cases of foreign nationals who attempted to enter Japan illegally using fake fingerprints created by causing direct injury to their fingers or by having plastic surgery, or using forged passports, in order to avoid detection of their departure under a departure order or deportation in the past. If such a case of a foreign national using fake fingerprints occurs, the Immigration Bureau is not only responsible for implementing the deportation procedures, but strictly deals with them such as the criminal procedures which have stricter punishments. Therefore, the Immigration Bureau files a report or accusation of illegal entry with the investigative authorities, and strives to detect fake fingerprints by upgrading the examination devices.

## ② Use of ICPO’s Database on Lost and Stolen Passports

The introduction and operation of a system to enable the utilization of ICPO’s database on lost and stolen passports at the time of the entry examinations as a measure to prevent terrorism was decided in the “Action Plan for the Prevention of Terrorism” (decision of the Headquarters for the Promotion of Measures against Transnational Organized Crime and Other Relative Issues and International Terrorism on December 10, 2004), and examinations have been conducted since August 2009 utilizing ICPO’s lost and stolen passports database search system.

The Immigration Bureau seeks to detect illegal entry cases by terrorists and those contemplating illegal conduct through the misuse of lost or stolen passports, by utilizing the abovementioned database.

## ③ Immigration Examinations Through the Use of APIS and PNR

The Immigration Bureau is working to track international terrorists, etc., and collect information related to them in close cooperation with the relevant agencies to prevent them from entering Japan and committing terrorist acts. In the process of entry (landing) examinations, the Immigration Bureau is trying to detect terrorists, etc., by unfailingly checking foreign nationals against a blacklist based on such information.

Since February 1, 2007, all vessels and aircrafts calling at a port in Japan have been required to submit, in advance, a list of crew members and passengers which contains their personal identification data. Since February 21, 2010, it has become possible to receive advance passenger information about aircraft calling at an airport through the Air-NACCS (Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System) operated by the Nippon Automated Cargo And Port Consolidated System, Inc., and a new advance passenger information system (APIS) was launched.

In addition, as well as handling the significant increase in the number of foreign nationals corresponding to the implementation of various measures aimed at the realization of a tourism-oriented country, we will be collecting new information which is useful in terms of immigration control in order to prevent entry of terrorists and other foreign nationals who pose problems in terms of immigration control at the border, and in accordance with the 2014 Amendment Act, it has become possible since January 1, 2015 for immigration inspectors to request the airline companies to provide a PNR report. We will be striving to prevent the entry at the border of terrorists and other foreign nationals who pose a problem in terms of immigration control and to achieve smooth and prompt landing examinations for problem-free foreign nationals through the utilization of the PNRs.

## 4 Patrol Activities at Airports and Seaports

In fact, there have been some cases of illegal entry into a third country misusing the transit areas (special areas made available in international airports, consisting of areas through which those who enter