Should Japanese language ability be a factor in determining the maximum length of stay on visas for foreigners?

Sunday 11th May, 05:15 AM JST

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antizombie at 11:12 PM JST - 15th May

It should depend on the job requirements.
Damax6 at 11:37 PM JST - 15th May

ambrosia, what you suggest is condesending.So you are saying that its OK not knowing the language in the foreign country you decide to live in because besides asking for special favors... you will do just fine.... well , well, well... so why are we all pised off of the mexicans speaking spanish back home... then it should also be OK for them... how many of us americans who visit tijuana, cancun, cozumel and other mexican city, tried to speak a lick of spanish.. most of dont even think twice that we are in another country... it would be nice if we gringos TRIED....same as in europe...in sweden it is also required for foreign residents who stay in sweden , to be able to speak , read ,write and understand THEIR language...SO learn japanese, practise on your neighbors or japanese friend. PERIOD.!!!
tkoind2 at 09:06 AM JST - 16th May
No it should not. And the reason is in Japan's best interests.

Japan needs labor. Skilled and unskilled to maintain her tax base and working population.

Should people moving here learn to speak? Yes. Should the state offer more language and cultural training courses to new arrivals? Yes.

But limiting visas based on language is counter productive. Many jobs in Japan with foreign companies do not require Japanese ability for even many modest jobs. Restrictions here would do harm not good to both the business community and Japan's future.

Japan also needs basic labor workers and must find ways to attract more.

If the government wants to make things better they should.
1. Make Japan more foreign friendly, like the Singapore or Hong Kong, to encourage workers to move here.
2. Better civil liberties protections and rights for foreigners must be put in place to make living here long term more desirable.
3. Permanent immigration must be more achieveable to encourage people to raise families here and contribute more to society.
4. Eductational and language programs must be improved to allow immigrants to learn. This could be done as a subsidy to companies to compel them to provide language courses as a part of employment for non-Japanese.
5. Eliminate more of the xenophobic practices that allow discrimination against foreigners in employment, housing, treatment by authorities and harassment by the police.
Then, and only then, will Japan start down the path to becoming truly international and begin to address its tax, social welfare and work population problems.
ambrosia at 12:48 PM JST - 16th May

damax6: I'm not quite sure why you consider that condescending but perhaps you misunderstand the meaning of that word. Either way, I've not said I'm American nor have I said I'm "pissed off" at all the Mexicans speaking Spanish back home so I'm not sure what that has to do with this. Since you brought it up though, I really don't care what language Mexicans, Rwandans, Thai or any other group speak -again- as long as they are not asking for special favors. If a job requires English or a class is conducted in English or documents are available only in English then it would behoove any non-English speakers to learn the language if they want to get that job, take that class or understand those documents. If they can live their lives just fine without it, it's of no concern to me. Their lives will be made harder by that lack of ability, not mine. It as with most things in life. The people with the means and wherewithall will get the education and fulfill the requirements necessary to rise up in life and there will always be the ones who won't or can't and will be stuck in the same positions forever. It is really no different than learning Japanese. Do it if you want but if you don't that's your business. I simply do not care if the guy down the road speaks it or not. And please stop with the "we" business. You speak for yourself and I'll speak for myself. You don't know me and have absolutely no idea what my language abilities are or the attemps I make to speak the language of the place in which I'm living or visiting. The unsupported suppositions made on this board are quite amazing.
KyouNoNippon at 04:01 PM JST - 16th May

A resounding maybe.
Damax6 at 09:48 AM JST - 17th May

AMB...i have a right ,so as to others on this board to agree or disagree with any comments made here in public. I, in your opinion seem to "misunderstood" or misuused, the word "condescending". Sorry, i feel the word was fitting for you comment,whether you agree or NOT. All comment here or elsewhere are debated. And, i feel that you comment WERE condescending and hypocritical. THIS IS MY OPINION. You, don`t know me either, lets not get personal.. this is NOT what i am here for. I trully believe that if some wants to live and work in foreign country , they MUST show that they can adapt and survive, REGARDLESS of the fact that their work only requires them to use their native tongue. "special favor" is your "unsupported" EXCUSE to the contrary. Visiting and residing are two separate issues. I am focused on RESIDING,LONG-TERM. and you are welcome to convince me with some "supported" reasoning to the contrary,if you choose to do so. i am open to debate this with you.....finally , if you feel that debating this topic is a waste of your time,then why are you here commenting in the first place?.
NeoJamal at 03:18 PM JST - 17th May

I assume all of you foreigners in Japan have taken employment in this country with a skill that no locals can develop to your standard (such as teaching a foreign language) or in shortage of such as nurses.

Really, is the Japanese government in a position to make such a demand? Learning Japanese is an onerous task for many foreigners and it is a disproportionate extra burden over the basic services provided for the actual pay received in this country. If we are to determine who has the higher bargaining power, it is the foreigner. These foreign workers can choose to go to other countries if they choose. It would be too onerous for the government itself to seek and recruit personnel overseas who conform to their "ideal standards of gaijin". I think Japanese have a good bargain with the gaijin they have now, so they shouldn't really discriminate on the grounds of language. Instead they ought to encourage Japanese education to further the foreigners' own well-being to better participate in all elements of Japanese social, economic, political and cultural life.
KaptainKichigai at 09:06 PM JST - 17th May

tkoind2 and neojamal, I am thoroughly impressed with the lucidity of your opinions. They made my night and have reduced my isolation and depression....thank you both.
Sarge at 09:15 PM JST - 17th May

If English is good enough for me, by golly it's good enough for the rest of the world! Tee hee!

Seriously, I agree with Taka313 here. I know people who don't speak Japanese very well who have contributed to society here, and, unfortunately, I know people who speak Japanese fluently who should be in jail.
KaptainKichigai at 01:17 AM JST - 18th May

another good point sarge
ambrosia at 06:16 PM JST - 18th May

damax6: Feel free to disagree, by all means. I never suggested you shouldn't and neither have I said anything personal about you so I don't know why you're feeling so put out. You say my opinion is condescending and again, I disagree and you've yet to explain why you think it's condescending so if that's the way you "debate" things, no thanks but thanks for the offer. I've already stated my reasons and am unlikely to change them based on what you've presented as reasons so far. For further explanation of how I feel about this issue, check out sarge and taka313's opinions. I agree with both of them.
ambrosia at 06:18 PM JST - 18th May

damax6: if you feel that debating this topic is a waste of your time,then why are you here commenting in the first place?.

Eh? Another thing I never said. Really, if you're get to get so worked up about another person's opinion, at least get their opinion straight first.
Damax6 at 11:26 PM JST - 18th May

..hahahahaha...AMB... i am not riled up at all. did you read my posting in its entirety?...this "personal" talk came from you.(Ambrosia)....And please stop with the "we" business. You speak for yourself and I'll speak for myself. You don't know me and have absolutely no idea what my language abilities are or the attemps I make to speak the language of the place in which I'm living or visiting. and my response.....THIS IS MY OPINION. You, dont know me either, lets not get personal.. this is NOT what i am here for. I trully believe that if some wants to live and work in foreign country , they MUST show that they can adapt and survive, REGARDLESS of the fact that their work only requires them to use their native tongue. "special favor" is your "unsupported" EXCUSE to the contrary. Visiting and residing are two separate issues. I am focused on RESIDING,LONG-TERM.

Finally to get the cat of the bag.... I review MANY applicants that want to reside here long-term daily. I have didn't need any "special favors" And as a NATURALIZED Japanese, self-educated in Japanese reading , writing and speaking, took the national japanese civil servant test to become an Immigration officer, PASSING IT, and working hard at what i am doing now, gives me no ease to the comments you, sarge(funny), or Taka has to say... Dont forget, as i said before, I am ONLY taking about LONG-TERMERs who want to stay here longer that 1 year. I am more than happy to explain to you IN DETAIL my points...i go into my office tommorrow to start again what i do best... give back to the country , that gave me the opportunity that i have now. And, if youre a long term resident here and you dont feel that any foreigner that wants to stay here "long-term" has no right to learn anything...then i think you don`t belong here....go back to your pedastal.
ambrosia at 05:28 PM JST - 19th May

damax6: I still don't understand why you're shouting. Perhaps the stress of your important job has gotten to you.
KaptainKichigai at 09:10 PM JST - 21st May

no kidding Damax, chill. We are all just talking here. You got so worked up, you didnt even notice your fonts were going crazy and your spell checks were non checks. The word "must" is very strong. Obviously in Japan, they musnt because there are plenty of foreigners here that only use English. Your opinion that they should learn to read and write as you did, doesnt make it a "must". Try visiting China if you havent already, then you can see, in places just across the sea like Jinan and Xindaou, what "must" is really like. That was like being on a whole different planet. Japan isnt that difficult. Everyone is educated in basic English although they are either too shy (most) or too lazy (old men, cab drivers) to use it. But I couldnt even order a glass of water in China. Seriously, something as simple as "excuse me" and "water" and "gulp gulp gulp" was a 0 register on the comprehension graph. They had no clue. To live there, you "must" speak the language, or you starve (yes a bit of an exaggeration but not much).