Compulsory Japanese for long-term residents?

Does the fight against terror know no bounds? According to this Kyodo article posted on Japan Today, the Japanese government is considering making Japanese language skills a requirement for foreigners applying for or renewing long-term residence visas.

(Foreign Minister) Komura (高村) cited reasons such as the need for foreigners to be able to speak Japanese to fit into the Japanese society. While he gave no further explanation, the envisioned measure is believed to be aimed at eradicating illegal residency and likely part of antiterrorism policies.

"For foreign people living in Japan to be able to speak Japanese is not only important for improving their own quality of life, but also necessary for the Japanese society as a whole," Komura told a news conference.

"It would be a very good thing if this helps build momentum for learning Japanese language in the respective home countries of foreign people living in Japan," he added.

The article doesn't give any more detailed information such as exactly which visas would be affected and what level(s) of Japanese proficiency would be required. Or indeed which terrrorists would be affected by this measure. (However, the Japanese articles I've seen on the subject don't mention anything about terrorism. Added: The Asahi has a somewhat longer article on the subject than others I've seen: 外国人滞在、条件に日本語能力　政府検討、管理強化にも.)

Personally I believe anyone living longer term in a foreign country (say three years or more) should gain a reasonable level of proficiency in that country's language, even one as "difficult" as Japanese. It's unreasonable to expect your environment to linguistically bend over backwards to accomodate your particular language needs (whether English, Portugese or Chinese), especially as you grow increasingly settled and place more complex demands on the "system". And by not speaking the language to any great extent you shut yourself off from a lot of what's going on around you, and run the risk of placing yourself in dependency relationships with other people who have to communicate for you.

Soon to be compulsory reading at immigration?

However, I'm not sure whether enforcing this via visa conditions is particularly practical. Firstly, there would have to be a whole boatload of exceptions. Diplomats, for a start. What about people who come to Japan for a few years for specific "high value" purposes, i.e. visiting professors, technical specialists, staff sent to the Japanese branch of foreign companies? Then there's the whole tricky question of what constitutes sufficient Japanese knowledge. Basic conversation? Ability to read and write hiragana? Knowledge of a given number of kanji? How would it be tested? It sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare, and the way these things end up, I wouldn't suprised if any test ended up being rather symbolic in nature. Which would rather negate the point of the whole exercise while creating an extra layer of hassle for foreign residents.

Note that Japan isn't the only country to consider introducing something like this. A couple of years ago Germany introduced stricter language requirements for immigrants from non-EU countries. I'm not sure of the precise details, but there's a requirement for about 600 hours of German study at a recognized language school (the courses aren't free, but there's a substantial subsidy so they're not too expensive) and possibly some sort of cultural orientation course. For certain classes of visa I think there's a requirement that the recepient learns German before coming to Germany, which has proved a problem for certain groups, among others people living in the deepest inaka of countries like Turkey who traditionally come to Germany on spousal or family visas and who simply aren't in a position to pop along to their nearest Goethe Institut once a week for German lessons. I think Holland has even stricter requirements.

Personally I'd be happy if some system was in place which would wipe the smug grin off the face of the Canadian eikaiwa teacher I once met who proudly boasted that after four years of Japan he didn't speak a word of the language. On the other hand I'd hate to see a system in place which added another level of arbitrary bureaucratic discrimination to the lives of many non-Japanese who are doing just fine and adapting to Japan at their own pace.

(Disclaimer: this Penguin has done his time on the linguistic treadmill and has enough official-looking bits of paper to probably not be affected by any Japanese requirements that might or might not come into effect. )