Gaijin Cards - Alien Registration Card - Strictly Enforced Now

[Sparkys]

Even though he dramatizes and exaggerates some things, Debito has done many good things for the foreign community. I have had only had one hassle with the police asking me to show my ID card. I went to a KOban (Police Box) to asked directions, I ended up having to stay 10 minutes while they checked my card, and asked me question pertaining to my stay in Japan, needless to say I never got the right directions.

[quote]Gaijin card' checks spread as police deputize the nation



By DEBITO ARUDOU
Special to The Japan Times
In the good old days, very few Japanese knew about Alien Registration Cards

[fba90130]

Well actually I spent 3 hours in the station in Akihabara the first weekend in Japan 
It didn't help the most recent ID I had on me was a military one (since all male Singaporeans serve in the army after reaching 18) and
NONE of my photo IDs looked the same.

I was stopped 3 times but was only asked to go to the station on my 3rd stop. They did everything by the book even showing me their IDs first.

I did get a free ride back to my apartment "escorted" in one of them mini-vans and 5 police officers (not counting the interpreter).
Maybe they were expecting a terrorist or something since they kinda "surrounded" me ...

well I can't complain since i DID get a free ride and i DID forget to bring out my passport. The previous two officers who hadn't hauled me in might have gotten into trouble (i dunno...) since I cheerily waved at them in the station and they were like standing there going ...WTF?

Or maybe the detective who hauled me in was in trouble for wasting a lot of time money and effort since it was a sunday and everybody was about to leave for the weekend, AND it turned out I had proper papers.

Well at least I scored a date with a hot interpretor that time ... we're still in contact. From then on, I had the silly habit of stopping by the station each time I was in Akihabara ... They never did ask me for my Gaijin card ...pity.

[Sparkys]

wow thats amazing I have never heard of that happening!

The worst experience I have had with the police was...

Two detectives came knocking on my apartment. The informed me that someone got stabbed at leaving a bank about a week earlier. They said they were going door-to-door...I am pretty sure just gaijin-to-door because I never heard them knock on any other doors in my building...anyway. They eagerly took my shoe brand names, sizes, asked me where I had been, etc. etc. Then as they were about too leave they casually turned back and said in Japanese of course "Could we have your finger prints, and D.N.A. sample." They insured me that all Japanese get finger prints, and D.N.A. samples during elementary school. So there in my front entrance I was being finger printed, and tongue-swabbed.

Talk about a freaky morning.
They never called back so I guess I was innocent

[ayashi79]

Hm... this is definitely bad news.
During my previous stays I never had an encounter with police, but maybe because I'm woman. Somehow all the stories I've heard or read concerned only men. Interesting.

[hammuda]

I never had any problems like that, you know, being a 16 year old girl at the time (albeit Arab, but the Japanese are pretty much unable to figure that out), but iunno, they are the "master race."
lol@racist Japan.
Oh, unless you're white, I guess.

[kumaringo]

all employers ("jigyo nushi") hiring, firing, or currently employing non-Japanese (except Special Permanent Residents and diplomats) must check their visa status, verifying that they are neither overstaying nor working outside their visa parameters.

The justifications for this new system are these: You've got to make sure foreigners aren't working outside of their official Status of Residence. As we have reported (ZG Jun 28, 2005), even taking a quick part-time job can be a visa violation in certain cases.

I have a question on this topic. It is a very delicate situation so I apologize but I cannot give all details.
The gaijin girlfiend of a (gaijin) fiend of mine had a serious trouble with such kind of things last week. The police found her working outside of official status of residence. She was immediately carried in jail  . The process will be done in a week. My question is: how severe is the japanese law? What will happen? She will be forced to leave Japan without possibility to re-entry, or it will be something softer like a limited period in jail and/or the payment of some money? If someone can answer I`d be grateful.

[Sparkys]

As far as I know if she was taken off to Jail. She will be deported. They are really cracking down due to terrorism. And I am not sure exactly but she probably will not be able to re-enter Japan for a period of 5 years. I am not up-to-date on this information though. Sorry

[pillowsman]

yeah i guess i better be good at remembering my wallet from now on...cause that would suck to get stopped while i am there......that would be a good story though

[Ben Jacinov]

Always, always carry your alien registration card or your passport when you are in Japan. This is especially true in the cities. It isn't worth the problems you will run into not having it.