In recent years, Chinese tourists traveling to Japan have frequently gone missing without reason while on tour. Industry insiders in China have pointed out that in just May and June of this year, there have been over a dozen incidents of tour members disappearing, a number unprecedented in scale.
According to online reports, the Consulate-General of Japan in Guangzhou has suspended visa application agency rights for 11 Chinese travel agencies for tours to Japan. A written notification sent to the agencies on June 13 mentioned that this measure was taken in accordance with the “Outline for Chinese People Traveling to Japan” principles.
Reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA), the missing tourists are particularly concentrated in 6-day tours to Osaka and Kyoto departing from Guangdong Province, prompting Japan to tighten visa regulations for Chinese tourists entering the country.
Epoch Times reached out to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding this notification but has not received a response yet.
The travel agencies whose visa agency qualifications have been suspended may be suspected of aiding in illegal stays. A Chinese travel industry insider told Epoch Times that these agencies may have helped applicants provide false documents or assisted in illegal stays.
Mr. Liu from an international travel agency in Shenzhen, interviewed by RFA, mentioned that Japanese authorities have heightened scrutiny on Chinese travelers potentially due to the tourists going “missing.” He stated, “The required documents have increased.”
“Visa applications now require company employment certificates and bank statements. Without an employment certificate, a social security insurance proof or an unemployment certificate issued by the community committee is necessary. Freelancers need to prepare copies of social security and residence permit cards, as well as copies of both sides of their ID cards. Retirees need to provide retirement certificates.”
Recent reports among Chinese internet users suggest that 22 individuals who obtained travel visas for Japan fled after entering the country, subsequently staying illegally.
An industry insider from Guangdong Province revealed in a WeChat group that in the past few months, over a dozen tour groups arriving in Japan had members go missing. In early June alone, two tour groups departing from Guangdong Province to Japan had members go missing during the trip.
Mr. Zhang, a staff member at a Chinese travel agency in Japan, told RFA that due to the sluggish Chinese economy, many Chinese people have been going to Japan to seek employment. “They (those who leave the tour) may stay in Japan. It is relatively easy to find work in Japan now. The passports of tour members may have been confiscated, and they might be planning to stay illegally for a few years, earn some money, and then return to their home country.”
Speculations have been raised that this notification is related to Chinese internet celebrities who vandalized a pillar at the Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda Ward at the end of May and uploaded a video. However, widespread visa restrictions are unlikely to have been prompted solely by an individual’s actions.
A former Chinese media worker told Epoch Times that due to misconduct and property damage, it may be difficult for this internet celebrity to re-enter Japan.
On June 18, the Consulate-General in Guangzhou issued a statement denying rumors of “Japan’s visa policies becoming stricter.”
The consulate explained that “During the visa application process, regular reviews are conducted on designated travel agencies and designations can be altered based on performance.” Changes in agency designation do not affect visa issuance conditions. As of the statement release date, a total of 52 agencies had been designated.
According to Japanese authorities, around 540,000 Chinese tourists visited Japan for tourism purposes in May. The number of residents is also increasing. By the end of last year, Japan had approximately 820,000 Chinese residents, an increase of 60,000 from the previous year.