Originally Posted by
JVPhoto
You mean like the woman when I was leaving for my ZRH flight yesterday who asked me where my entry stamp into Europe was?
Thanks to those who answered, primarily AlwaysAisle as this summed it up: "I also do think “Re-Entry Line” is for non-Japanese passport holders with Japanese residency, it is not for temporary visitors."
I didn't realize that everytime you would enter Japan they would put a whole new sticker there. Looking "more official" than just an ink stamp and when going through NRT last time noticing the "re-entry" sign I thought to ask for clarification.
Technically the "Re-entry" line is for people with a valid re-entry permit attached to their residency status in Japan. Probably it's possible for those with the residency status as of temporary visitors to get re-entry permits, it would be very very unusual.
A landing permission sticker alone is good for a single entry and your entry is effectively cancelled on your previous departure when your passport is stamped and the stapled landing card counterfoil is removed. The 2d bar code on the sticker encodes your immigration number, which comes from the number on the landing card you picked to fill out and apply for entry, and this number is connected for the whole of a single stay. I believe separate entries to the country under different landing permissions are connected by your passport information in the first place and also fingerprints, rather than from the old used stickers, but would be interested to know if they scan your previous sticker when you return.