Foreigners Fingerprints

By: Imtiaz  A. Chaudhry (President UMJ)

The UMJ Volume 1.1 (Opinion)

A growing number of non-Japanese in Japan have objected strongly to the requirement that fingerprints be taken as part of the registration procedure arguing that the fingerprints is the treatment given to the criminals. By the Dec 91, 156 non-Japanese had refused to be fingerprinted, and several prosecutions had resulted in guilty verdicts and fines. In response to growing protests the ministry of justice abolished the fingerprinting requirement for person with permanent resident status, effective Jan 1993.

A number of non-Japanese with Japanese spouses are residing here with spouse visa, Ministry of justice should think about them, and abolish fingerprints requirement for Japanese spouses too.

Koseki & Juminhyo (Family register & Resident register)

By: Alba Ohiwane

The UMJ Volume 1.3 (Opinion)

A big headache for non-Japanese spouses & their children

There is no doubt that many things related to the needs of the foreign community have changed in recent years, but unfortunately nothing has been done to improve the situation of the official family register maintained in city offices. May be some of us have already realized the fact that as foreigners we are not allowed to be a member (in official terms) of our own families. As foreigners, although married to Japanese citizens, we currently have no right at all to be included in either the"KOSEKI" family register or "JUMINHYO" resident register. Again, as adult foreigners maybe we have gotten used to this kind of discrimination. but what about our children? How difficult must it be for them to accept and face it, taking into account that they have the right to be full Japanese citizens.

I can find only one famous phrase which explains exactly how things are in Japan:

"The more things change, the more they stay the same".

 

 

By: S P Lohani

The UMJ Volume 1.3 (Editorial)

Is it really necessary for spouses of Japanese Nationals & Permanent Resident?

I found an article on visa matters in the Asahi Evening News of December 1st, 1996. It was written by a Spanish woman who married a Japanese and obtained a permanent residency visa from the Japanese government several years ago. According to her account, although she is a permanent resident, she still has to apply for the re-entry visa every year. She asked the person in charge, that why she should have to apply for a re-entry visa whenever she want to go back her homeland or any other country. The reply was the typical "it's rule" to her repeated queries about the reason, the answer was always the same.

There is usually one immigration office in each prefecture which means that foreigners must travel to the prefectural capital whenever they want to get a visa. I think many of our members have suffered from this kind of trouble as well. The Japanese government declares its desire to make Japan an " Internationalized" country in the coming 21st century. The essence of Internationalization is to understand the people who are next to you, regardless their nationalities.

If we/Japanese government don't take action to overcome these problems, neither Japanese nor foreigners will be able to afford the consequences. For a brighter 21st century, let us all make our best efforts.