Being an upper-middle class white boy of privilege, it's good to get a dose of old-fashioned discrimination now and then to keep reality in perspective. Today I went to the Minato Ward Office to renew my Alien Registration Card. All resident foreigners in Japan are required to carry this photo id with them at all times. Furthermore, we are required to show this card whenever any officer of the law and/or government representative demands it. Failure to have the card and/or failure to show it when requested are grounds for arrest, and most likely deportation.

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