This issue has been in the press for some time now, and may be a somewhat sensitive issue--but I'm curious to hear what others have to say about it.
First, quick reference : http://
I agree that there should be a bit of a crackdown on foreigners--but certain of the measures being introduced seem far too Orwellian/draconian for my tastes. I, personally, don't believe that each and every alien must have his/her movements monitored and scrutinized--while I admit that, at the same time, the current state of things may be a little too relaxed. (For example, when I register a new address at my 区役所, I don't have to provide evidence--such as a recent phone bill, lease, etc.--that I indeed reside at that new address. And as the information I supply is not verified, I could potentially feed any story I wish to the gov't. That seems a little too relaxed; but then again, many foreigners do not necessarily have their name on the lease--and if a phone company required proof of address change, made through the government, while at the same time the government required proof of address change such as a recent phone bill, the result would be an utter headache.)
I'm honestly uncertain how this issue is being played out in Japan; many websites seem to be painting the whole matter as where xenophobic tendencies of certain individuals in power have finally been given the opportunity to make policy which would discriminate against non-Japanese. I have been meditating on a few aspects of that: Should a nation have the right to discriminate against whomever it wants? I honestly believe it shouldn't; but perhaps that attitude stems from my own culture's more casual attitude toward foreigners. (And, actually, there was an interesting point raised on this issue on a Facebook board: Many foreigners who live in Japan, on the whole, spend more money than do the Japanese living here [on tourism, etc.], and many other foreigners do the jobs that Japanese don't want to do. If Japan's policy shift is successful, might it mean actually damaging its own economy?)
For me, there was another quote, from the JT link above, which stood out:
> To prevent fake marriages, the bills grant the justice minister
> the power to cancel a spouse visa from those who have failed
> to conduct for six months without a legitimate reason
> "activities spouses normally do."
Which brought to mind: What are "activities spouses normally do"? And, in a situation involving an international couple, might these "activities" be significantly different from those perceived as "normal" by Japanese standards? And who is to say what "normal" is?
Anyhow, I shall step down from my soap box. Seriously, what y'all reckon?
First, quick reference : http://
I agree that there should be a bit of a crackdown on foreigners--but certain of the measures being introduced seem far too Orwellian/draconian for my tastes. I, personally, don't believe that each and every alien must have his/her movements monitored and scrutinized--while I admit that, at the same time, the current state of things may be a little too relaxed. (For example, when I register a new address at my 区役所, I don't have to provide evidence--such as a recent phone bill, lease, etc.--that I indeed reside at that new address. And as the information I supply is not verified, I could potentially feed any story I wish to the gov't. That seems a little too relaxed; but then again, many foreigners do not necessarily have their name on the lease--and if a phone company required proof of address change, made through the government, while at the same time the government required proof of address change such as a recent phone bill, the result would be an utter headache.)
I'm honestly uncertain how this issue is being played out in Japan; many websites seem to be painting the whole matter as where xenophobic tendencies of certain individuals in power have finally been given the opportunity to make policy which would discriminate against non-Japanese. I have been meditating on a few aspects of that: Should a nation have the right to discriminate against whomever it wants? I honestly believe it shouldn't; but perhaps that attitude stems from my own culture's more casual attitude toward foreigners. (And, actually, there was an interesting point raised on this issue on a Facebook board: Many foreigners who live in Japan, on the whole, spend more money than do the Japanese living here [on tourism, etc.], and many other foreigners do the jobs that Japanese don't want to do. If Japan's policy shift is successful, might it mean actually damaging its own economy?)
For me, there was another quote, from the JT link above, which stood out:
> To prevent fake marriages, the bills grant the justice minister
> the power to cancel a spouse visa from those who have failed
> to conduct for six months without a legitimate reason
> "activities spouses normally do."
Which brought to mind: What are "activities spouses normally do"? And, in a situation involving an international couple, might these "activities" be significantly different from those perceived as "normal" by Japanese standards? And who is to say what "normal" is?
Anyhow, I shall step down from my soap box. Seriously, what y'all reckon?
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コメント(15)
Hi, I am with you in that a nation should not exercise discriminations agasint forigners.
I see more Japanese women choosing their life partner in foreigners lately and each time I got to 区役所 there are definitely some couples registering their names.
Malay and Phillipino girls have started coming to Japan in search of good jobs and more Indian businessmen will come flooding in for their carrier step, European youngsters identifying Japanese visial rock bands as a dream...just listing a few. More poeple will be coming to the country for whatever reason they have.
Japan should be ready to present an open-arm welcome for forigners to reboost the slumped economy, not really certain what good it will do to Japanese society but at least a chance should be given to them to create their lives there.
I see more Japanese women choosing their life partner in foreigners lately and each time I got to 区役所 there are definitely some couples registering their names.
Malay and Phillipino girls have started coming to Japan in search of good jobs and more Indian businessmen will come flooding in for their carrier step, European youngsters identifying Japanese visial rock bands as a dream...just listing a few. More poeple will be coming to the country for whatever reason they have.
Japan should be ready to present an open-arm welcome for forigners to reboost the slumped economy, not really certain what good it will do to Japanese society but at least a chance should be given to them to create their lives there.
I see Japan has having a fundamental problem: It's a small island that only produces 30% (or less) of it's own food, imports huge amounts of resources to fuel/heat and lubricate the homes, cars and machines of industry etc.
A world in balance is essentially a world where most people are involved in producing these goods. Food, clothing, building materials and medicines.
AS these core goods are being produced by less people in more mechanised ways then more people are doing jobs that are less "necessary" on a real world scale. Sure we have support staff for the machines of industry and our homes need building and maintenance, but with so many jobs not actually producing the things that are in *constant* demand and of life giving importance u basically have an imbalance.
I read a book recently that mentioned how governments often increase the public service staffing levels when employment is low, essentially giving people jobs with them. This seemingly lowers unemployment but these people aren't producing anything (much) so it's just a figures thing, making the books look better. The fact though is that money is being thrown somewhere that doesn't result in a proper financial return (if you're a financially oriented type person).
It just drains more of the governments already dwindling cash supplies that should be put toward health and welfare.
I'd rather be unemployed with a proper health care system than employed with a user pays system. Illnesses I believe do not target the rich, meaning that anyone can be beset by a financially crippling disease.
All countries with in influx of immigrants is basically faced with this scenario.
There are limited white collar jobs (or there should be) and the blue collar jobs of building can only occur when there's money about to build things with, money that's lately getting in short supply. If there aren't jobs these people may well turn to taking from their fellow citizens. 20 years ago in America I (an Australian) saw a man at the traffic lights holding a sign saying "will work for food". I'd never seen such a thing. The more deperate people get the nastier things will get.
Decades ago producing the 4 essentials was a job most of the populace once took part in. The First world lifestyle is not sustainable and the rising debt of the first world countries (America owes something like 8 Trillion $ and has a net liability of around 50 Trillion $$$) is proof that it is not sustainable.
Japan's current policies are stop gap, knee jerk things, IHMO. They may be on the right track but the problem is still much larger than any political party/group is really prepared to acknowledge.
... or so I believe ;)
</rant>
A world in balance is essentially a world where most people are involved in producing these goods. Food, clothing, building materials and medicines.
AS these core goods are being produced by less people in more mechanised ways then more people are doing jobs that are less "necessary" on a real world scale. Sure we have support staff for the machines of industry and our homes need building and maintenance, but with so many jobs not actually producing the things that are in *constant* demand and of life giving importance u basically have an imbalance.
I read a book recently that mentioned how governments often increase the public service staffing levels when employment is low, essentially giving people jobs with them. This seemingly lowers unemployment but these people aren't producing anything (much) so it's just a figures thing, making the books look better. The fact though is that money is being thrown somewhere that doesn't result in a proper financial return (if you're a financially oriented type person).
It just drains more of the governments already dwindling cash supplies that should be put toward health and welfare.
I'd rather be unemployed with a proper health care system than employed with a user pays system. Illnesses I believe do not target the rich, meaning that anyone can be beset by a financially crippling disease.
All countries with in influx of immigrants is basically faced with this scenario.
There are limited white collar jobs (or there should be) and the blue collar jobs of building can only occur when there's money about to build things with, money that's lately getting in short supply. If there aren't jobs these people may well turn to taking from their fellow citizens. 20 years ago in America I (an Australian) saw a man at the traffic lights holding a sign saying "will work for food". I'd never seen such a thing. The more deperate people get the nastier things will get.
Decades ago producing the 4 essentials was a job most of the populace once took part in. The First world lifestyle is not sustainable and the rising debt of the first world countries (America owes something like 8 Trillion $ and has a net liability of around 50 Trillion $$$) is proof that it is not sustainable.
Japan's current policies are stop gap, knee jerk things, IHMO. They may be on the right track but the problem is still much larger than any political party/group is really prepared to acknowledge.
... or so I believe ;)
</rant>
This topic was covered in some detail recently:
http://mixi.jp/view_bbs.pl?id=42889067&comm_id=19163
Still, I am interested in this part::
" the bills grant the justice minister the power to cancel a spouse visa from those who have failed to conduct for six months without a legitimate reason "activities spouses normally do."
How will this be monitored? Will there be fucking police?
I wonder if this could be extended to marriages where both parties are Japanese citizens?
If so, the results would be quite interesting...!
http://mixi.jp/view_bbs.pl?id=42889067&comm_id=19163
Still, I am interested in this part::
" the bills grant the justice minister the power to cancel a spouse visa from those who have failed to conduct for six months without a legitimate reason "activities spouses normally do."
How will this be monitored? Will there be fucking police?
I wonder if this could be extended to marriages where both parties are Japanese citizens?
If so, the results would be quite interesting...!
"activities spouses normally do" probably refers to living together - there are many marriages in Japan where the sole reason they are married is so the foreign spouse can have access to work in Japan -they don't live together, they may not even ever meet. Theres apparently a surprising number of such marriages and most of us don't need to worry about it.
Abolishing the Alien Registration Act is long, long overdue. There is no reason I should be carrying anyform of special ID (ARC or passport) at all times, if a situation occurs where ID is required by immigration or the police I should have the right to be able to present it in due time - ie. go home and get my passport. Its ridiculous to expect foreigners to keep not one but two completely separate sets of ID like this, even worse when you consider its three (passport, visa, alien card). I would feel different IF the ARC was controlled by immigration and issued along with my visa.
Also, having to "renew" a spouse visa is utter bullshit. Get with the program Japan.
Abolishing the Alien Registration Act is long, long overdue. There is no reason I should be carrying anyform of special ID (ARC or passport) at all times, if a situation occurs where ID is required by immigration or the police I should have the right to be able to present it in due time - ie. go home and get my passport. Its ridiculous to expect foreigners to keep not one but two completely separate sets of ID like this, even worse when you consider its three (passport, visa, alien card). I would feel different IF the ARC was controlled by immigration and issued along with my visa.
Also, having to "renew" a spouse visa is utter bullshit. Get with the program Japan.
5> yeah...but with the giant number of commuter marriages in Japan among "normal" Japanese, i seriously wonder whether that's a valid benchmark. (that said, no reason it wouldn't be used as one. sigh.) Personally, i don't think it's bad to have a policy to have foreigners carry some form of ID; however, it's a bit of a slippery slope, given that there are quite a few foreigners with Japanese citizenship who don't have to show anything if asked by cops. yummy racial profiling. (Debito has something to say about that issue.)
Two of my largest concerns are: who has access to my information (and how do they obtain it), and what do they use my information for. And I hope for damned sure that the Personal Information Act applies here. I don't like having to carry around RFID that can be read by anyone with capable hands, even if I can cover the chip with aluminum foil.
4> hell yeah. see, i would like the police to asmple my DNA through used condoms as well. erm, sorry, actually, being an upstanding member of society, i don't use them. i flush them down the toilet. erm, no, don't do that either. maybe i save them like some weird otaku? yeah, that'll be the proof the cops need.
i can also kinda hear in my mind's eye:
"Hello, Keisatsu-sama? Yes, this is Mrs. Yatsuko Nantoka. My husband isn't going to soapland as he should. Yes, that's right. Yes. Oh, really; you can have him deported tomorrow? Yes, that should be fine. 8 o'clock then, yes."
3> rock on. Yeah--we yanks have a bit to learn about how to balance "socialist" ideas that work within a hardcore capitalist engine. An engine that needs and feeds on inequalities around the world.
2> I've noticed that as well, actually; i was hoping i could try to graph it out on google trends or something...rather interesting observation, that; unfortunately, i don't fully know what the true sentiment of japanese are toward that--though i have witnessed it in the states, usually toward Mexican immigrants--be them legal or otherwise. pitiful, i think. immigrants do bring some troubles, yes; but they also bring enormous potential that would not have otherwise existed.
Two of my largest concerns are: who has access to my information (and how do they obtain it), and what do they use my information for. And I hope for damned sure that the Personal Information Act applies here. I don't like having to carry around RFID that can be read by anyone with capable hands, even if I can cover the chip with aluminum foil.
4> hell yeah. see, i would like the police to asmple my DNA through used condoms as well. erm, sorry, actually, being an upstanding member of society, i don't use them. i flush them down the toilet. erm, no, don't do that either. maybe i save them like some weird otaku? yeah, that'll be the proof the cops need.
i can also kinda hear in my mind's eye:
"Hello, Keisatsu-sama? Yes, this is Mrs. Yatsuko Nantoka. My husband isn't going to soapland as he should. Yes, that's right. Yes. Oh, really; you can have him deported tomorrow? Yes, that should be fine. 8 o'clock then, yes."
3> rock on. Yeah--we yanks have a bit to learn about how to balance "socialist" ideas that work within a hardcore capitalist engine. An engine that needs and feeds on inequalities around the world.
2> I've noticed that as well, actually; i was hoping i could try to graph it out on google trends or something...rather interesting observation, that; unfortunately, i don't fully know what the true sentiment of japanese are toward that--though i have witnessed it in the states, usually toward Mexican immigrants--be them legal or otherwise. pitiful, i think. immigrants do bring some troubles, yes; but they also bring enormous potential that would not have otherwise existed.
a quick read it sounds quite positive. having being an "alien" in multiple countries including the US, japans short term immigration policies(long term is a different matter...) are pretty good, its japanese society which makes immigration a pain. extending visa length and rentry thing is great. Obviously they had to make concessions to the right wing/old bastards, thus all the controls and what not. but in a country with no real criminal legal system if the gov/police/immigration want you, your toast anyway.
>4
> Will there be _a_ fucking police?
"This is Mr Yamamoto from the Departement of Fucking. Your neigbours reported lack of moaning and cracking of beds, a fact that is supported by our weekly patrol around this area. Please have louder sex or have at least two unrelated witnesses watch your act or we will have to deport you."
The witnesses can then be monitored too, I mean they are perverts. Everybody wins. (Except the terrorists)
> Will there be _a_ fucking police?
"This is Mr Yamamoto from the Departement of Fucking. Your neigbours reported lack of moaning and cracking of beds, a fact that is supported by our weekly patrol around this area. Please have louder sex or have at least two unrelated witnesses watch your act or we will have to deport you."
The witnesses can then be monitored too, I mean they are perverts. Everybody wins. (Except the terrorists)
I think the funny thing is finding out what constitues normal married behaviour.
This is Japan. It's not uncommon for married couples to live apart due to business, have a sexless marrige or have a platonic relationship.
Obviously its talking about people getting married to strangers for the visa but I think it would be a hard thing to proove!
This is Japan. It's not uncommon for married couples to live apart due to business, have a sexless marrige or have a platonic relationship.
Obviously its talking about people getting married to strangers for the visa but I think it would be a hard thing to proove!
>10 J美
>Obviously its talking about people getting married to strangers for the visa but I think it would be a hard thing to proove!
Agree. And how long do we have to stay apart to be considered "living apart"?
Even can't let my husband stay in his hometown alone for short time!
What if you wanted to study overseas?
Hey, 奈
This might give you a clue.
It's a bit old but wellknown statistics conducted by Durex in 2005, about sex of the world in both frequency and satisfaction level.
http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/honkawa/2318.html
Wooo, close! We are almost *literally* off the charts!!
Then again, it may be pretty natural when some people even have their own imaginary 2D bride (nounai yome).LOL
>Obviously its talking about people getting married to strangers for the visa but I think it would be a hard thing to proove!
Agree. And how long do we have to stay apart to be considered "living apart"?
Even can't let my husband stay in his hometown alone for short time!
What if you wanted to study overseas?
Hey, 奈
This might give you a clue.
It's a bit old but wellknown statistics conducted by Durex in 2005, about sex of the world in both frequency and satisfaction level.
http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/honkawa/2318.html
Wooo, close! We are almost *literally* off the charts!!
Then again, it may be pretty natural when some people even have their own imaginary 2D bride (nounai yome).LOL
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