remember, Japan is safe, but the only terrorist activities that I know of here were committed by..... Japanese. So, it should be everyone, or no one

7 ( +8 / -1 )

How do you feel about the Japanese government fingerprinting foreign visitors arriving at airports?

I accept it, but grudgingly, as criminals are the only other group commonly fingerprinted.

How would Japanese people feel if they were fingerprinted, too?

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Note that the question asks only about fingerprinting foreign "visitors". Particularly so soon after a European immigration crisis and a terrorist incident perpetrated by immigrants, this seems calculated to get a lot so "yes, I support it" votes.

It does not ask about fingerprinting returning residents, which Japan (unlike other fingerprinting countries) insists on doing.

If passports were eliminated and returning residents could just put their thumbs on a reader, I might support it. But as it is, returning residents end up with their fingerprints in National Police Agency databases and I cannot see the benefit to society of this.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

I don't like it, but I accept it.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I think its unnecessary, but since they are they need to fingerprint Japanese too, then they will get some bang for their buck!

4 ( +7 / -3 )

It is an effective method against illegal immigration, which is its true purpose. It was, however, billed as an anti-terrorism measure, as which It would be completely ineffective unless the Japanese immigration authorities had a database of known terrorists' fingerprints. I kind of suspect they do not.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Do not mind it at all for safety factors. However, it is so easy to make and wear false prints.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Fingerprinting for permanent residents is stupid. I estimate I've been done about 100 times as I am in and out of the country twice a month on average on business. Just once is enough you morons, you have my prints on file from the first time. But this is japan you can't expect any form of logic.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If it means protecting me and people I love - take them. No issues at all.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

I've been fingerprinted multiple times over the course of my life and none of them involved incarceration. Military service, security clearances, and every three years in my current job in a public school system to make sure I don't appear on some sex offender list. Adding another fingerprint session when entering Japan is not an issue for me.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Go for it, if anything is an indicator of how the world works now it might become even more strict.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

I've no issues with it at all. Every country has the right to control and manage non-native visitors. That there are still some who seem to believe everyone should be allowed unfettered access to every country on earth is utterly astounding.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Doesn't bother me one bit.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

100% necessary

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It's been done once, so I don't care. The only time I DO care is when I hear Japanese who gripe about having to do it in the US or other places, with at least some I've heard saying, "Japanese aren't criminals... why do WE have to do it?"

0 ( +2 / -2 )

agree with Umbrella. Retina scans are the way to go for all. Fingerprints are easily faked and many criminals get into japan this way.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Personally I'm against the practice. It is a form of discrimination that is dehumanizing. It is an excuse that Japan is making in considering foreign nationals as potentially dangerous. Japan is taking the practice of the US and taking it to a level of retaliation. The Japanese want to keep as many outsiders away from Japan as much as possible. They see outsiders as subhuman, and I have a right to say this as someone who was documented in that way.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I couldn't, or as some say, could care less.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

If they want to identify terrorists, it is a stupid idea. In Japan the terrorists are always Japanese, so they should fingerprint Japanese, not foreigners.

Note that the security around Narita has been there a long time. In fact it has been there since before the airport was open to the public and it was constructed to keep Japanese terrorists out of the contstruction site.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I don't care.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Absolutely no issues. The airport authorities in Japan make sure that there is least embarassment to the passengers.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Why not?

Especially since there are a variety of writing systems across the planet, some form of unchanging ID seems a good idea.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I think it's 100% necessary

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

People seldom pay attention to me, so I kinda like it.

How would Japanese people feel if they were fingerprinted, too?

They are whenever they go to America.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

when in Japan !!.....

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I don't mind it.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Visitors OK.

Permanent Residents/Long term residents NO.

However fingerprints can be easily faked these days. Retina scans for all japanese and non japanese should be the way to go.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Just once is enough you morons, you have my prints on file from the first time. But this is japan you can't expect any form of logic.

Say what? I think you're the one who missed the logic here. There is a reason they fingerprint on each entry.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Doesn't bother me one bit.

Me neither. I don't commit crimes. And if you're coming into Japan via Atsugi, Kadena or Yokota US airbase, the whole thumbprint ordeal does not apply.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Love it! I'm not a criminal - so who cares? Who? CRIMINALS!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

I have no problem with being fingerprinted. Seeing what is going on in Europe, fingerprinting will be soon become the norm in many countries on arrival.

@GW

I think its unnecessary, but since they are they need to fingerprint Japanese too

This is impossible. What would happen if Japanese refuse to be fingerprinted? Japanese citizens cannot be denied entry into their own country...but you can!

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

I say ok if everyone is fingerprinted. Yes, that means the Japanese that travel, as well.

OK. Let's fingerprint Japanese citizens. What will happen if they refuse to be fingerprinted when coming back to Japan? What people from JT suggest? Does Japanese immigration put them in a plane and send them back where they came from? Deny them entry to their own country? Jail them? I guess they will have to build a lot of new prison if you suggest jailing them.

The truth here. The inconvenient truth is that a lot of people here and everywhere seem to be OK with fingerpinting some "citizens", some "races", some "origins", but not caucasian westerners. Isn't it? You guys and girls are OK with fingerprinting some people (we all know which ones I am talking about) but not yourself..."others" but not yourselves.

Fingerprinting is already used in Europe when requesting a Schengen visa from some countries. Japan is just ahead of a reality that will be the same everywhere. Deal with it or stop travelling.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Me neither. I don't commit crimes. And if you're coming into Japan via Atsugi, Kadena or Yokota US airbase, the whole thumbprint ordeal does not apply.

They should because there are unsolved crimes. It's not like US soldiers never commit crimes or never go out in town.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

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