Ayako Kofuji

Economic crisis in 2008 hurt many Nikkei Brazilians and Peruvian, who works in Japan. Due to the recession, many of Nikkei workers return to their home country. Some people may come up with these kinds of questions. “Why are they here in Japan?” “Isn’t it just they go back to their homeland because they wanted to?” To think about this problem, it is important to know the historical background and Japanese government’s policy.

First of all, the number of registered foreigners to the total Japanese population has increased every year. In 1955, the total population of foreigners was 641,182 (0.7 percent of the total population), but by the 2007 population has grown to about 2.1 million (1.7 percent of the total). The main reason the foreigner population grew during this period is the law amendment. Due to the amendment of Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, it made easier for Nikkeijin, foreigners of Japanese descent, to immigrate to Japan. In other words, Japanese government established formal channels to allow Nikkeijin, to immigrate to Japan. This effectively enabled Japan to solve the long-held policy of prohibiting the immigration of unskilled foreign workers to Japan. Another reason that can think of is the bubble economy. Because of the bubble economy, business community wanted　the work force, a foreign workers. The 1990 law contributed to the gradual settlement of low-skilled workers, mainly Nikkeijin from Brazil and Peru and their families in Japan.

However, the situation has changed from the recession in 2008. Economic crisis prompted huge unemployment among 350,000 Nikkeijin living in Japan. Between November 2008 and January 2009, 9,296 foreigners registered as employment seekers. The Japanese government started the program to pay $3,000 to each jobless for Nikkeijin and $2,000 to each family member to return to their country of origin. The money isn’t a big problem, the problem is that they will not be allowed to return until economic and employment conditions improve.

When I heard this situation at the first time, I hardly believe my ears. The program that Japanese government have done to unemployed Nikkeijin is  cruel and harsh. Whenever they wanted labor, they sticks out their finger and say “come here, you can get a job in Japan”. However their situation changes and they don’t need any more labor, they wave their hands and say “good-bye, you may go back now”. No matter the reason, the Japanese government has done to unemployed Nikkeijin is selfish and irresponsible. Nikkeijin is not a tools or machine which supplies labor to Japan. Japanese government should consider their situations and dealing with a sense of responsibility.

(Sources)

*Coco Masters. TIME magazine. Japan to immigrants: Thanks, But You Can Go Home Now. 2009/4/20

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1892469,00.html

*Migration Information Source

http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=749