reinforced cooperation with the police and other relevant agencies.

Enhancement of measures to prevent terrorists from entering Japan has become a key challenge. Tougher border measures to forestall terrorist attacks will be promoted based on the “Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism” as adopted at the Headquarters for Promotion of Measures Against Transnational Organized Crime and Other Relative Issues and International Terrorism in December 2004.

## (1) Promoting Border Measures

Border measures are needed to block the entry of terrorists and other foreign nationals planning to commit crimes in Japan, as well as those planning to illegally stay or work in Japan. These measures will be aggressively promoted in cooperation with relevant agencies or officials including crisis management officials at international airports and seaports.

### A. Implementing Stricter Examinations for Landing

In order to reduce the number of illegal foreign residents in Japan, it is necessary to prevent foreign nationals who wish to stay illegally from coming to and entering Japan. Regarding the status of residence of “Temporary Visitor” which accounts for 70% of the status illegal foreign residents have, as well as the “Entertainer,” “Pre-college Student,” “College Student” and “Trainee” statuses of residence which account for a large percentage of the status illegal foreign residents have, stricter examinations for landing will be implemented based on analysis of the accepting organizations and their home countries. Landing permission conditions will also be reviewed as needed. Stricter examinations on applications for certificates of eligibility will be implemented through investigation of existing conditions and other measures.

It is vital to cooperate with the examinations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for issuance of visas in preventing foreign nationals from coming to Japan for the purpose of staying illegally.

### B. Introducing Immigration Examinations Using Biometrics

In order to detect and oust, at the border, terrorists or foreign nationals who have been deported from Japan or committed crimes, one effective method is to further enhance measures against forged and falsified documents and to utilize biometrics in immigration examinations.

In order to take facial portraits and fingerprint data during landing examinations of foreign nationals under the “Action Plan for Prevention of Terrorism” (as adopted at the Headquarters for Promotion of Measures Against Transnational Organized Crime and Other Relative Issues and International Terrorism on December 10, 2004), necessary preparations will be made by putting in order points for us to keep in mind, observing relevant measures taken by foreign countries and developing relevant law. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is planning step-by-step to implement the fingerprinting of foreign nationals for their visa applications depending on the overall system and the installation of materials and equipment at diplomatic establishments and on developments in foreign countries, while consideration is also being given to linkage with the landing examinations.

### C. Introducing Other New Measures

The Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) was introduced in January 2005 for airlines to transmit information on crew members and passengers on flights bound for Japan before reaching Japan to allow automatic verification of the data against data maintained by immigration control, customs and police authorities. Strict landing examinations are being promoted by utilizing this system. Obliging airlines to introduce this system will be considered while observing operation of the present system in which airlines participate voluntarily.

As described in 1(3)A, through the introduction of the secondary examination system and the implementation of a pre-clearance system, strict and effective landing examinations will be secured. A