Why Are Americans Treated Differently in Japan?

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