Date	Developments	Contents
Jun.15 2012	Amendment of the “Ministerial Ordinance on the Development of Ministerial Ordinances and Transi-tional Measures Accompanying the Enforcement of the Act of Partial Amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, Inter Alia, Those who have Lost Japanese Nationality Pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan”	With respect to the new residency management system administration policy, the following matters were stipu-lated: (i) method of notification in person or by post to the Minister of Justice by the organization to which the mid-to long-term resident belongs in cases where he or she changes the organization or has been accepted by an orga-nization and the measures to notify (ii) transitional measures for those who are not subject to the “system for special re-entry permission” (effective as of July 9, 2012).
Jun.15 2012	Enactment of the “Ministerial Ordinance to Provide for the Method of Notification Set Forth in Article 30-31 of the Order for Enforcement of the Residen-tial Basic Book Act and Article 6, Paragraph (3), Etc. of the Order for Enforcement of the Immigra-tion Control and Refugee Recognition Act” and the “Ministerial Ordinance to Provide for the Method of Communication Set Forth in Article 2, Etc. of the Order for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act”	Under the new residency management system, the method of transmitting notifications on information between the Minister of Justice and the municipal mayors pursuant to Article 30-31 of the Order for Enforcement of the Resi-dential Basic Book Act, and Article 6, paragraph (3) or in other provisions, and the method of transmitting commu-nications between the municipal mayors to the Minister of Justice pursuant to Article 2 of the Order for Enforcement of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act or in other provisions were stipulated to be conducted via telecommunication lines (effective as of July 9, 2012)
Jul.9 2012	Introduction of a new residency management system	The new residency management system was introduced as a result of enforcement of the Act to Amend the Immigra-tion Control Act and Related Acts and ordinances enacted at the 171st Diet session in 2009. The alien registration legislation was abolished as of the same date.
Jul.9 2012	New appointment of Director of the Immigration Control Information Division in the Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice and the Director of the Residency Management Office of the Entry and Stat-tus Division, and establishment of a new Residency Management Information Department in the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau	In order to be able to operate the new residency manage-ment system resulting from enforcement of the amended Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, Di-rector of the Immigration Control Information Division was appointed and the Residency Management Office of the Entry and Status Division was established in the Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice (abolition of the Director of the Registration Division and the Data Processing System Development Office of the General Affairs Division). A new Residency Management Information Department of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau was estab-lished.
Aug.17 2012	Deportation of activists claiming sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands	On August 15, 2012, fourteen activists claiming sover-eignty over the Senkaku Islands attempted to land on the islands illegally by vessel. After the completion of criminal procedures, the 14 protestors were transferred to the Naha District Immigration Office of the Fukuoka Regional Immigration Bureau and, on August 17, were deported from Japan by airplane or ship.