Visitors to the site, launched Feb. 16, can enter the name, address or workplace of any suspicious foreigners. The report is then automatically sent to regional immigration bureaus, which have jurisdiction over workplaces where foreigners are employed.

Informants are asked to select a motive for reporting a foreigner from a list on the site. The reasons a foreigner can be reported include "causing a nuisance in the neighborhood" and "causing anxiety."

Critics say these reasons have nothing to do with illegal behavior.

The ministry added more motives March 17 to the list on the site and reminded users that it will not tolerate efforts to libel foreigners.

A bureau official said about 780 tipoffs had been made between Feb. 16 and March 11, or about 31 reports each day.

The Japan Times Weekly: March 27, 2004
(C) All rights reserved