| Raw Deal! Why Are Americans Treated | | | | from other countries to come. This could |
| Differently by Japanese Immigration and | | | | simply be the case: restrictions on |
| the Media? | | | | Americans for diversification of the |
| "U.S. citizens planning to work in Japan | | | | foreign population here. It would give |
| should never enter Japan using a tourist | | | | Japanese a broader exposure to many |
| visa or the visa waiver, even if they | | | | different nationalities here in Japan, |
| have been advised to do so. Such actions | | | | and therefore, a broader view of the |
| are illegal and can lead to arrest, | | | | world (perhaps it is hoped). |
| incarceration and/or deportation." | | | | A Japanese business manager suggested |
| --from a pamphlet at the Japanese | | | | that "...because of the high crime rate |
| consulate in Seattle | | | | in America, as compared to other |
| "The Catch 22 is: if Americans don't | | | | countries like New Zealand for example, |
| enter Japan on a tourist visa, however, | | | | the Japanese authorities feel that |
| they often cannot work in Japan, as it | | | | Americans are more likely to try to |
| takes just too long to secure a working | | | | bring guns or drugs into Japan. Or they |
| visa. Companies would rather hire | | | | don't want any more American influence |
| someone who already has the appropriate | | | | in Japan and want to limit it as much as |
| visa, someone who can get the visa | | | | possible." |
| quickly, or someone who is willing to | | | | The view in Japan by some Japanese, |
| break the law, by entering Japan on a | | | | seems to be that America is dangerous: |
| tourist visa with the plan to work in | | | | and by association, Americans are more |
| Japan by changing it to a working visa. | | | | dangerous than people of other |
| Illegal? Yes. Necessary though? | | | | nationalities. "Bowling for Columbine," |
| Definitely! Sometimes laws don't | | | | was well attended on this side of the |
| coincide well with reality, and | | | | Pacific and its' influence has been |
| sometimes laws downright discriminate | | | | felt. If this is true, it is prejudice, |
| against certain peoples." | | | | pure and simple! |
| -- an English school chain owner in | | | | It is interesting that some Japanese |
| Japan | | | | feel that Americans are undesirable. |
| The citizens of the following countries | | | | They give their opinion that Americans |
| can secure a working holiday visa to | | | | are more likely to break importation |
| come to Japan: | | | | laws or be a negative influence in |
| Australia | | | | Japan, because of a society, that is |
| New Zealand | | | | seen by Japanese to be violent, and law |
| Canada | | | | breaking--ie) drug taking. the gun |
| Republic of Korea | | | | related deaths in America and the |
| France | | | | unfortunate incidents in Okinawa of the |
| Germanythe United Kingdom | | | | rapes of Japanese women by American |
| You will notice that America, supposedly | | | | military personnel. The latter, one that |
| Japan's friend and ally is not on the | | | | foments large scale Anti=American |
| list. According to the Japanese | | | | protests in Japan's sunniest prefecture. |
| consulate in Vancouver, you can secure a | | | | The Japanese media too seems to be a |
| working holiday visa in as little as | | | | member of this anti-American illuminati. |
| three days! A treaty was negotiated | | | | If an American serviceman rapes a |
| between these countries and Japan that | | | | Japanese woman, it is national news for |
| allowed for the creation of this visa. | | | | days or weeks. So again, American men at |
| Americans upset that they cannot get | | | | least, are portrayed as a dangerous |
| such a visa should complain to their | | | | element in Japan. |
| government. Americans are hamstrung by | | | | Yet if a female American JET teacher is |
| this. It really is an impediment to | | | | raped, sexually harassed, or sexually |
| working in Japan. | | | | assaulted, (a few incidents of which |
| This visa allows Australians, Kiwis and | | | | happen every, year according to a JET |
| Canadians, to name but three, to work in | | | | official who wishes to remain |
| Japan for 12 months and it can be | | | | anonymous), there is not a newspaper in |
| renewed in some cases or switched to | | | | the land of Fuji that will touch such an |
| another visa after it expires in many | | | | unpalatable story. |
| cases. Often this kind of visa is | | | | JET is an official Japanese program, and |
| secured for work as an English teacher, | | | | its' image cannot be tarnished. To |
| or for other work such as working in a | | | | publish such a story would cause a |
| hotel or a restaurant to name but a few. | | | | Japanese loss of face, an international |
| Americans who have the yen to come to | | | | embarrassment. It is okay to embarrass |
| Japan to work, can only come with a | | | | the Americans with stories of their |
| tourist visa or a working visa. | | | | rapes of Japanese women, (no matter how |
| Switching from a tourist visa to a | | | | rare they are.) But a journalist who |
| working visa happens all the time. | | | | dares to try to get an embarrassing |
| Though you won't catch a Japanese | | | | incident about the JET program by the |
| Immigration authority talking about it | | | | editor would probably be fired. |
| much. It is one of those open secrets so | | | | To read those unpalatable stores about |
| common to Japan. Certainly, most | | | | the JET program you must go to some of |
| Americans simply don't tell immigration | | | | the unofficial JET websites, that talk |
| that their goal is to come to work in | | | | about the problems associated with the |
| Japan. They say they are sightseeing. | | | | JET program. These sites are written by |
| Getting a working visa can take up to | | | | teachers who actually work in the |
| four months. So on the one hand, an | | | | program and former teachers. |
| Australian can get her visa in a matter | | | | For whatever reason, the Japanese |
| of days, but an American has to wait | | | | authorities are doing an excellent job |
| months. Why the difference? Why are | | | | of discouraging businesses from hiring |
| Americans given such a raw deal? | | | | Americans, and opting instead for an |
| Perhaps the American government simply | | | | Aussie, Kiwi or Canuck. In these days of |
| doesn't want such an agreement. To this | | | | terrorism and war,securing the proper |
| author's knowledge they don't have a | | | | working visa for an American can take up |
| working holiday agreement with any | | | | to four months. |
| nation. | | | | Head hunting companies in Tokyo are also |
| It is interesting to note that Japan | | | | reporting that securing working visas is |
| first chose Australia for the working | | | | taking much longer than before, though |
| holiday program, then New Zealand, | | | | this seems to be across the board and |
| followed by Canada. The impression it | | | | for all nationalities. If you can get a |
| creates was Australia was most desirable | | | | working holiday visa in three days, you |
| to Japanese eyes. Is there a desire to | | | | greatly increase your marketability. |
| make it more difficult for businesses in | | | | Sometimes Japanese laws are unrealistic. |
| Japan to hire Americans? Verily, that is | | | | The law may state one thing, but the |
| the result. What this leads to is fewer | | | | reality of the matter is another. |
| Americans in Japan. | | | | English schools need teachers. Often |
| Why would Japan want to create | | | | they need them quickly. Teachers |
| impediments for Americans hoping to live | | | | sometimes don't give any notice and just |
| and work here? Could it be that America | | | | quit. The English school must hire |
| does the same to Japanese? | | | | someone quickly. |
| Perhaps it is simply more difficult for | | | | If the working visa for an American |
| Japanese to get a visa to work in | | | | takes so long, schools will naturally |
| America than it is in New Zealand for | | | | try to hire someone they can sponsor for |
| example. So to retaliate Americans don't | | | | the proper visa more quickly. Indeed, |
| get as good a a Kiwi for example. | | | | English schools are encouraged by |
| Perhaps it is because there are already | | | | Japanese immigration to discriminate |
| many Americans here. There are American | | | | against hiring Americans, by the |
| military bases throughout Japan and | | | | bureaucratic system they have set up. |
| their personnel number well over 40,000 | | | | Plus Americans themselves, being law |
| people. Japan has to deal with all the | | | | abiding citizens on the whole, don't |
| problems foreign soldiers cause when | | | | want to break Japanese laws either. If |
| they mix with the civilians of Japan. | | | | an English school says, "Come on a |
| There are also many American business | | | | tourist visa, we need you now, then we |
| people, and of course American English | | | | will switch the visa over to a working |
| teachers. | | | | visa, don't tell Japanese immigration." |
| In spite of the barriers against them, | | | | Naturally the prospective American |
| many Americans still manage to come to | | | | teacher is suspicious of the school. The |
| Japan and work. However, without this | | | | school is essentially telling them to |
| bureaucratic obstruction, there would be | | | | break the law. The school realizes |
| more Americans in Japan. | | | | though that the law is forcing them into |
| I assert that (having more Americans in | | | | an untenable situation: They need |
| Japan) has traditionally been an idea | | | | teachers now! Not in four months! |
| incongruous with the feelings of many | | | | One good thing about Japan is that the |
| Japanese politicians. Keep the Americans | | | | law often bends. The fact is many |
| out as much as possible seems to be | | | | Americans if not most, come to Japan on |
| their goal. But don't make it so obvious | | | | tourist visas then switch to working |
| that there is a backlash from the | | | | visas. This is simply a fact of working |
| American government. | | | | life in Japan, as few teachers quitting |
| "The Working Holiday Scheme is intended | | | | their positions in Japan give more than |
| to promote a greater mutual | | | | one months notice. You do the math. It |
| understanding between our respective | | | | doesn't give schools enough time to |
| countries, and to broaden the | | | | secure the working visas for Americans. |
| international outlook of our young | | | | So they either have to hire a citizen of |
| people. The Working Holiday Scheme makes | | | | the Commonwealth, or tell a US citizen |
| it possible for citizens of one country | | | | to come on a tourist visa and switch it |
| to enter the other country for an | | | | over. |
| extended holiday while encouraging in | | | | If I were American, I would complain. |
| temporary employment in order to | | | | Why are you given such a raw deal in |
| supplement their travel funds."--Japan | | | | Japan? |
| Association of Working Holiday Makers | | | | I would come on a tourist visa, and tell |
| Maybe the Japanese authorities simply | | | | the Japanese authorities, how I am so |
| want more diversification in who comes | | | | looking forward to sightseeing in Kyoto! |
| to Japan. They want to encourage people | | | | |