As far as traveling is concerned, as a close ally of the United States, it is not difficult for the Japanese people to visit America. The "free pass" does not only apply to our allied nations, including America, but also to almost all countries across the world. In fact we can freely visit foreign countries for three months only with our passports (we do not have to get tourist visas), unless our Foreign Ministry imposes strict restrictions on traveling to a particular area for political or safety reasons. However, Rome was not built in a day. This kind of "convenience" has not been achieved easily. Our ancestors made tremendous efforts to win the world's trust. As their offsprings, we cannot thank them enough. By the same token, our generation needs to keep working hard not to ruin their legacy. We have to keep making substantial contributions to the world.
When it comes to immigration, though, Japan is not an exception. We have to go through exactly the same process as everyone else. In order to stay in America for more than three months, for example, we have to get a visa before we get here. If we want to obtain a green card or citizenship, we also have to go through the entire "mind-boggling" process.
Speaking of our domestic immigration situation, we have several "issues." For instance, we have hundreds of thousands of South and North Koreans and Chinese people who are privileged to enjoy almost exactly the same rights as the Japanese citizens, while they still maintain their citizenship as Koreans and Chinese. They are allowed to live in Japan as long as they like with almost "zero" restriction. While they insist upon their equal "rights," they are often exempted from "obligations" since they are not Japanese citizens. Due to the heightened tensions between the neighboring countries in the Far East, immigration is now becoming a hot issue in my country.
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