You might have noticed the dragnet in Japan these days.

Law enforcement's crackdown on foreigners (bolstered by official declarations on the subject, including yesterday's speeches by Emperor Akihito on rising crime and international terrorism and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on the growing threat of foreign crime) has resulted in a lot more people being stopped on the street for identity checks.

After all, the current logic runs, who knows how many foreigners have overstayed their visas? Best to check anyone foreign-looking just to make sure.