Japan started fingerprinting and photographing arriving foreigners Nov. 20 in a crackdown on terrorists, despite complaints that the measures unfairly target non-Japanese.

A demonstrator holds a poster during a rally by forrign residents in front of the Justice Ministry in Tokyo on Nov. 20. AP PHOTO

Nearly all foreigners age 16 or over, including permanent residents, will be scanned. The only exceptions are diplomats, government guests and "special status" residents such as Koreans who have lived in Japan for generations.

Tokyo has staunchly backed the U.S.-led attacks on Iraq and Afghanistan, raising fears Japan could be targeted by terrorists.

Officials said the new security measures, while inconvenient for visitors, were necessary.

"There are people who change their names, use wrongly obtained passports and pretend to be other people," said Toshihiro Higaki, an immigration official at Narita International Airport. "The measure also works as a deterrent."

The fingerprints and photos will be checked for matches on terrorist watch lists and files on foreigners with criminal records in Japan.

Japan is the second country after the United States to implement such a system.

Critics, however, said the measures discriminate against foreigners and violate their privacy. A group of nearly 70 civic groups from around the world delivered a letter of protest Nov. 19 to Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama.

"We believe that your plans are a gross and disproportionate infringement upon civil liberties, copying the most ineffective, costly and risky practices on border management from around the world," the letter said.