Communities with large numbers of foreigners call for immigration agency

Thursday 16th October, 06:22 AM JST

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Patrick Smash at 11:23 PM JST - 16th October

kokuryo, yes a sensible thought. The thing is that Japan does not really want whole families of Asians moving in to stay permanently. They don't care about the small communities much either. What they want is a large number of skilled carers mainly, but also some other professionals and a limited number of semi-skilled factory workers. They want them on temporary visas, in low paid jobs, and they want them to leave again not become Japanese. Basically they want these people to also pay a lot of tax, but they don't want laws preventing obvious (and against Asians alarming) discrimination. So they want to have their cake and eat it, and as other countries increasingly want these same people with these same skills, competition for them will heat up.
gyouza at 11:32 PM JST - 16th October

No, not quite the same as the US. How many people still speak Siouan, or Algonquian?

Also, it is interesting to bring the US into this topic, especially as language is concerened. A lot of Spanish speakers exist to the extent of extensive use across the nation. Own TV channels, newspapers, etc. Could that happen here?

The one comment that I can't quite get my head around though, is that

"Yes, it can be very good here for some white westerners, but that is truly not what this is about. It is not us they need. It is the Asians who will deal with the elderly in low paid jobs."

I'm sure it wasn't meant to be, but it sounds like a form of discrimination.
meanmutha at 12:13 AM JST - 17th October

look at Singapore.
meanmutha at 12:15 AM JST - 17th October

Patty Smash. Nice write up.
northlondon at 12:18 AM JST - 17th October

you don't bite the hand that feeds you

You may be right. But see how you feel when you go to izakaya and cafes in Tokyo (like Uoshin izakaya) and they deliberately serve the Japanese customers who came in after you first. It's not so good to you then is it ?
meanmutha at 12:23 AM JST - 17th October

Dog Dog... you too. Man you know your stuff. High five to that write up. Cheers.
meanmutha at 12:24 AM JST - 17th October

DogDog, You too. Brilliant write up and cheers to you. I enjoyed your view as mine is the same
cleo at 01:10 AM JST - 17th October

northlondon -

Been here over thirty years and I'm still waiting to see how I feel when they 'deliberately serve the Japanese customers who came in after you first'. I imagine it would not feel so good, but I have to rely on my imagination because so far it's never happened in the real world. Maybe I'l have to wait another thirty years.
dontpanic at 02:32 AM JST - 17th October

People, take a step back, these communities want to offer Japanese training to people that dont speak the language. Its a really good thing. It'll speed integration by helping the foreign residents to understand their host nation and help Japanese people better understand the needs of foreign residents. It's a win for everyone.
sharky1 at 05:41 AM JST - 17th October

I get shades of WWII here. Learning Japanese will become mandatory to live here.
gyouza at 09:13 AM JST - 17th October

I get shades of WWII here. Learning Japanese will become mandatory to live here.

Sublime! I can't imagine moving to the UK for any reason, bringing my young family, and not being able to (or not even wanting to) speak the language. Why would I choose to do that? How could my kids get a fair chance of success? They would become second class citizens not because of their nationality, but by the restriction that I as a parent would impose on them.

Go back to the issue as opposed to the warped thread this has become. Local authorities want to find a way to help foreigners adapt and integrate into the Japanese society. They also want help on defining the rules for immigration, not bad thing as they do not support the shortfall in labour that Japan has now, and that will get worse. So people realise there is an issue, and they want to solve it. Sounds like a good approach
nigelboy at 09:21 AM JST - 17th October

You may be right. But see how you feel when you go to izakaya and cafes in Tokyo (like Uoshin izakaya) and they deliberately serve the Japanese customers who came in after you first. It's not so good to you then is it ?

Bullcrap. I've been to Uoshin in Nogizaka and they do no such thing. The place is usually packed so better have a reservation. Those that are lucky enough to get a table without reservation have a time limit (2 hours). Also, they don't accept credit cards but that's a whole other issue.

There have been MANY times when I was served first even though another customer was there before me. Stuff like this happens everywhere but when people are constantly "looking" for racism, these people believe that they are being discrimminated.
knews at 09:02 AM JST - 18th October

sharky1

I think learning Japanese is mandatory if you want to get the most out of living here and want to understand more about Japan and her culture. It takes time, effort and money but is well worth the investment.
blvtzpk at 12:06 AM JST - 19th October

There have been MANY times when I was served first even though another customer was there before me.

Being Japanese, doesn't that prove northlondon's post? Or are you saying that you're not Japanese?
elbudamexicano at 12:12 AM JST - 20th October

The Japanese who left for Latin America (Brazil, Peru etc..) are now coming back because many Latin countries not only have bad economies, but it is not safe to have a Japanese face in Peru etc..very,very easy target for crime etc..but these Nikkei having only a Japanese face, but their culture in now Latin and they do not want to become Japanese, so they refuse to try to me Japanized. (if your face is not japanese this will make no sense to you) i have many friends from South America and this is what they tell me.