Japan to fingerprint and photograph visitors (including Canadians) in Nov 2007

[HighFlyer]

The video pretty much explains it.... unlike the US-VISIT program, Canadians won't be able to escape this one.

http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg1203.html

[asdfvcx]

That's unfortunate. The two times I've been there they always seemed so reasonable with their entry procedures. I really would prefer if this doesn't become a worldwide trend.

I wonder if this is retaliation to the US, and they're just too afraid to only target Americans. Or are they just that paranoid about terrorism (why?) or illegal immigration (more likely) and for some reason feel that this is going to help.

And the video really is quite surreal. It seems bizarrely appropriate.

[Kasakato]

The video is in English, and Engrish. 2 in 1.

Who the hell made it?

[bionicbadger]

Watched the first couple minutes. Seems straightforward enough.

My fingerprints are already on record in Japan anyway, All foreigners who stay longer than 3 months were required to do this at least 10 years ago already....

[Little Dragon]

profiling gaijins now...how lame

[canabiz]

profiling gaijins now...how lame

What about Japanese-Canadian?

[bionicbadger]

What about Japanese-Canadian?

I don't think they fingerprint their own citizens. If you have a Japanese passport you are probably safe.

[HighFlyer]

The video is in English, and Engrish. 2 in 1.

Who the hell made it?
It says "Copyright Cabinet Office, Government Of Japan. All Rights Reserved." I'm assuming this is the video they are going to show in-flight just prior to arrival in Japan (with the proper language audio subbed). The US does something similar to that on US-bound flights departing from a non-Canadian city.

[ken_ll]

Sounds like Canada needs a similar program to provide this service to holders of Japanese passports.

[bionicbadger]

Sounds like Canada needs a similar program to provide this service to holders of Japanese passports.

Canada should have this for all visitors to the country.

[Kranberry]

I don't think they fingerprint their own citizens. If you have a Japanese passport you are probably safe.

I only passed through Tokyo airport as a stopover when I was around 10. I do remember going back to the plane, going through the metal detector (remember I'm 10 and this is the 70s), and it goes off. I was litterally thrown against the wall and patted down to see if I had a gun or anything. Mebbe cuz I'm Chinese. :razz:

Oh yeah, and in Hong Kong, when I applied for my HK Citizenship, I had to give my fingerprints. So Hong Kong used to fingerprint citizens, don't know if that is still in existence.

[Kasakato]

I only passed through Tokyo airport as a stopover when I was around 10. I do remember going back to the plane, going through the metal detector (remember I'm 10 and this is the 70s), and it goes off. I was litterally thrown against the wall and patted down to see if I had a gun or anything. Mebbe cuz I'm Chinese. :razz:

Oh yeah, and in Hong Kong, when I applied for my HK Citizenship, I had to give my fingerprints. So Hong Kong used to fingerprint citizens, don't know if that is still in existence.

I was there 11 months ago, and everyone was relaxed and laid-back compared to the TSA police in Dallas. Set an alarm off there and say goodbye to your plane. They at least give you mats and shoehorns there.

[Kasakato]

It says "Copyright Cabinet Office, Government Of Japan. All Rights Reserved." I'm assuming this is the video they are going to show in-flight just prior to arrival in Japan (with the proper language audio subbed). The US does something similar to that on US-bound flights departing from a non-Canadian city.

Iv never seen one of those US-VISIT program videos. I flew into Dallas from Japan last year and don't recall any video. It was probably there, but I just wasn't paying enough attention to remember them.

My dad, who holds a Japanese passport, did get fingerprinted upon arrival under the US-VISIT program. Thankfully the border agent was a really calm guy. He even used some water from his water bottle to help clean his finger because it wasn't registering as a match to the sample left when he exited the US. While his jokes were terrible (never seen a border agent make a joke to being with), he still got us into the US, and onto Canada quickly.

[HighFlyer]

Iv never seen one of those US-VISIT program videos. I flew into Dallas from Japan last year and don't recall any video. It was probably there, but I just wasn't paying enough attention to remember them.

I believe I saw it a few months ago on a UA LHR-ORD flight. It resembled something similar to this
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/multimedia/usvisit/USVisit_English-High.wmv

[Pete_Coach]

I applaud the Japanese. I strongly believe that every Country has the right to do what it wishes at their borders.
It may be an inconvenience for us Canadians but, well, it is not our Country. Canada has very open rules and regs and when they try to tighten them up for protection, every special interest group from under every rock comes out and nothing gets done except lame new regs that are never enforced. (try fingerprinting every one in this Country...not).
I travel a lot and go through this very often. I have nothing to hide so therefore I have no issues with any of these security regs. Good for Japan

[rfdrfd]

I applaud the Japanese. I strongly believe that every Country has the right to do what it wishes at their borders.
It may be an inconvenience for us Canadians but, well, it is not our Country. Canada has very open rules and regs and when they try to tighten them up for protection, every special interest group from under every rock comes out and nothing gets done except lame new regs that are never enforced. (try fingerprinting every one in this Country...not).
I travel a lot and go through this very often. I have nothing to hide so therefore I have no issues with any of these security regs. Good for Japan

Agreed ! THe faster we move towards being able to track everyone and who enters and exits, the faster we can move towards a safer society and world. Stupid terrorists doing stupid stuff causing us major inconveniences when flying on planes, crossing borders etc.

Soon, all major countries will have biometrics and that will solve so many problems. As I've always said, when you are in public places, it is not private. If London didn't have such an elaborate video system, they wouldn't have been able to catch so many terrorists, in such a short period of time.

Good guys should have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Bad guys will be the ones that get nervious and eventually get caught. No more fake IDs, fake passports, no-fly lists by name,

Biometrics is the way to go. We've all seen on TV of the demo of iris scan checkin at airports that only took 5min or less, compared to now, 1hr or more.

[Narci]

Don't want to be fingerprinted, just don't goto Japan..plain and simple.

[asdfvcx]

I strongly believe that every Country has the right to do what it wishes at their borders.
No one is trying to say that Japan doesn't have the right to do this. Of course they do. Whether it's a good idea is another question.


Agreed ! THe faster we move towards being able to track everyone and who enters and exits, the faster we can move towards a safer society and world.
Please explain why. I'm not saying that it's necessarily a bad thing. But, how are stronger entry and exit procedures going to make a safer world? Feel free to use a real world example from the recent past where this would have helped.

Soon, all major countries will have biometrics and that will solve so many problems.
What problems? And how do you deal with the huge security problem of having all this biometric data in a database with many points of access?


If London didn't have such an elaborate video system, they wouldn't have been able to catch so many terrorists, in such a short period of time.
Perhaps. But maybe if they spent less money of video systems, and more on other forms of policing, they would catch people before they blew things up, not after. The video systems sure didn't seem to act as much of a deterrent in these cases.

Good guys should have nothing to hide and nothing to fear.
Um, Maher Arar?

And do you people live in houses with solid instead of glass walls? Do you have any curtains? I'll assume you do. Why, do you have something to hide?

Just because a person desires a bit of privacy, doesn't mean that they are doing anything wrong. And just because we don't want governments developing and sharing huge biometric databases, also doesn't mean we did something wrong. It just means that we see very little benefit to the databases and huge possibilities that it will be abused.

[rfdrfd]

Please explain why. I'm not saying that it's necessarily a bad thing. But, how are stronger entry and exit procedures going to make a safer world? Feel free to use a real world example from the recent past where this would have helped.


I appreciate your comments and they are very politely asked as well. Excuse my laziness to quote and reply to each question, I'll try to elaborate on each point more.

Some points:
- stronger way to ID people (instead of passports, ID cards which are faked every day) will be able to catch more bad guys trying to cross the border pretending to be someone else by using a fake ID (airport, trains, car)

- closer to city problems, to stop ID theft which I suppose is a country problem as well, if we all required biometrics in driver licenses, bank cards, etc, then no one will be able to pretend they were me, then sell my house under my feet, take out lines of credits in my name, committ fraud and crime in my name while I'm typing this. Its because people can copy my signature, make new, fake IDs then go to banks, and they don't have a good system to verify John Smith IS really John Smith. If banks had iris scanners, then that would stop almost all ID thefts

- putting cameras in cities, streets, parks will be excellent deterant and evident to catch "bad" people breaking the law, damaging property, stealing cars, stalking a girl, raping a child, etc.

- putting photo radars definitely helps people slow down. Ppl who speed at crazy speeds on highways deserve to be caught and penalized. Back when 401 had photoradars, everyone was seriously driving slower, significantly. Yet we all cry "invasion of privacy.... ticketing the owner not the driver.. "


Its just because Japan, Hong Kong, London and other cities have a bigger population problem then Canada, they will have more advanced methods in dealing with law breakers, terrorists and preventing crime.

I can understand why people in Canada will be opposed to all these strict rules and monitoring, but it is just a matter of time for acceptance. As our population grows, as our army continues to kill people over at Iraq and make more enemies, we too will have to defend ourselves by these methods. Need more cameras, a TRUE way to ID our citizens and who comes in and goes out.

Things that other major cities have that Toronto is slowly implementing:
- yellow checkered lines at major intersections for NO car stopping
- red light cameras
- photoradar
- security cameras at club districts
- RFID on ID cards (even debit and credit cards)


And the problem of databases for storing all these. Sure, anything can be broken into, but I think it isn't as bad as my info from my SIN or passport right now being stolen. Currently, yes, someone can steal my info, ID#, etc, and make a new fake passport and pretend to be me, then do lots of things in my name.

However, if we switched to Biometrics, I don't think they can create a fake iris (in their head's eyeballs) to go through customs. Or maybe a fake fingerprint for the scanners? Imagine if we have to use Iris scan plus fingerprint scan at airports, banks for mortgages, etc. Then even if a hacker got my info, still wouldn't help much. Unlike now when everything is just on paper.

[Kranberry]

I was there 11 months ago, and everyone was relaxed and laid-back compared to the TSA police in Dallas. Set an alarm off there and say goodbye to your plane. They at least give you mats and shoehorns there.

You forget, my incident was over 10 years before Sept. 11. I'm sure Dallas was just as laid back if not more over 10 years ago.

However, if we switched to Biometrics, I don't think they can create a fake iris (in their head's eyeballs) to go through customs. Or maybe a fake fingerprint for the scanners? Imagine if we have to use Iris scan plus fingerprint scan at airports, banks for mortgages, etc. Then even if a hacker got my info, still wouldn't help much. Unlike now when everything is just on paper.

Never investigated iris biometrics, but fingerprints were easily faked, a few years ago using gummie bears, and 2 years ago using play doh. I think the success rate was over 70%. Way too high for a supposedly secure technique.

Best method would be multiple biometrics with a PIN. Multiple methods make it that much harder. Or how about like Gattica...DNA verification... :cheesygri

[almostfreeman]

Canada should have this for all visitors to the country.

Sounds like a great way to attract tourists. :|

[Pete_Coach]

Um, Maher Arar?
.
Mr. Arar got his apology and also 10 million dollars. Before you go and defend his claim, remember that he was politically paid off and in the end it was only his word claiming the atrocities. No evidence from either eyewitnesses or proof from his birth Country.


Never investigated iris biometrics, but fingerprints were easily faked, a few years ago using gummie bears, and 2 years ago using play doh. I think the success rate was over 70%. Way too high for a supposedly secure technique.
:cheesygri
Well, as for the gummie bear and play do comment, sure that is a really good way to trick the Customs guy standing in front of you....Oh wait Officer, let me put on my gummie bear finger puppet before you check my prints.... :cheesygri

Sounds like a great way to attract tourists. :|
Is tourism a problem in Italy where the Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza or Polizia all walk around with very big guns at the ready? Or In France where the same thing is happening and what about the tourists in Israel? I could name many more Countries but you get the point. Really, all in all, a poorly though out comment.

[gordholio]

We are slowly (maybe not so slowly now) coming into the era of Big Brother.
Imagine the laughter when George Orwell wrote "1984".
I guess we're not laughing now; this surveillance and tracking technology would be a nightmare in the wrong hands.

[almostfreeman]

Mr. Arar got his apology and also 10 million dollars. Before you go and defend his claim, remember that he was politically paid off and in the end it was only his word claiming the atrocities. No evidence from either eyewitnesses or proof from his birth Country.


Well, as for the gummie bear and play do comment, sure that is a really good way to trick the Customs guy standing in front of you....Oh wait Officer, let me put on my gummie bear finger puppet before you check my prints.... :cheesygri


Is tourism a problem in Italy where the Carabinieri, Guardia di Finanza or Polizia all walk around with very big guns at the ready? Or In France where the same thing is happening and what about the tourists in Israel? I could name many more Countries but you get the point. Really, all in all, a poorly though out comment.

Right, what does Italy have that we don't ? The Rogers centre and CN tower oughta be enough to persuade people to come here and not to go see world class art galleries, ancient ruins, inexpensive quality wine, unforgetable food. Maybe the comparison to the world's most visited country isn't a fair comparison. I haven't been to Israel but I hear they have rotten weather and terrible beaches. Just a few religious relics that attract a few pilgrims, and just a few visitors from family members living in the US. I could go on but you get the point ...

[HighFlyer]

Right, what does Italy have that we don't. The Rogers centre and CN tower oughta be enough to persuade people to come here and not to go see world class art galleries, ancient ruins, inexpensive quality wine, unforgetable food.

Fingerprinting and photo aside, the current process for entering Canada is already enough of a deterrance from visiting this country:

Entering Italy - slide your passport under the glass (no customs form necessary), officer swipes and stamps it, slides it back to you.... and you're on your way.

Entering Canada - hand your passport and customs card to the officer, officer looks at you suspicously, and depending on which side of the bed he/she woke up from, grunts, begins with the million questions, along with the shakedown for booze and smokes.

[Kasakato]

You forget, my incident was over 10 years before Sept. 11. I'm sure Dallas was just as laid back if not more over 10 years ago.


I did not forget anything. Japans security is just as relaxed as it is currently, as it was 10 years ago. Not including the international "standards" in upgrading security (shoe carnival, liquids ban, etc).

[and or]

Agreed ! THe faster we move towards being able to track everyone and who enters and exits, the faster we can move towards a safer society and world. Stupid terrorists doing stupid stuff causing us major inconveniences when flying on planes, crossing borders etc.

Soon, all major countries will have biometrics and that will solve so many problems. As I've always said, when you are in public places, it is not private. If London didn't have such an elaborate video system, they wouldn't have been able to catch so many terrorists, in such a short period of time.

Good guys should have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. Bad guys will be the ones that get nervious and eventually get caught. No more fake IDs, fake passports, no-fly lists by name,

Biometrics is the way to go. We've all seen on TV of the demo of iris scan checkin at airports that only took 5min or less, compared to now, 1hr or more.

I seriously never thought I'd see the day that people were begging to be fingerprinted, etc. and cheering about it.

This is the true terrorism.

:cry:

[HighFlyer]

Get your index fingers ready for Nov 20.....

http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/japan-to-fingerprint-foreigners-from-next-month/2007/10/05/1191091325404.html

[profguy]

The video pretty much explains it.... unlike the US-VISIT program, Canadians won't be able to escape this one.

http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg1203.html

I don't hve any interest in going to japan. but if they insist on fingerprinting canadians (and it is there right to do so) - we should insist on the same for visitors from japan do the same here.

[Kasakato]

I don't hve any interest in going to japan. but if they insist on fingerprinting canadians (and it is there right to do so) - we should insist on the same for visitors from japan do the same here.

Why should we penalize the Japaneses people because they actually care about border security? Seems a little racial to me. Japan is fingerprinting everyone, not just Canadians.

[profguy]

Why should we penalize the Japaneses people because they actually care about border security? Seems a little racial to me. Japan is fingerprinting everyone, not just Canadians.

You mised the point - who is penalizing japanese people? if they want to fingerprint candians (i am only concerned about canadians becasue i'm candain and we are in canada) - why shouldn't we do the same to japnese entering canda - we care concerned about border security too. they do it for security and we should too - but if other counties don't require it we recipocate - just like we do for visas - some require it others don't.

I'm sticking up for canada.