J-Reform rumble (Reformable?)

[Taro Toporific]

Don't hold your breath but ...

Reform rumble
The Asahi Shimbun / 19 Feb
"Mold is developing in the minds of civil servants." --- Yoshitada Yonoike, State minister in charge of special deregulation zones.

...Justice Ministry officials said they would increase the number of foreign trainees placed at small businesses, as well as lengthen the visas of foreigners in information technology fields from three years to five. In addition, graduate students taking night classes would be eligible for student visas.
...rejected by the ministries was a proposal by Nagano Prefecture to let foreign doctors practice medicine. Officials of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, perhaps believing the word ``doctor'' in foreign countries has another secret meaning...
...ministries look at deregulation like a virus. The primary reason cited for opposition to the zones has been the fear that making an exception in one community could cause deregulation proposals to ``spread'' throughout the nation.

[ramchop]

...rejected by the ministries was a proposal by Nagano Prefecture to let foreign doctors practice medicine. Officials of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, perhaps believing the word ``doctor'' in foreign countries has another secret meaning...

Not so different to some western countries. I've seen doctors from the Middle East working in petrol stations since although immigration welcomed them with open arms the medical council didn't recognise their qualifications.

[Taro Toporific]

...rejected by the ministries was...believing the word ``doctor'' in foreign countries has another secret meaning...

Not so different to some western countries. ...

Some reforms may be possible, but in Japan I see a real lack of trying, especially in medicine. Sometime I'll buy ya a beer and tell you about the times I "guested" at Grand Rounds at Todai Med School Hsp.



For a counter-example see:[quote]
Behind the mask, a new Japan is pushing for change
JOICHI ITO

...Historically, a catastrophe or a shock of some sort has been necessary for Japan to change. A sensible plan for rebuilding the democracy would be a good start, though. The Blueprint for Japan, which has been put together by a group of elected officials, businesspeople (ourselves included) and professors, identifies some key factors for a new system. These include: empowering prefectural governments and improving the fairness of voter representation]