As RIA Novosti notes, this is the only point that facilitates the stay of foreign citizens in Japan; the other proposals exclusively concern tightening the control and registration regime.
Thus, "as a measure to combat the growing number of foreigners illegally residing in the country," it is planned to stop the practice of issuing special certificates to visitors from abroad at the regional level in city district and rural administrative bodies, replacing them with a single "residence card" of the immigration bureau. At the same time, all foreigners will now be obliged to notify the bureau of any changes in their status, place of work, and address of residence. Organizations that invite foreign trainee students, scientists, and researchers to Japan will have to submit reports to the bureau on the status of their guests.
Ministry representatives emphasize that "we are talking about unifying the system, not tightening it," pointing out that the extension of visa periods will be especially convenient for mixed families in which the husband or wife is of Japanese origin.
Currently, more than 2 million foreign citizens live in Japan. New measures to control arrivals in Japan were already introduced last November, when, "in order to prevent illegal entry of terrorists into the country," all entrants became required to submit fingerprints.