Shoganai Japan - Latest Comments

Re: We are no longer Aliens!!!

Guest — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:33:11 -0000

The maximum period of stay used to be five years. It was changed to three years approximately twenty-five years ago. A few of us were a bit upset when that happened - especially since the revised system also placed new restrictions on permitted activities. (In the past a working visa in principle meant one was allowed to work, with but few limitations.)

At the time alien registrations used to be administered and issued by municipal offices. They were given even to illegal aliens if applied for, as by asking for them the applicants complied with an existing law.

The key point of the new system is really not to improve the convenience of foreign nationals, but to make it more convenient to track them. Most people don't realise that the whole alien registration system was originally introduced to keep track of North Koreans, and everyone else was included primarily to prevent allegations of prejudice. In the early days this was even apologetically explained to applicants when they filled in the forms.

Bureaucracy never narrows its scope of influence, even if it gives the illusion of doing so. The original reasons for laws are just forgotten, and they become an end in themselves. Now foreigners are already fingerprinted on entry and tracked centrally so there is no longer need to take or keep fingerprints on file locally. Sadly we're even more a surveillance society than we used to be.

Re: ‘Jin’ finale ratings beat original

JoeSolberg — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:09:21 -0000

This drama was excellent. I recommend it to everyone. I'd love to time slip to the Edo era.

Re: How to wash your hands sign. For people who don’t know how.

JoeSolberg — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:22:46 -0000

This was in McDonalds.

Re: No Turkey for Christmas in Japan

fred — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:45:10 -0000

Nice Post.

Re: Paranormal Activity Japanese Style

JoeSolberg — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:11:55 -0000

Re: Daily Kotoba: 写真　Photo

Ryan Droder — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:23:24 -0000

Miss you my friend.

Your website looks great!

Re: Welcome to Shoganai Japan

Ricardo Ferreira — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:05:35 -0000

I´m from Portugal, but love the japonese culture, never go in to Japan, but love the Movies, Mangas, and Anime, and love to now more things about the contry, I´m follow you blog and Twitter. Thanks