Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
## Article: The Importance of Immigration Control as Measures Against Terrorism

The situation of terrorism affecting Japan is becoming increasingly more severe as seen through the terrorist incident regarding the murder of Japanese in Syria in January 2015 and the terrorist shooting attacks in Tunisia that occurred in March of the same year.

With regard to measures against terrorism, it is extremely important to prevent terrorism in advance, and immigration control plays an important role in preventing the entry of terrorists at the border.

The Immigration Bureau has been implementing measures against terrorism through such means as using personal identification information, the ICPO Stolen and Lost Travel Documents database, and entry examinations utilizing API, but in light of recent events, we will be reinforcing even stronger counter-terrorism measures. To this end, the “Reinforcement of Measures against Terrorism in Response to the Terrorist Incident Regarding the Murder of Japanese” decided on May 29, 2015 by the Headquarters for Promotion of Measures against Transnational Organization Crime and Other Relative Issues and International Terrorism incorporated the strengthening of the immigration control structure through the development of the personnel and infrastructure, the strengthening of the collection and analysis of border information and the strengthening of activities for warnings, surveillance and crackdowns at the airports and seaports.

In FY 2015, a structure to ensure both the promotion of a tourism-oriented country and strict border measures was secured by increasing the number of immigration inspectors by 227, and in October of the same year, “The Center of Collection and Analysis of Intelligence” was established in order to enhance the intelligence-gathering functions related to immigration control. The center, accumulating the necessary information from national and international relevant agencies, conducts high-level analysis of the information and provides it to the Regional Immigration Bureaus in order to prevent terrorists, etc. from entering Japan.

The role of immigration control will be further developed in order to prepare thoroughly for measures against terrorism in anticipation of the Summit to be held in 2016 and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
## Article: At the Front Line of Immigration Control Administration (voice of a document examination office staff) (Document Examination office, Kansai Airport District Immigration Office, Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau: Kenta Matsumori)

The Document Examination Office to which I belong examines passports whose authenticity is suspect, which have been discovered in the immigration examinations mainly at the airport.

Forged or altered passports often appear in scenes in movies and novels, and in actuality, forged or altered passports are found in Japanese airports and our airport is no exception. Our office conducts a variety of work including the examination of passports in order to prevent entry at the border of foreign nationals who are unwelcome in Japan and who attempt to illegally enter Japan for an unlawful purpose such as a crime or illegal employment.

In order to gain an insight into whether or not a passport has been forged or altered, it is important for us not only to make full use of various specialized equipment and to enhance our forensic technology every day so as not to miss even the slightest trace, but to keep track of what forgery prevention measures are being taken for the passports of all of the countries.

Owing to their importance, various measures are used in passports much like with currency bills so as to ensure that they cannot be forged, and the measures being taken differ depending on the country and, even with passports from the same country, in most cases, new forgery prevention measures will be taken when issuing new passports. Therefore, one of the important duties of our office is to collect and analyze information on forged and altered passports found all around the world and on the latest forgery prevention measures, and to provide this information to our officers all around Japan with the cooperation of the relevant organizations in and outside of Japan.

In this way, document examination is work which requires steady dedication in collecting and analyzing information, but we believe that the quiet repetition of our work leads to preventing illegal entrants at the border.

In the future, I intend to ensure that I do not neglect my efforts, and I hope to contribute in a small way to maintaining the security of Japan by devoting myself every day to accurately identifying forged and altered passports and preventing people who are unwelcome in Japan in advance.
It has become obvious that illegal foreign residents tend to exist in smaller groups and have spread out in wider areas, and the number of those who are detected at a single site has been on the decline over the years. Given this, the Immigration Bureau seeks to gather and analyze various pieces of information on foreign nationals staying beyond their authorized period of stay, and makes efforts to promote effective and efficient detection by rebuilding the composition of the immigration control officers.

## (2) Preparation of an Environment Facilitating Voluntary Appearance

The Immigration Bureau introduced a departure order system as a measure to encourage illegal foreign residents existing in various parts of the country to appear at the immigration office voluntarily, and took other measures, including a revision of the “Guidelines on Special Permission to Stay in Japan” $ (^{*1}) $ and publication of such cases, as well as public relations activities to encourage voluntary appearance at an immigration office.

The departure order system is a system where, unlike with the deportation procedures, foreign nationals staying illegally beyond their authorized period of stay, who meet certain criteria such as appearing in person to make a declaration in order to depart from Japan, are able to depart through simple procedures without being taken into custody (see Part 1, Section 5, 5 below), and 2,592 foreign nationals were issued with a departure order based on this system in FY 2014.

Meanwhile, the “Guidelines on Special Permission to Stay in Japan” which was approved and announced in 2006 was revised in July 2009 in order to increase the transparency of the operations. The revised guideline shows that if an illegal foreign resident appears at the immigration office voluntarily, this is considered a positive factor in the judgment on adjustment of their legal status.

The Immigration Bureau is also taking measures to further publicize the departure order system and the revised guideline on special permission to stay in Japan by conducting active public relations activities, improving the environment for voluntary appearances, and aiming to encourage illegal foreign residents to voluntarily appear at the immigration office $ (^{*2}) $ .

## Section 2 ◆ Implementation of Measures Against Imposter Foreign Residents

## $ ^{1} $ Countermeasures Against Imposter Foreign Residents, etc

“Imposter residents” are foreign nationals who are residing in Japan having illegally received entry or landing permission as though they come under one of the statuses of residence having disguised their identity or activities such as by using forged or altered documents or false documents under the cover of a fake marriage, fake studies or fake employment, etc., or they may not necessarily have concealed the purpose of their activities from the onset but are currently engaged in illegal work which is far removed from their status of residence, and therefore, taking measures against imposter residents is
## 3 Strict Treatment of Brokers Aiding Foreign Nationals in Illegal Residence and Imposter Residence

Article 24 of the Immigration Control Act provides that anyone coming under any of the following grounds for deportation will be deported: a person who has prepared or otherwise provided forged or false documents for the purpose of having another foreign national illegally acquire permission; a person who has had another foreign national engage in illegal work; a person who possesses forged residence cards for the purpose of using them; and a person who has forged or otherwise provided residence cards. In close cooperation with the police and other related authorities, the Immigration Bureau takes stringent actions by proactively detecting brokers and other offenders involved in aiding foreign nationals illegally staying and imposter foreign residents pursuant to the provisions of this article and other provisions.

## Article: Measures Against Illegal Residents and Imposter Residents

The Japanese government stated in the “Japanese Revitalization Strategy” (Revised in 2014) that it would “aim for a goal of more than 30 million foreign visitors coming to Japan in 2030”. Since the number of foreign nationals entering Japan in 2014 reached approximately 14 million, and the “Strategy” indicates as our goals that we are aiming to further continue in the future with strategic measures such as the easing of visa requirements and are also aiming for a higher goal, it is apparent that the number of foreign nationals entering and residing in Japan will increase significantly.

Along with the increase in the number of foreign nationals visiting Japan, since it is very likely that there will be an increase in the number of foreign nationals illegally residing in Japan, the measures against illegal residents and imposter residents are one of the specific approaches given in the “Creative Strategy to ‘Make Japan the World’s Safety Country’”. In addition, the measures against illegal residents and imposter residents are of increasing importance in order to further consolidate the sound security of Japan in anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Under such circumstances, the Immigration Bureau is committed to strongly promoting comprehensive measures against illegal residents and imposter residents through close cooperation with the related organizations.
## Article: At the Front Line of Immigration Control Administration (voice of an officer of the inquiry into the facts) (Fourth Investigation Department, Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau: Yumiko Sasaki)

The amended Immigration Control Act was enacted on July 9, 2012, through which a new residency management system for mid to long-term residents was introduced, while the Fourth Investigation Department of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau was established in May 2013 as the only department dedicated full-time to investigating the facts relating to the items of notification of the mid to long-term residents provided for in Article 19-19 of the Immigration Control Act.

Through the “Project to Halve the Number of Illegal Foreign Residents” implemented from 2004, the number of foreign nationals staying illegally beyond their authorized period of stay which at the outset of the project stood at approximately 220,000 foreign nationals saw a significant reduction to approximately 60,000 as of the time of January 1, 2015, but on the other hand, a serious problem is the existence of a considerable number of so-called imposter residents who have illegally received permission for residence, etc. through the use of false documents, etc., and therefore the methods can be said to have become more malicious and sophisticated.

The inquiry into the facts in accordance with Article 19-19 of the Immigration Control Act is a provision laid down for the implementation of investigations relating to the items of notification to the Minister of Justice and is intended to keep the information on mid to long-term residents accurate and up-to-date, and as a result of pursuing false items relating to the contents of notifications discovered in the field during the investigation process, numerous cases of imposter residents have been discovered. I feel in my day-to-day work that clarifying the situation of residence of imposter residents, who have been discovered during the inquiry into the facts, and taking appropriate measures in line with the cases is the role strongly expected of the fact-finding officers of inquiry into the facts as the intent of the provision of Article 19-19 of the Immigration Control Act.

I was assigned to the Fourth Investigation Department in April 2014, and this year will be my second. Initially, I felt as an immigration control officer that unlike with the investigations of violations,

that there would be many constraints of law since an inquiry into the facts does not allow for compulsory investigations, but when we were able to achieve results through steady investigations using originality and ingenuity, I realized that I was able to play a role in achieving fair residence management. Going forward, I hope to continue engaging in inquiry into the facts while further sharpening the senses that I have cultivated in my previous work.
Directors based on those opinions are published each year pursuant to the provisions of the Immigration Control Act.

## Article: At the Front Line of Immigration Control Administration (voice of an immigration control officer in the Detention Department) (Detention Department, Higashi-Nihon Immigration Center: Yuki Tachiyama)

I am currently responsible for the work of the treatment of detainees at the Higashi Nihon Immigration Center. This center is a facility housing foreign nationals for whom deportation has been decided as a result of violating the laws of Japan.

If you say detention center, the image that is conjured up is usually that of a prison or a detention center of a penal institution, but at this detention center, the detainees are allowed as much freedom as possible within the extent that there are no obstacles in terms of security. For example, the doors of the rooms are open, and the detainees are given time to spend as they please in certain areas, and they can also exercise in the outdoor grounds, take showers, do laundry, watch television, smoke, make phone calls to people outside and purchase goods.

There are many detainees who refuse to return to their countries even though deportation has been decided for them, and moreover, since there are many people of a wide variety of nationalities and from different ethnic groups, there are often problems arising from differences in lifestyles or values.

As officers in charge of the work of treatment, we are expected to maintain security and order in the detention facilities, but rather than unilaterally imposing rules on the detainees, we feel that it is important to pay consideration to relieving the stress brought about by the detention. Therefore, when treating the detainees, we proactively talk to them on a daily basis, sometimes giving them advice about their worries, and by diligently observing the movements of the detainees, we strive to keep tabs on their feelings so as not to miss any signs of small changes.

On the other hand, if there are any acts of violation or acts of abuse towards other detainees, we must suppress these acts taking a firm stance.

Properly carrying out the treatment of detainees in this way requires cooperation between the

persons in charge, and it is particularly important to maintain constant contact and to ask for advice from our senior colleagues.

The work of treatment is work where the results are hard to see, but I believe that it is an important process leading up to when the deportee is deported, and therefore I hope to work together with my supervisors and colleagues to carry out proper treatment.
April 2012 and March 2014, the Immigration Bureau implemented a “pilot project”. Under the project, the Immigration Bureau requested Forum for Refugees Japan to secure a residence for foreign nationals claiming to be a refugee at Narita Airport for whom securing a residence was difficult and Landing Permission for Temporary Refuge or Permission for Provisional Stay was granted to foreign nationals for whom acceptance was possible.

Currently consideration is being given among the three parties on the possibility of continuing with measures similar to this project or of expanding this project.
### Chapter 7. Responses to International Society and International Situations

## Section 1 ☐ Treaties and International Conventions

## ① Major Actions for Negotiations for the Conclusion of EPAs with Other Countries

The Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) are agreements which aim to promote liberalization and facilitation of trade between signatory nations, as well as the coordination of policies, relaxation of regulations, and cooperation in various economic areas, including tariffs, trade in services, investment, intellectual property, and personal exchanges. The Immigration Bureau has been actively involved in negotiations for the conclusion of EPAs with various countries: Singapore (effective date: November 2002), Mexico (April 2005), Chile (September 2007), Thailand (November 2007), Indonesia (July 2008), the Philippines (December 2008), Switzerland (September 2009), Viet Nam (October 2009), India (August 2011), Peru (March 2012), and Australia (January 2015); and has been responsible for the part in the negotiations in relation to the “movement of natural persons”.

As of April 2015, the Immigration Bureau has mainly been involved in negotiations for the conclusion of EPAs with Canada, Colombia and the EU, etc.

## ② Acceptance of Nurse and Certified Care Worker Candidates Based on EPAs

From the point of view of strengthening bilateral cooperation in economic activities, Japan commenced the acceptance of nurse and certified care worker candidates, who aim to acquire Japanese national nursing qualifications or national certified care worker qualifications, from Indonesia in FY 2008, the Philippines in FY 2009, and Viet Nam in FY 2014. The number of foreign nationals accepted as nurse and certified care worker candidates based on an EPA up until FY 2014 was 1,235 from Indonesia, 1,004 from the Philippines, and 138 from Viet Nam.

## 3 Reports and Examinations in Accordance with Human Rights Treaties

Japan is a signatory to various treaties, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). With regard to government reports on the status of the implementation of those treaties, the Immigration Bureau is involved in the drafting of reports, review of the government reports, and follow-up thereof from the perspective of immigration control administration.
## 4 Responses to the Bilateral Travel Facilitation Initiative

“The U.S.-Japan Joint Statement: The United States and Japan: Shaping the Future of the Asia-Pacific and Beyond” (Annex: Leaders Statement on Japan-US Bilateral Exchanges) dated April 25, 2014 referred to Japan’s participation in the U.S. Global Entry Program (GEP), and the Immigration Bureau also believes that the GEP will contribute to expedite immigration procedures for both countries and has been vigorously advancing consideration for participation in the program, and an outline agreement was reached on April 28, 2015 at the Japan-U.S. summit meeting on the implementation of a bilateral travel facilitation initiative pertaining to GEP and Trusted Traveler Program (a new Japanese program (see Chapter 2, Section 1, 3 above) making foreign nationals who have been identified as “trusted travelers” eligible to use the automated gates.).

## Section 2 ☐ International Conferences

## G7/8 Rome-Lyon Group Migration Experts Sub-Group Meeting

The Migration Experts Sub-Group Meeting, one of the sub groups of the G7/8 Rome/Lyon Group, which is a working experts' group to discuss measures against international terrorism and transnational organized crime at the G8 level, is discussing measures that the G7/8 members should take cooperatively in the area of illegal immigration and the forgery or alteration of documents.

In FY 2014, two meetings were held in Germany, and the Immigration Bureau staff attended the meetings to exchange information and opinions with their counterparts in other countries.

## ② Other International Conferences

In addition to the international meetings mentioned above, the Immigration Bureau sends officials to attend meetings on promotion of measures against trafficking in persons and consular services, etc., to express Japan's position actively and build cooperative relations with other countries. The Immigration Bureau also sends officials to participate in multinational meetings, such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA)/Control Authorities Working Group (CAWG) for the purpose of information sharing and exchanging opinions.
### Chapter 8. Improvement of Public Relations Activities and Public Services

## Section 1 ☐ Promotion of Public Relations Activities

Recognizing that public relations and enlightenment activities both in Japan and abroad play a major role in the smooth implementation of immigration control administration, the Immigration Bureau has been further promoting more active public relations activities than ever before. The main promotion of public relations activities are provision of information including the circumstances concerning immigration control administration, new systems or policies, and changes of procedures.

In terms of immigration control administration, statistics concerning immigration control administration such as the number those entering or departing from Japan, the number of foreign residents and the number of foreign nationals staying beyond their authorized period of stay are released and posted on the website of the Ministry of Justice. In addition, the Immigration Bureau publishes such information as data on the case examples of special permission to stay in Japan and the standard processing time of the examinations of recognition of refugee status, in order to make immigration control administration understood by a wide variety of people.

Moreover, efforts are being made to publicize information by posting information on promotion of use of the automated gates and the points-based system for highly-skilled professionals and information on the necessary procedures to switch to the residence card or special permanent resident certificate on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the Immigration Bureau, and by distributing posters and leaflets.

In addition, for the purpose of preventing illegal work through the appropriate employment of foreign nationals, the Immigration Bureau holds an “Illegal Work Prevention Campaign” as part of the larger campaign for “Foreign Labor Problems Awareness Month” conducted by the government every June, so that the general public, companies hiring foreign nationals, and relevant organizations and governments in other countries will be able to better understand the issues and offer cooperation to the Immigration Bureau. In 2014, the Immigration Bureau conducted enlightenment activities for the prevention of illegal employment by distributing leaflets in cooperation with the relevant ministries and local authorities, etc.

Promotion

of the automated gates

Illegal Work Prevention

Campaign

Leaflet for the Illegal Work Prevention Campain