Why'd this make news in Japan? If I read it right, it now applies to all visitors, who perhaps can satisfy the requirement through their passport.
That's just it, if you have a valid passport (and visa if necessary), what's the news about? I can't imagine requiring ALL foreigners to stand in line at Airports to get a new photo ID with fingerprints just to come in as a tourist for a week - if they already have a valif passport.
I'll be interested to hear what some on the Ping List in Japan have to say when they wake up (literally, not figuratively) and read this.