Interac’s newest ALT, Carlos Shaw, is “Gaijin #1” with the introduction of the new foreign resident management system in Japan. Shaw, 37, arrived at Tokyo International Airport Haneda early Monday morning on the Delta Air Lines service from Los Angeles.

Shaw, from Memphis, Tennessee, received the first new residence card from immigration officials shortly after arrival. Upon landing and presenting his passport, having the usual photo taken as well as fingerprints, the immigration officer presented him with his new residence card from beneath the counter.

“It was very simple. Actually, I had no idea I was like the first person. They simply scanned or downloaded the photo from my electronic passport and out of the machine came a card,” said Shaw. “It was a very smooth and fast process and it didn’t take any longer to go through immigration.

“It was not until I came out of the arrivals door and was greeted by the Japanese media that I realized that something was strange. It was from them that I discovered this was a new system and I was No. 1."

© Japan Today