new measures to further ensure prompter and smoother entry (landing) examinations.

## 4 Infrastructure Improvement for Terminals Exclusively Used for LCCs

In response to the government’s policy of ensuring a tourism-oriented country, there has been an increasing momentum to invite low-cost carriers (LCCs) taking place across Japan. In FY 2012, the required infrastructures were improved at Kansai Airport to open a terminal exclusively for LCCs (made available from October 28, 2012).

## 5 Immigration Control Policy in an Era of Acceptance of 25 Million Foreign Visitors

Based on the results of 18-month discussions on the future ideal form of immigration control administration in an era of acceptance of 25 million foreign visitors at the “Discussion Meeting on Immigration Control Administration in the Era of Accepting 25 Million Foreign Visitors”, held on May 20, 2013, the “Immigration Policy Discussion Panel” which is one of the private advisory groups of the Minister of Justice, submitted to the Minister of Justice a report on the “Results of Discussions on the Future Ideal Form of Immigration Control Administration in an Era of Acceptance of 25 Million Foreign Visitors”. That report addressed, among other topics, measures to rationalize the immigration examinations of new foreign nationals visiting Japan (such as the automated gate examinations for trusted travelers), measures to rationalize the procedure for the departure and return of Japanese nationals through the installation of numerous automated gates at a single examination site, and measures to rationalize the immigration examinations of foreign residents.

Based on this report, the Immigration Bureau is considering measures to rationalize the entry (landing) examinations and the departure procedures of foreign nationals as well as the procedures for the departure and return of Japanese nationals.

## Section 2 ☐ Strengthened Countermeasures at the Port of Entry

In order to protect the lives of the people and to maintain the high standard of public safety, it is extremely important to unfailingly prevent terrorists and other foreign nationals with an illegal intent, who are likely to disguise themselves as ordinary tourists. Since the terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001, the Immigration Bureau has been continuously implementing strict entry (landing) examinations at the ports so as to prevent and detain such terrorists as they attempt to enter the country.

## 1 Implementation of Immigration Examinations through the Use of Biometric Information

Since November 20, 2007, foreign nationals who intend to enter Japan have been required to submit their biometric information (fingerprints and a facial photograph). This enables us to accurately and promptly confirm that the applicant for the verification for landing is the same as the passport holder, and to check the applicant against the blacklist maintained by the Immigration Bureau. In addition, it has become possible to stringently detect those who have previously been deported and again try to enter the country illegally using forged passports or the passports of other people by checking their data against the data on fingerprints and facial photographs of those who departed under a departure order or who were deported in the past retained by the Immigration Bureau. During the period from the