## (5) Permission for Emergency Landing

The purpose of this provision is to respond quickly to emergency situations of foreign passengers and crew members aboard a vessel or aircraft. If such foreign nationals need to land in Japan urgently for medical treatment of a disease, injury or some other physical ailment, permission will be granted until the cause thereof ceases to exist (Article 17 of the Immigration Control Act).

## (6) Landing Permission Due to Distress

This permission was established for the purpose of promptly dealing with vessels that are in distress. It is granted when it is necessary to carry out relief and protection of foreign victims aboard a vessel or aircraft in distress or in the event of a forced landing within a limit of 30 days (Article 18 of the Immigration Control Act).

## 5 Procedures for the Departure and Return of Japanese Nationals

The main role of the immigration control administration is to control the entry into and departure from Japan of foreign nationals. However, at the same time, it takes on the role of monitoring the transnational movement of all persons. For this reason, the Immigration Control Act stipulates the procedures for departure and return of Japanese nationals.

If a Japanese national departs from Japan, his or her departure must be confirmed by an immigration inspector at the port of entry and departure. In addition, if a Japanese national returns to Japan, his or her return must be confirmed by an immigration inspector (Article 60, 61 of the Immigration Control).

## Section 3 ◆ Examination of the Status of Residence of Foreign Nationals

## Status of Residence System

In principle, foreign nationals who enter and reside as residents in Japan are required to be granted a status of residence designated by the Immigration Control Act. These statuses of residence cover a wide variety of activities of foreign nationals and clarify what activities they are permitted to engage in so as to be able to enter and reside in Japan. This scheme is called the status of residence system and it forms the foundation of the immigration control administration of Japan (Table 50).

The statuses can be broadly divided into two categories:

(i) Statuses of residence which focus on the authorized activities of the foreign national in Japan (one of the statuses of residence in the left-hand column of Appended Table I of the Immigration Control Act (activity status))

(ii) Statuses of residence which focus on the personal status or position of the foreign national (one of the statuses of residence in the left-hand column of Appended Table II of the Immigration Control Act (residency status))

The basis for the former is “what the foreign national does”, while that of the latter is “what kind of status the foreign national has”.

In addition, as Japan adopts a policy of permitting foreign nationals who are to engage in occupational activities utilizing their professional techniques, skills or knowledge to enter and stay in Japan, but does not permit other foreign workers (foreign nationals working in so-called unskilled labor fields) to enter and stay in Japan, the statuses of residence which belong to the abovementioned category (i) are divided into the two subcategories of statuses of residence for which work activities are permitted (activities to