The Justice Ministry, long regarded by many people as a heartless government entity, is trying to be more compassionate-at least to those who overstay their visas.

From Dec. 2, illegal overstayers who turn themselves in to immigration bureau officials will face greater leniency.

Visa overstayers who meet certain conditions and who front up to regional immigration offices or liaison offices will not be detained. Although these individuals will face deportation after completing a few simple procedures, they likely would be allowed to return to Japan after about one year.

Immigration officials say the relaxed system is more than an amnesty; it's here to stay. The changes were included in the May revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law.

While the new rules have yet to officially kick in, immigration authorities have already begun processing overstayers who voluntarily surrender their passports and alien registration cards. Officials want to avoid a backlog as they expect the new system will encourage a large number of overstayers to own up in December.

Eventually, officials hope the changes will lead to an overall reduction in the number of foreign nationals who fail to leave the country when their visas expire.

Under the old system, all overstayers were immediately sent to detention centers where they were investigated. In most cases, those who had outstayed the immigration bureau's welcome were then deported. They were also banned from re-entering Japan for five years.

The new rules only apply to overstayers who can show they have no prior record of deportation; no record of being given prison sentences; and no other reason for being deported.(IHT/Asahi: November 9,2004)