| Raw Deal! Why Are Americans Treated | | | | diversification in who comes to Japan. They want |
| Differently by Japanese Immigration and the | | | | to encourage people from other countries to |
| Media? | | | | come. This could simply be the case: restrictions |
| "U.S. citizens planning to work in Japan should | | | | on Americans for diversification of the foreign |
| never enter Japan using a tourist visa or the visa | | | | population 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 in | | | | A Japanese business manager suggested that |
| Seattle | | | | "...because of the high crime rate in America, as |
| "The Catch 22 is: if Americans don't enter Japan | | | | compared to other countries like New Zealand for |
| on a tourist visa, however, they often cannot | | | | example, the Japanese authorities feel that |
| work in Japan, as it takes just too long to secure | | | | Americans are more likely to try to bring guns or |
| a working visa. Companies would rather hire | | | | drugs 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, or | | | | much as possible." |
| someone who is willing to break the law, by | | | | The view in Japan by some Japanese, seems to |
| entering Japan on a tourist visa with the plan to | | | | be 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 discriminate | | | | influence has been felt. If this is true, it is |
| against certain peoples." | | | | prejudice, pure and simple! |
| -- an English school chain owner in Japan | | | | It is interesting that some Japanese feel that |
| The citizens of the following countries can secure | | | | Americans are undesirable. They give their opinion |
| a working holiday visa to come to Japan: | | | | that Americans are more likely to break |
| Australia | | | | importation laws or be a negative influence in |
| New Zealand | | | | Japan, because of a society, that is seen by |
| Canada | | | | Japanese to be violent, and law breaking--ie) drug |
| Republic of Korea | | | | taking. the gun related deaths in America and the |
| France | | | | unfortunate incidents in Okinawa of the rapes of |
| Germanythe United Kingdom | | | | Japanese women by American military personnel. |
| You will notice that America, supposedly Japan's | | | | The latter, one that foments large scale |
| friend and ally is not on the list. According to the | | | | Anti=American protests in Japan's sunniest |
| Japanese consulate in Vancouver, you can secure | | | | prefecture. |
| a working holiday visa in as little as three days! A | | | | The Japanese media too seems to be a member |
| treaty was negotiated between these countries | | | | of this anti-American illuminati. If an American |
| and Japan that allowed for the creation of this | | | | serviceman rapes a Japanese woman, it is national |
| visa. Americans upset that they cannot get such | | | | news 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 an | | | | Japan. |
| 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 12 | | | | incidents of which happen every, year according |
| months and it can be renewed in some cases or | | | | to a JET official who wishes to remain |
| switched to another visa after it expires in many | | | | anonymous), there is not a newspaper in the land |
| cases. Often this kind of visa is secured for work | | | | of Fuji that will touch such an unpalatable story. |
| as an English teacher, or for other work such as | | | | JET is an official Japanese program, and its' image |
| working in a hotel or a restaurant to name but a | | | | cannot 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 Japan | | | | embarrassment. It is okay to embarrass the |
| to work, can only come with a tourist visa or a | | | | Americans with stories of their rapes of Japanese |
| working visa. Switching from a tourist visa to a | | | | women, (no matter how rare they are.) But a |
| working visa happens all the time. Though you | | | | journalist who dares to try to get an |
| won't catch a Japanese Immigration authority | | | | embarrassing incident about the JET program by |
| talking about it much. It is one of those open | | | | the editor would probably be fired. |
| secrets so common to Japan. Certainly, most | | | | To read those unpalatable stores about the JET |
| Americans simply don't tell immigration that their | | | | program you must go to some of the unofficial |
| goal is to come to work in Japan. They say they | | | | JET websites, that talk about the problems |
| are sightseeing. | | | | associated with the JET program. These sites are |
| Getting a working visa can take up to four | | | | written by teachers who actually work in the |
| months. So on the one hand, an Australian can | | | | program and former teachers. |
| get her visa in a matter of days, but an American | | | | For whatever reason, the Japanese authorities are |
| has to wait months. Why the difference? Why | | | | doing 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't | | | | Aussie, Kiwi or Canuck. In these days of |
| want such an agreement. To this author's | | | | terrorism and war,securing the proper working |
| knowledge they don't have a working holiday | | | | visa 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 chose | | | | reporting that securing working visas is taking |
| Australia for the working holiday program, then | | | | much longer than before, though this seems to be |
| New Zealand, followed by Canada. The impression | | | | across the board and for all nationalities. If you |
| it creates was Australia was most desirable to | | | | can get a working holiday visa in three days, you |
| Japanese eyes. Is there a desire to make it more | | | | greatly 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 is | | | | may state one thing, but the reality of the matter |
| fewer Americans in Japan. | | | | is another. |
| Why would Japan want to create impediments | | | | English 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 to | | | | notice and just quit. The English school must hire |
| Japanese? | | | | someone quickly. |
| Perhaps it is simply more difficult for Japanese to | | | | If the working visa for an American takes so |
| get a visa to work in America than it is in New | | | | long, schools will naturally try to hire someone |
| Zealand for example. So to retaliate Americans | | | | they 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 many | | | | Japanese immigration to discriminate against hiring |
| Americans here. There are American military | | | | Americans, by the bureaucratic system they |
| bases throughout Japan and their personnel | | | | have set up. |
| number well over 40,000 people. Japan has to | | | | Plus Americans themselves, being law abiding |
| deal with all the problems foreign soldiers cause | | | | citizens on the whole, don't want to break |
| when they mix with the civilians of Japan. There | | | | Japanese 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, many | | | | don't tell Japanese immigration." Naturally the |
| Americans still manage to come to Japan and | | | | prospective American teacher is suspicious of the |
| work. However, without this bureaucratic | | | | school. The school is essentially telling them to |
| obstruction, there would be more Americans in | | | | break 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 the | | | | One good thing about Japan is that the law often |
| feelings of many Japanese politicians. Keep the | | | | bends. The fact is many Americans if not most, |
| Americans out as much as possible seems to be | | | | come to Japan on tourist visas then switch to |
| their goal. But don't make it so obvious that there | | | | working 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 to | | | | Japan give more than one months notice. You do |
| promote a greater mutual understanding between | | | | the math. It doesn't give schools enough time to |
| our respective countries, and to broaden the | | | | secure the working visas for Americans. So they |
| international outlook of our young people. The | | | | either have to hire a citizen of the |
| Working Holiday Scheme makes it possible for | | | | Commonwealth, or tell a US citizen to come on a |
| citizens of one country to enter the other | | | | tourist visa and switch it over. |
| country for an extended holiday while encouraging | | | | If I were American, I would complain. Why are |
| in temporary employment in order to supplement | | | | you given such a raw deal in Japan? |
| their travel funds."--Japan Association of Working | | | | I would come on a tourist visa, and tell the |
| Holiday Makers | | | | Japanese authorities, how I am so looking forward |
| Maybe the Japanese authorities simply want more | | | | to sightseeing in Kyoto! |