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Why Are Americans Treated Differently in Japan?

Raw Deal! Why Are Americans Treatedfrom other countries to come. This could
Differently by Japanese Immigration andsimply be the case: restrictions on
the Media?Americans for diversification of the
"U.S. citizens planning to work in Japanforeign population here. It would give
should never enter Japan using a touristJapanese a broader exposure to many
visa or the visa waiver, even if theydifferent nationalities here in Japan,
have been advised to do so. Such actionsand 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 Japanesethat "...because of the high crime rate
consulate in Seattlein America, as compared to other
"The Catch 22 is: if Americans don'tcountries like New Zealand for example,
enter Japan on a tourist visa, however,the Japanese authorities feel that
they often cannot work in Japan, as itAmericans are more likely to try to
takes just too long to secure a workingbring guns or drugs into Japan. Or they
visa. Companies would rather hiredon't want any more American influence
someone who already has the appropriatein Japan and want to limit it as much as
visa, someone who can get the visapossible."
quickly, or someone who is willing toThe view in Japan by some Japanese,
break the law, by entering Japan on aseems to be that America is dangerous:
tourist visa with the plan to work inand 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'twas well attended on this side of the
coincide well with reality, andPacific and its' influence has been
sometimes laws downright discriminatefelt. If this is true, it is prejudice,
against certain peoples."pure and simple!
-- an English school chain owner inIt is interesting that some Japanese
Japanfeel that Americans are undesirable.
The citizens of the following countriesThey give their opinion that Americans
can secure a working holiday visa toare more likely to break importation
come to Japan:laws or be a negative influence in
AustraliaJapan, because of a society, that is
New Zealandseen by Japanese to be violent, and law
Canadabreaking--ie) drug taking. the gun
Republic of Korearelated deaths in America and the
Franceunfortunate incidents in Okinawa of the
Germanythe United Kingdomrapes of Japanese women by American
You will notice that America, supposedlymilitary personnel. The latter, one that
Japan's friend and ally is not on thefoments large scale Anti=American
list. According to the Japaneseprotests in Japan's sunniest prefecture.
consulate in Vancouver, you can secure aThe Japanese media too seems to be a
working holiday visa in as little asmember of this anti-American illuminati.
three days! A treaty was negotiatedIf an American serviceman rapes a
between these countries and Japan thatJapanese 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 getleast, are portrayed as a dangerous
such a visa should complain to theirelement in Japan.
government. Americans are hamstrung byYet if a female American JET teacher is
this. It really is an impediment toraped, sexually harassed, or sexually
working in Japan.assaulted, (a few incidents of which
This visa allows Australians, Kiwis andhappen every, year according to a JET
Canadians, to name but three, to work inofficial who wishes to remain
Japan for 12 months and it can beanonymous), there is not a newspaper in
renewed in some cases or switched tothe land of Fuji that will touch such an
another visa after it expires in manyunpalatable story.
cases. Often this kind of visa isJET 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 apublish 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 toembarrassment. It is okay to embarrass
Japan to work, can only come with athe Americans with stories of their
tourist visa or a working visa.rapes of Japanese women, (no matter how
Switching from a tourist visa to arare 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 Japaneseincident about the JET program by the
Immigration authority talking about iteditor would probably be fired.
much. It is one of those open secrets soTo read those unpalatable stores about
common to Japan. Certainly, mostthe JET program you must go to some of
Americans simply don't tell immigrationthe unofficial JET websites, that talk
that their goal is to come to work inabout 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 toteachers who actually work in the
four months. So on the one hand, anprogram and former teachers.
Australian can get her visa in a matterFor whatever reason, the Japanese
of days, but an American has to waitauthorities are doing an excellent job
months. Why the difference? Why areof discouraging businesses from hiring
Americans given such a raw deal?Americans, and opting instead for an
Perhaps the American government simplyAussie, Kiwi or Canuck. In these days of
doesn't want such an agreement. To thisterrorism and war,securing the proper
author's knowledge they don't have aworking visa for an American can take up
working holiday agreement with anyto four months.
nation.Head hunting companies in Tokyo are also
It is interesting to note that Japanreporting that securing working visas is
first chose Australia for the workingtaking much longer than before, though
holiday program, then New Zealand,this seems to be across the board and
followed by Canada. The impression itfor all nationalities. If you can get a
creates was Australia was most desirableworking holiday visa in three days, you
to Japanese eyes. Is there a desire togreatly increase your marketability.
make it more difficult for businesses inSometimes Japanese laws are unrealistic.
Japan to hire Americans? Verily, that isThe law may state one thing, but the
the result. What this leads to is fewerreality of the matter is another.
Americans in Japan.English schools need teachers. Often
Why would Japan want to createthey need them quickly. Teachers
impediments for Americans hoping to livesometimes don't give any notice and just
and work here? Could it be that Americaquit. The English school must hire
does the same to Japanese?someone quickly.
Perhaps it is simply more difficult forIf the working visa for an American
Japanese to get a visa to work intakes so long, schools will naturally
America than it is in New Zealand fortry to hire someone they can sponsor for
example. So to retaliate Americans don'tthe proper visa more quickly. Indeed,
get as good a a Kiwi for example.English schools are encouraged by
Perhaps it is because there are alreadyJapanese immigration to discriminate
many Americans here. There are Americanagainst hiring Americans, by the
military bases throughout Japan andbureaucratic system they have set up.
their personnel number well over 40,000Plus Americans themselves, being law
people. Japan has to deal with all theabiding citizens on the whole, don't
problems foreign soldiers cause whenwant 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 businesstourist visa, we need you now, then we
people, and of course American Englishwill 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 toteacher is suspicious of the school. The
Japan and work. However, without thisschool is essentially telling them to
bureaucratic obstruction, there would bebreak the law. The school realizes
more Americans in Japan.though that the law is forcing them into
I assert that (having more Americans inan untenable situation: They need
Japan) has traditionally been an ideateachers now! Not in four months!
incongruous with the feelings of manyOne good thing about Japan is that the
Japanese politicians. Keep the Americanslaw often bends. The fact is many
out as much as possible seems to beAmericans if not most, come to Japan on
their goal. But don't make it so obvioustourist visas then switch to working
that there is a backlash from thevisas. This is simply a fact of working
American government.life in Japan, as few teachers quitting
"The Working Holiday Scheme is intendedtheir positions in Japan give more than
to promote a greater mutualone months notice. You do the math. It
understanding between our respectivedoesn't give schools enough time to
countries, and to broaden thesecure the working visas for Americans.
international outlook of our youngSo they either have to hire a citizen of
people. The Working Holiday Scheme makesthe Commonwealth, or tell a US citizen
it possible for citizens of one countryto come on a tourist visa and switch it
to enter the other country for anover.
extended holiday while encouraging inIf I were American, I would complain.
temporary employment in order toWhy are you given such a raw deal in
supplement their travel funds."--JapanJapan?
Association of Working Holiday MakersI would come on a tourist visa, and tell
Maybe the Japanese authorities simplythe Japanese authorities, how I am so
want more diversification in who comeslooking forward to sightseeing in Kyoto!
to Japan. They want to encourage people



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