## Background: The History of Immigration Control Administration

Japan first began to handle foreign nationals in accordance with the provisions of the commercial treaties concluded with Western countries between the end of the Edo Period and the early Meiji Era, and international customary laws. During that period, foreign nationals could freely enter Japan from the ports which were open, and those treaties and laws merely restricted their areas of residence or field of activities.

After World War I (1914-1918), Japan’s immigration control entered a new period. In that period, stringent control systems that did not exist in the Meiji Era were established to handle foreign nationals visiting Japanese territories, which included reasons to prohibit landing, and restrictive measures through the passport and visa systems were incorporated. These control systems continued to apply as the Taisho Era moved to the Showa Era.

After the end of World War II, the sovereignty of Japan was placed under the control of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, and the entry into and departure from Japan of foreign nationals were controlled under the Supreme Commander's direction and supervision. In the early times of the Occupation, of the immigration issues, greater focus was placed on the issue of repatriation, so-called "hikiage" (*). Subsequently, the entry restrictions were gradually eased in tandem with the easing of restrictions on the economic activities of foreign nationals.

In 1949, the Immigration Control Division was established in the General Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which formed the basis of the current-day immigration bureaus. In 1951, the Immigration Control Order, the original model of the current-day Immigration Control Act, was enacted. As the Treaty of Peace became effective on April 28, 1952, the right to permit entry was reverted to Japan by the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, and at the same time, large numbers of Japanese nationals lost their Japanese nationality. On the same day as the effectuation of the Treaty of Peace on April 28, 1952, the Alien Registration Act was enacted and came into force on April 27, 1955. During that period, the responsibilities of the immigration control administration were transferred to the Ministry of Justice from the “Immigration Control Agency,” the external organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was renamed the “Immigration Control Bureau.”

Between 1975 and 1985 the means of international travel shifted from ships to aircraft as a result of the development of airplanes, especially with the commencement of jumbo jet flight services, and the number of foreign nationals visiting Japan saw a significant increase as Japan's international status was enhanced. During this period, Japan's measures included the acceptance of Indochinese refugees (in and after 1975), and the signing of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (1981).

Subsequently, an increase and diversification in the foreign nationals entering and departing from Japan and residing in Japan was seen propelling Japan's internationalization. On the other hand, new phenomena, such as an explosive increase in the number of foreign nationals illegally working in Japan, against the backdrop of a strong yen, were seen. Given these issues, the Immigration Control Act was amended in 1989 to reorganize the system of statuses of residence and new provisions pertaining to the Basic Plan for Immigration Control were established in order to secure administrative operations in accordance with proper guidelines. In 1991, the Special Act on Immigration Control was enacted to further stabilize the legal status of the foreign nationals and their descendants who ___ Repatriation of Japanese nationals from abroad due to the end of World War II and the migration of foreign nationals from Japan.