Nowadays there are many immigrants in the world, everywhere. After immigrants arrived to the new country, they might start to look for a house and a job to live there.What job they get? Is there any problem about that? I will focus on the occupation of immigrants in this article.

I would like to show two types of immigrants. One is someone has specific and sophisticated skill,and another one is the general public. The former onetends to be able to get a job which is good salary, such as an engineer.On the contrary, the latter one tends to get a job called “blue collar” such as working at construction site. This is because if a company employs immigrants as a worker, it can hold down salary,compared with citizens of its own country. And also, manypeople tend to avoid doing these jobs, like a meatpacking or working at a factory.The image of these jobs is dirty, dangerous and demeaning (also known as “3D” (in Japan, “3K”)). For example, in a meatpacking, workers use big knives when cutting meat. This operation would be monotonous, so it is likely to be injured such as cut his or her finger. Therefore, immigrants are employed these area to make up the manpower.Yet these works are necessary to keep developing economy, and salary they earned will be social insurance or other systems,thus they became the necessary existence in some countries.

However, as the unemployment rose, some citizens have a complaintagainst this situation. They say that despite there are many citizens who do not have a job, why immigrants have their own job.This tendency is especially strong in the US. To the extreme of this, there is possibility of ousting immigrants from their country to secure the employment. Is there any way how both citizens and immigrants get along in terms of the occupation, not ousting? What do you think?

by Naho Tamada

Massive earthquake suddenly occurred in Tohoku Japan on 11^th of March, unfortunately the number of deaths is counted up about 15,830 which means approximately one out of eight thousand Japanese disappeared. Moreover Japan confront with the big issue relating to our life or the future of our country that is a declining birthrate and aging population. In order to solve those problems, we should change immigrant policy to accept more and more immigrant from all over the world.

In fact, Japan accepts to admit immigrant workers only 925,000 in 2006 from the research of MHLW. According to the article of the Wall Street Journal, Japan is required to accept 10,000,000 immigrants. They would make a large and new demand such as food and clothes, education, employment and tourism. Also those demands would make a new marketplace, and they absolutely revitalize Japanese economics. Unfortunately recently tragic earthquake happened in Tohoku. If immigrants come to there and open a new business for example agriculture, it will directly affect there. Therefore immigration policy should be considered to accept more in order to rebuild Tohoku earthquake and other issues relating to the decline of the population in Japan.

However there will be a lot of problems with today’s immigration system if Japan suddenly accepts many immigrants. Unfortunately Japanese people who deny for this can not easily let them come. Some people would insist that they commit crime in Japan. Or other people might say “they will take our job, and we lose money to earn.” Even though people don’t agree to the new immigrant policy, Japan can not allow them to come. Moreover the present systems or environment for immigrant in Japan is terrible. So firstly, the government should try to persuade Japanese how advantageous it is, and secondary we should try to make environment or systems comfortable for immigrant. Then we as it means Japanese and non-Japanese can live together.

References

-Monthly Report, MIC Statistics Bureau. Retrieved November 25 2011, from

[http://www.stat.go.jp/english/data/jinsui/tsuki/index.htm]

by Masahiro Hatoyama

With the progress of globalization, the number of foreigners who live in Japan has increased. It would be usual that people who live next to you is from other countries. Despite the situation, Japanese people tend to set a boundary between Japanese and non-Japanese all the time. For example, foreigners are never called “Japanese” even if they can speak Japanese fluently and live along Japanese lifestyle. These people would be always called “foreigners” or “foreigners just like Japanese”. Or even if they have Japanese nationality, Japanese people would call them “foreigners with Japanese nationality”. They never use the word “immigrants”. Japanese people are apt to judge whether someone is Japanese or not only by their looks or languages. Why those who are from other countries are never considered as Japanese?

I think their experiences in early life are related to this situation. When I started thinking this problem, these following questions came to mind; how do children are taught about immigration or foreigners who live in Japan? And do they have opportunities to communicate with foreign people? At first, I asked my mother these questions because she is a teacher of elementary school. She said children had no chance to communicate with people from other countries except for ALT and they could learn about only the number of foreigners who live or come to Japan in the textbooks. It is ordinary situation in public schools. In my experience, I have never had a contact with foreigners except for ALT and my teachers said “stay away from them because they might be dangerous.” If one foreign child is in the class, he or she stands out in a negative way and other children would hesitate to speak to him or her.

However, it is not enough just to teach what immigration is or why they come to Japan and learn some languages. It might lead racial discrimination. Government should give children more opportunities to talk or play with foreigners. Then children could naturally learn how to communicate and feel no fear to foreigners. The boundary that we tend to set between Japanese and others will fade away.

In  the future, when Japan starts accepting immigration or refugees and the number of foreigner increases more, they would be left out of the society or communities in this unfriendly situation in Japan. It sometimes might lead conflicts. Unless thinking of people change, foreigners can never assimilate and become “Japanese”. Japanese people are sensitive to learning about foreign countries, but they should watch the situation in Japan now.

by Aya Sadahiro

   In Japan, we use the word “hafu” for a mixed-breed person. I think the definition of “half” is peculiar to Japan. We, the Japanese, tend to think the person who is of mixed with white and Japanese blood as “hafu”. Even though in Japan there are many people who are of mixed with Asian and Japanese, they are usually seen as the Japanese, because they look Japanese. Almost people who are of mixed with Asian and Japanese tend to think them as “the Japanese”. On the other hand, people who are of mixed with White and Japanese are inclined to feel the difference between them (“hafu”) and the Japanese because of our stereotype for them.

     One of my “hafu” friends told me about her story as a “hafu”. Her father is American and mother is Japanese and she has lived in Japan for 18 years. She was brought up with Japanese culture, but she often feels the difference because people around her think her as “hafu”. She said they emphasis on the difference between them and her, for example, her American face, characteristics, and so on, so she is over conscious about the American side in herself. Also other my “hafu” friend, he is half Japanese and half American, said “I think I am Japanese, but people around me don’t think so.” He has been displeased with our stereotype for “hafu” person. For instance, he was asked to speak English many times, even though his English is not good enough because he has lived in Japan all his life. Both of them want people around them to pay attention to the Japanese part of them.

     I think we, the Japanese, don’t understand people who are “hafu” well. Shouldn’t we change the attitude to them? What do you think about that?

by Moe Kawamura

I am native Japanese. However, when I was a little child, I was mistaken for a “hafu” by many people, because of my appearance. I had a little pigment cell by birth so that I had blond hair and my skin was white like a Caucasian. That is why many people thought that I am a “hafu”. I felt happy when I heard about this from my mother, because I thought that being “hafu” is very cool. Although, my mother felt bad. Some people doubted that I was a “hafu” so that means they also doubted that I was not my mother and father’s real child. I had given my parents trouble any number of times, because of my appearance. Then I noticed that some time people seem to discriminate against appearances.

I think that one example of discriminate against appearance is racism discrimination. Nowadays, some people tend to label other people from their complexion without knowing anything about their personality. It is very stupid, because we cannot know anything about a person from their appearance. For instance, how much did you know about your friend when you first met the friend? I think most people would say “No”, because it is difficult for us to get personal information at a glance. We gradually understanding what are friends like over time. So, I mean it is important for us to take a person for who they are. Discriminating against appearance is already outdated and unacceptable from a humanitarian point of view. People’s appearance has nothing to do with what they can do or whether we can become good friends. We should learn about a man’s worth as it exists inside him.

In conclusion, I am against to discriminating against the appearance of the “hafu”, race, and so on for the reasons stated above. What is inside is the greatest asset a person can have, and that is only thing to know about who he is. So, we should not judge a person by his appearance. I hope to be part of a society where all discrimination vanished and nobody suffers from discrimination against their appearance.

by Erina Hayashi

Canada is one of the positive countries to accept immigrants.  The Canadian immigration low was approved in 1869, because there is serious population problem in Canada.  The Canadian population is only about 3,600,000 people in 1870.  Canadian government accepted immigrants to get new workforce, and the population increased to 21,500,000 people for 100 years.  This means that about 9,300,000 people came to Canada as immigrants.  Now, I think the Canadian policy on immigrants succeed, because people who have various ethnic groups live together.  So, I think that Japanese government should follow the policy on immigrants in Canada.

     In 1967, Canadian government introduced point-system to select people who can contribute to the Canadian economy.  The point-system evaluates using many standards such as age, school background, language, work experience and so on.  Before the point-system was introduced, Canadian government accepted generously immigrants from Europe and U.S., whereas they control immigrants who are from Asia.  So, inspection of people who hope immigration to Canada became fair by using this point-system.

     Now, Canadian government carries out many supporting programs for immigrants.  For example, “Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program”, “Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program” and so on.  The purpose of their programs gives house to immigrants who are in financial difficulties.  And local self-government body such as the State of Ontario is also positive to support for immigrants.  They established funds to support immigrants.  Canadian government also carried out other programs on education and job support.

     In Canada, government and local cooperate on accepting immigrants.  Their cooperation is very important because I think Canadian policy on immigrants couldn’t succeed without their cooperation.  And support for immigrants is also important.  In Canada, these supports are very good, so I believe Canada is very comfortable country for immigrants.  Now, there is population problem in Japan, so Japan should accept immigrants.  I suppose Canada is the model of multicultural country, so Japan should refer to immigration policy in Canada.

by Mari Honda

In 1994, a terrible accident has occurred in Africa,Rwanda. One race killed another for rebel against their control. There are two races Hutu and Tutsi. Hutu occupies about 85% population and Tutsi takes about 15% population inRwanda. Tutsi was chosen as the ruler byBelgiumbecause they are small and easy to control than Hutu. This made Hutu angry and caused the accident. The holocaust surprised the world and United Nations intervened for solve these conflict. During this incident, some Tutsi run away from the happening and leave for other countries. They are called Diasporas.

Diaspora means that something which were sprinkled in Greek. The word derives from Jew who leaved fromIsraelto other place or their descendants. People who leaved their habitation after the incident happen is also called Diaspora. They are a type of immigrant. They migrated to various countries and study many skills especially IT and architecture techniques. In 21C, some of them return toRwandafor help the countries with the government policies like reduction tax of them. They use their ability and connection which created during their migration life to develop the economy. One of their works is development of farm village. They think there are good coffee beans but people don’t have ability to process and ship them. Therefore, the businessmen visit those villages and suggest famers to export the beans.

Through their cooperation, growth rate of GDP of Rwanda glowed up from -50% (1994) to 6.1% (2003-2008), school attendance became 95% and the rate of vaccination reached 98%. Add to this, governance of the country was evaluated for its stability or good effect of the government.

Most of Diaspora is Tutsi and it means that they were oppressed by another big population. However, they are helping person who opposed them. I think this is a good case as a reference for other immigrants. Although they were enemy, Hutu and Tutsi, they are joining with each other. I guess if any places which just have conflict between different races or immigrants and natives cooperates each other, it would lead development future.

by Koichiro Otani

The number of foreign worker is increasing in Japan. In 2009, there were 562,818 foreigners who had a job in Japan. The breakdown is; Chinese 44.3%, Brazilian 18.5%, Filipino 8.7%, Australian and New Zealander 7.8%, Korean 4.5%, Peruvian 3.3%, and other 12.9%. We may sometime see foreign worker in town, but we don’t know them well. Why did they come to Japan? How did they get a job in Japan? Let me take an example for this.

I work at an Indian restaurant as a part-time job. There are 5 Indian workers in the restaurant. Most of them work in this restaurant through an introduction from their friend, relative, or family, and they decided to work in Japan because they can earn more money in Japan than in India. They send most of salary to their family they live in India. I think they spend a hard and lonely life in Japan. They always work from 10:00a.m to 9:00p.m. They can go back to India for only 3 months on every 2 years. Most of them have wife and children in India, but they can’t often get in touch with their family. And they can’t speak Japanese well, so when they have a break day, they are usually in a home.

Their friend is only Indian and Nepalese even though they live in Japan. Moreover before I happened to see their salary amount and I was surprised because their salary is too lower than thought. (but I can’t tell in detail here…) I suspect that their condition of work goes against the law, but I’m not sure. Also Indian worker in this restaurant understand that their salary is too lower than Japanese, but they have no power to improve their condition.

In Japan there are companies they employ foreigner illegally. I think their condition should be improved. One of reason for this is that there are few chances that their condition becomes public. We should know more about Japan because we all lead a life in Japan. And we should make a rule that the employer of foreign worker have to show them the labor low of Japan. The number of foreign worker will be increasing. Now is time when we change our attitude to them, isn’t it?

by Moe Kawamura

Korean School (朝鮮学校) is ethnic education for Korean resident children’s school.  In 1910, Japan did Japan‘s Annexation of Korea (韓国併合), after, Korean people came Japan, because of forced labor.  The emancipation of Korea (defeat of Japan) made about 600 thousand Korean residents is living Japan who changed generation.  The present Korean resident was born in Japan.  New generation people brought up in Japan were born before, so they can’t speak in Korean.  They needed Korean education for Korean children, so Korean resident made a lot of Korean school in Japan.

Korean school do education as Korean, that is not only Korean class, but also Social, History, Math and physical education too (except for Japanese subject). However, student’s first language is Japanese, and teacher’s first language is Japanese too.  Korean resident have held mother language what is over the generation.

Japan has about 50 Korean schools now, however, Japan had over 100 Korean schools before 20years.  In kidnap issue after, some Korean resident changed Korean school to Japan school.  Korean school have relation to the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan; Chongryong (在日本朝鮮人総聯合会; 総聯), and Chongryong have relation D.P.R.K.  The present, we have issue of D.P.R.K – Japan relation and act of D.P.R.K, Korean school have got some attack, and Korean school have some issue now, that is the exclusion of free high school bill (高校無償化) , attack to the right wing citizen’s group and decrease in students.  The exclusion of free high school bill and attack of the citizen’s group is big issue now.  In Korea University school festival, the right wing citizen’s group Zaitokkai (在特会) said “ we come for kill Korean!”.  That people is a part of Japanese, however, we should change that social.  We must aim for Multicultural symbolic societies, what is not relation to Japanese, Korean, Chinese and other people.  We should live with together.  Korean school teach that to us.

by Kazuki Baba

I think it’s good to accept immigrants to Japan.  There are some good reasons.  First, now, Japan is aging society.  The population is now declining in Japan.  So, if immigrants live in Japan and get married with Japanese, we can bump up Japanese population.  Second, we can receive pension plenty.  Positive countries to accept immigrants like the U.S, Canada, and Australia have no problem about pension, so if immigrants work in Japan, it’s good for our society.  It means that if they pay tax, elderly people can receive enough pension.  Third, we can usually meet many cultures.  Japan is isolated country, so we didn’t have relationship with other culture.  We don’t get used to be with other countries’ people, so this is the good opportunity to be multicultural country.

On the other hand, there are some bad points to accept them.  First, there are immigrants who receive unfair profits.  I heard one example of unfair immigrants from my relative.  They live in Japan with no working, even though they are healthy, and they are on welfare.   Their life style in Japan gives bad influence to our society, so we shouldn’t keep this situation.  Second one is about employment issue.  Even though we are in problem of employment issue in Japan, if we accept immigrants, there will have less jobs for Japanese.

I think quota immigration Act is good for our society.  It’s not for shut out immigrants, it’s for control to be well-ordered.  Quota immigration Act in the U.S is for turn down immigrants especially Asian by control number of immigrants who live in the U.S less than two percent per each country.  My thinking of Quota immigration act is controlling the number of immigrants according to their past year’s behavior.  For example, if immigrants from China did just few crimes in 2015, we will accept more immigrants from China in 2016.

Making it enforce, we should have some efforts.  One, we should teach Japanese for them.  Unless immigrants can speak kind of Japanese, they can’t become familiar with our society in the true sense of the word, so we should make this opportunity for them.  Other aspect, this is good for Japanese because it could make jobs for Japanese teachers.  Two, we should enfranchise for immigrants. (just for permanent residents)  This is to be expected rights for them.

I think we can keep our stability if we enforce my thinking of Quota immigration Act.

by Konomi Yamamoto