Justin McCurry in Tokyo Tuesday July 13, 2004 The Guardian
Japanese children will soon be taking ID cards equipped with the latest tracking technology to school.
Alarmed at a spate of violent crimes involving children, a school in western Japan will next month introduce radio frequency identity cards (RFID) which enable parents to keep tabs on their children all day.
As soon as the pupils scan their cards across tag readers at the school entrance the time and location are recorded and sent via email or phone to their homes. They scan the cards again on their way out, so parents will know what time to expect them.
The system has been developed by the Japanese firm NAJ Corporation. RFID technology uses radio waves to identify objects or people and is already used by supermarkets and manufacturers. A serial number identifying the object is stored on a microchip attached to an antenna, which sends information in digital form to a PC via a reader.
Many Japanese pupils play sports long after school, then spend several hours at privately run crammer schools. It is not unusual to see groups of 10-year-olds travelling on public transport late at night.