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  AlfGarnett at 12:26 PM JST - 25th December

  I just hope them people who lost their jobs can have some happiness at Christmas. Especially the kids, remember the kids at this time of year. We shouldn't argue, like , about these fings , it is Christmas day.

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  nanako77 at 12:36 PM JST - 25th December

  It's really good by taking this action. One of my friend is working in Japan and he worried too much extremely every day about being fired in next March, although many of local people have lost job already. Goverment should take serious to protent those who are working in their country.Unemployment is the worst thing which makes people frustrated. It has been the end of this year, what the government should do more for country and residents is the most important subject that should be trackled with. ISNT IT?

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  soldave at 12:44 PM JST - 25th December

  It is also a very western viewpoint that "They are a teacher and therefore don't command much respect". There are bad ones and decent ones, but I suppose whatever fits your stereotypical viewpoint.

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  shiuu at 12:52 PM JST - 25th December

  As for the foreign Eikaiwa "teachers", the vast majority of the industry is a scam and the sooner the current economic troubles kill it off, the better.

  For the other foreigners working legitimate jobs, tighten your belts and prepare for difficult times. As noted above, however, why anyone thinks they should get additional assistance merely because they are foreign is beyond me. If this economic crisis weeds out that entitlement attitude, it will almost have been worth it.

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  cleo at 12:54 PM JST - 25th December

  A lot of the 'foreigners with permanent residency who have lost their jobs and are suffering economic hardship amid the deteriorating economy' will be people with Japanese spouses, Japanese kids and Japanese liabilities - mortgages, school fees, car loans etc. Helping these people helps the Japanese economy and Japanese nationals. Nothing more than a common-sense move on the part of the government.

  A more commonsensical move of course would be to recognise dual nationality and to allow all permanent residents and spouses of Japanese nationals who want it to take Japanese nationality, then we could stop all this discriminatory rubbish about 'using Japanese taxes to help foreigners'.

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  Athletes at 01:06 PM JST - 25th December

  Japan is not a charity organization & can not afford to look after all of the foreigners. It has own social problems like homeless, unemployment & high sucide rates. Charity starts at home. Foreigners came & worked in Japan by their choice. Some are doing well. Some are struggling. It is a way of life. Now a days, not only in Japan, all over the world is laying off the employees. Current economic downturn was not created by Japanese government.

  However foreigners who are permanent resident lawfully in Japan has some privillages. They are entitiled the some social benefits. He or she may become the Japanese citizen in the future. Not all Japanese descendants are Japan citizens or residents. Govt is not responsible for looking after them.

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  zaichik at 01:13 PM JST - 25th December

  more commonsensical move of course would be to recognise dual nationality and to allow all permanent residents and spouses of Japanese nationals who want it to take Japanese nationality

  Hear hear, Cleo.

  Had this been an option in Japan, Mr Zaichik and I might have thought twice about moving to NZ. Here we got PR after 6 months and will be eligible to apply for citizenship after we have held PR status for 5 years. 4 years and 5 months to go....

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  seesaw at 01:24 PM JST - 25th December

  I salute Ms Yuko Obuchi...she's as noble as her late father when it comes to gaijins in Japan...thank you !

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  Orchid64 at 01:35 PM JST - 25th December

  It seems a lot of commenters have no idea about the variety of foreigners in Japan. Most permanent residents are descendants of Japanese folks who were born in South America or other countries who quality for permanent residence based on their ancestry. Most of them work in factories and do the sort of work most Japanese people don't want to do because the salaries are too low. They generally don't have higher education and have few alternatives while residing in Japan. They're also most affected by the economic downturn because when production is reduced because demand goes down, they get laid off. However, Japan will need these people again when production increases again.

  Japan should support these workers in order to keep them here. This isn't about English teachers and it's only the absurd myopia and prejudice of a bunch of self-hating hakujin who greedily want to have Japan all to themselves that makes them think it's all about the scourge they feel English teachers are. Most teachers can just go home and find some sort of work if times get bad enough. It's about people who have a greater investment in life here and who Japan needs to keep its factories working. It isn't charity if the root is protecting your own self-interest.

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  shiuu at 02:36 PM JST - 25th December

  The Japanese government helping everyone out equally is one thing (not that I'm a big fan of that, either). But the "I deserve help because even though I squandered my time in Japan never bothering to learn Japanese, now I'm stranded here with few options" is quite another.

  I am quite aware there are more than just foolish eikaiwa "teachers" involved. To the extent anyone expects help because they are foreign and therefore might have it rougher, well, those people shouldn't get jack.

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  Everton2 at 03:20 PM JST - 25th December

  Survival of the fittest, kick their asses to the curb. Don't hand over a yen to a single Gaigin.

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  smithinjapan at 03:29 PM JST - 25th December

  Cleo's comment said it well, but I want to make a couple of additional points. The article states, "people with permanent residence"! I don't think you're going to find many English teachers -- particularly the JLTs that some of you love to come on here and chide -- in this category. Even those who are married to Japanese are not automatically qualified for permanent residence. They ARE automatically qualified for a spousal visa, but even that has to be renewed every three years. To get the permanent residence you have to, in many cases, invest in the Japanese economy in ways that are very clear-cut. True, if you have your own Eikaiwa and pay lots of tax as well as donating to this and that and being able to prove it all, you can get permanent residence, but most with permanent residence are not only married to Japanese, but are part of the regular workforce (ie. belong to regular companies and own stocks, etc.). Either that, or they have forfeited their native citizenship for Japanese.

  And the government should DEFINITELY provide dual citizenship as incentive and as a means of helping. It's disgusting that you even have to keep renewing your visa despite being married to a Japanese, paying heaps of tax, etc.

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  BlackFlag at 09:35 PM JST - 25th December

  bankers are bankers

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  BlackFlag at 09:45 PM JST - 25th December

  I am an Eikawa teacher mainly (have some hobby businesses but they are and will always be that, hobbies only) not married but what does that matter? not rich by most standards but have enough money saved to pay my rent and bills for many years to come. government help? hahaha

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  jaotsu at 04:53 AM JST - 26th December

  You are very lucky that you are in Japan. Even with the worsening employment, at least Japan cares enough about the people in Japan to even help resident foreigners. In America, you might hear about government assistance to foreigners, but it is more of an exaggeration than truth. I'be been working in the public sector for over 20 years and so far we mainly service citizens, unless it is a life or death situation. If you go to San Francisco, you will see so many homeless, many American citizens, many families, parents kids, with no place to live. So regardless of how difficult it may be in Japan, I think it is a much better place, at least in terms of support, than in America.

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