On Oct 10, 1:07 pm, CL <flot...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Declan Murphy wrote:
> > On Oct 10, 9:58 am, CL <flot...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> Scott Reynolds wrote:
> >>> The 2-Belo wrote:
> >>>> Comedian: Hey did you hear that in Osaka they employ yakuza gangsters
> >>>> at the
> >>>> airport immigration counter? When you arrive in the country, they take
> >>>> the whole
> >>>> finger! Har! *rimshot*
> >>> Two fingers, innit?
> >> According to this video ... :
>
> >>http://nettv.gov-online.go.jp/prg/prg1203.html
>
> >> ... it's both index fingers. But, make sure you watch it with a barf bag
> >> handy as it insults the intelligence of anyone who has ever attended a
> >> logic class or has displayed the ability to think independently of the herd.
>
> > I watched that a few months ago, and still need the barf bag. Note the
> > title "Cool Japan" remains in the video player.
>
> > This thing is really starting to piss me off.
>
> This ain't nuthin' official, but I regularly use a couple of sources
> inside Nyuukoku Kanrikyoku at Narita and KIX.  According to one of the
> people there who is at the "stands in the background and appears to make
> decisions" level, if you have your torokusho and passport in your hand
> and you talk back to the rent-a-pig that will try to shoo you into the
> "Visitor" line in Wa-go, the unwritten rule is to leave you alone and
> let you through as an honorary human being instead of a foreign animal.

That unwritten rule seems to have been in place for donks. Even if you
still have your passport and gaigin card in your pocket, brushing off
the I'm-here-to-help-you rentacop with "I'm a resident with a re-entry
permit so I'm going to line up with the Japanese in the shorter
queues" has always been simple. From November 23rd though, I'll have
to line up with the tourists (even APEC card holders will have to),
and since only Narita will have an automated gate for pre-registered
gaigin guests (ie permanent residents etc), will have to do so each
and every time I use Chubu, Osaka, and so on.

My understanding is that the "Re-entry Permit" signage at the airports
is already being removed in preparation for the change.

> Besides, they've already got your photo and fingerprint at your
> kuyakusho.

Exactly - so other than sucking up to Sepponia, what is the point of
fingerprinting and photographing permanent residents etc coming back
home from gaikokuland?