Gov't considering Japanese ability as visa requirement for long-term residents

[canman]

Wow, I'm not really surprised by this kind of comment, but think it won't accomplish what the politicians hope it will. Quebec has tried to do the same thing, accepting immigrants from countries that are French peaking, only to see the number of immigrants decline, and since most of the French speaking countries being African, a lot of racism towards blacks coming into the province. The people who can most easily speak Japanese will be Chinese, and I don't think Japanese people will be very happy to have a large number of them moving into the country.

[EDIT: Link]

[FG Lurker]

Wow, I'm not really surprised by this kind of comment, but think it won't accomplish what the politicians hope it will. Quebec has tried to do the same thing, accepting immigrants from countries that are French peaking, only to see the number of immigrants decline, and since most of the French speaking countries being African, a lot of racism towards blacks coming into the province. The people who can most easily speak Japanese will be Chinese, and I don't think Japanese people will be very happy to have a large number of them moving into the country.

Link?

[FG Lurker]

Found it:

Gov't considering Japanese ability as visa requirement for long-term residents
Japan Today, January 15, 2008

TOKYO \ Japan is considering adding Japanese language requirement for foreign nationals seeking entry visas for long-term residency and when renewing their visas, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said Tuesday.

Komura cited reasons such as the need for foreigners to be able to speak Japanese to fit into the Japanese society. While he gave no further explanation, the envisioned measure is believed to be aimed at eradicating illegal residency and likely part of antiterrorism policies.

[...]

The minister said the Foreign Ministry and the Justice Ministry will soon begin full-fledged consultations. Work visas are expected to be the main target of the new policy, a Justice Ministry official said.

(Full Story)

"eradicating illegal residency and likely part of antiterrorism policies"

Are they going to make tourists learn Japanese too? Certainly none of those dastardly illegals would come in on a tourist visa!

[aquamarine]

Well crap, there goes my hope for returning....

Time to brush up on my Japanese. All ten words of it.

[canman]

This just smacks of such discrimination. I think the J-gov't is feeling some pressure to allow more immigrants into the country, so what do they do, try and make the requirements so difficult, that most of the truly deserving people will be kept out.
I guess this is just another part of the "Yokoso Japan" campaign.

[Spidey]

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/425041


LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!

[Buraku]

I think some of the Koreans and Chinese will have an unfair advantage as they've already been exposed to the Japanese Kanji, and customs similar to Japanese.

It sounds like a lot of people with Permanent Residency might be getting the boot.

[maraboutslim]

Other requirements will be:

ability to properly slurp noodles
mastering of the 'bow' while talking on cell phone
being able to totally ignore the existence of any person not connected to you (via job or family)

[6810]

Yeah, Imagine that, loser foreigners boozing their way through the country in a cloud of ignorance may actually have to learn the local language or they can't stay...

Pissweak whiners, what they propose sounds fine to me... may act as a kind of foreign fuckwit filter...

[Greji]

It sounds like a lot of people with Permanent Residency might be getting the boot.

I don't believe that this was mentioned. They would play bloody hell trying to pass a law that would make such a requirement retroactive.

[Mike Oxlong]

Other requirements will be:

ability to properly slurp noodles
mastering of the 'bow' while talking on cell phone
being able to totally ignore the existence of any person not connected to you (via job or family)

I hope we'll get bonus points for being able to ignore coworkers and family too

[Takechanpoo]

You need JLPT advanced level.

[gomichild]

And when do the classes for Japanese people to learn to accept that foreigners can speak Japanese begin?

[Big Booger]

[yt]M_bvT-DGcWw[/yt]
"We don't need no education..."

[Iraira]

And how are they going to judge each foreigner's Japanese ability?
If a foreigner passes the Level 2 exam, they are qualified to live in Japan? Will that be printed/IC chipped on our gaijin cards..."The person bearing this card, bears the mark of Level Two Gaijin....speak slowly to this person, but he/she is not a tourist, so treat 'em however you feel."

If it gets me a discount at the market, then I'm up for being tested, otherwise no more anal probes please.

[Takechanpoo]

And when do the classes for Japanese people to learn to accept that foreigners can speak Japanese begin?

White ladies like you who got married with J-dude should become J-national unconditionally. But basically If you gaijins want to become one of J-nationals,
you need high-level J-skill which can read reports of J-media in Japanese edition, in not English edition. Japan must not become second California.

[alicia454]

And when do the classes for Japanese people to learn to accept that foreigners can speak Japanese begin?

Here-here! Personally, I would not mind putting the effort to learn and become completely fluent in Japanese. In fact I was originally planning on taking a number of Japanese classes. However, it is clear that the government and other officials do want want me to stay in Japan regardless of how fluent I become, and regardless of how much I contribute to Japan, due to racism.

The amount I Japanese I learn will not provide me with any basic human rights including anti-discrimination protection. And the government in Japan will subject me to increasing amounts of harassment, obstacles, and humiliation in order to get me to leave.

So the Japanese racists have won! I am completely defeated. I now plan to move out of Japan in a year or two along with my boss and the engineering business we helped set up here, and I don't plan on ever coming back. I no longer have a pressing need to learn a language which I will stop using in a couple of years or so.

Now the time and effort I originally planned to use to become learn and become proficient Japanese will be focused instead on relocating outside of Japan.

[CrankyBastard]

Hey Take, if you pay for my ticket out of here, I'll ship out.
















But in return, you must promise not to visit my home country.

[American Oyaji]

But in return, you must promise not to visit my home country.

Japanese men don't visit outside the country except for school (rarely) and business.

[Iraira]

Japanese men don't visit outside the country except for school (rarely) and business.

Japanese women, on the other hand, they visit outside the country for copulatory reasons.

[canman]

And sex tours. Don't forget the sex tours, something I'm sure Take is very familiar with, since he can't get any here in Japan!

[ttjereth]

Two threads on the same topic?

J-gov't considering Japanese ability as visa requirement for long-term residents
http://www.fuckedgaijin.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19689

[Oradea]

This just smacks of such discrimination. I think the J-gov't is feeling some pressure to allow more immigrants into the country, so what do they do, try and make the requirements so difficult, that most of the truly deserving people will be kept out.
I guess this is just another part of the "Yokoso Japan" campaign.

You really think so? Britain for a start is considering holding exams on English ability for people who wish to be long term residents there, along with countries that already do, including France, Canada, and i think Italy. I believe america is also considering it, but not sure on that. Seems to me, the Japanese are just trying to throw back at the brits and Yanks what they are doing themselves. Finger printing, eye retina skans, and now, Japanese exams for those who wanna be long term residents. I suggest this, if you are planning on being a long term resident here in Japan, and you cant speak the language, your gonna be pretty screwed anyway. Have fun trying to read the loan agreement when you wanna buy a house/land, have fun working your way throught any life insurance you may wish to buy. Im not sure what level it is they require, Ignoring Take chans post completely, but a decent level of Japanese isnt ridiculously difficult to come buy if youve been here a while. I dont see the problem, when other countries are doing it to, especially the countries most of us on this board are from.

[ttjereth]

You really think so? Britain for a start is considering holding exams on English ability for people who wish to be long term residents there, along with countries that already do, including France, Canada, and i think Italy. I believe america is also considering it, but not sure on that. Seems to me, the Japanese are just trying to throw back at the brits and Yanks what they are doing themselves. Finger printing, eye retina skans, and now, Japanese exams for those who wanna be long term residents. I suggest this, if you are planning on being a long term resident here in Japan, and you cant speak the language, your gonna be pretty screwed anyway. Have fun trying to read the loan agreement when you wanna buy a house/land, have fun working your way throught any life insurance you may wish to buy. Im not sure what level it is they require, Ignoring Take chans post completely, but a decent level of Japanese isnt ridiculously difficult to come buy if youve been here a while. I dont see the problem, when other countries are doing it to, especially the countries most of us on this board are from.

The U.S. has actually been trying to make some of the immigration requirements (like the tests and such) easier. Also, since the U.S. doesn't have an official national language:

No official language nationwide, English is the de facto official language and the national language.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_official_languages_by_state#U

they would have a hard time making this a requirement without making English the official language first (although wikipedia says the same for Japan).

[omae mona]

Britain for a start is considering holding exams on English ability for people who wish to be long term residents there, along with countries that already do, including France, Canada, and i think Italy.

Woohoo! Looks like long-term residency will be a layup for me in France and Italy. It's about time those countries recognized English is the One True Language. I wonder if France and Italy will start requiring English ability for their citizens too.

[Greji]

The U.S. has actually been trying to make some of the immigration requirements (like the tests and such) easier. Also, since the U.S. doesn't have an official national language:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_official_languages_by_state#U

they would have a hard time making this a requirement without making English the official language first (although wikipedia says the same for Japan).

The only requirement currently for language in the USA a simple comprehension of basic English (probably below a graded level on any language testing), which is required for Citizenship only.

Today's Japan Crimes has an article that is of course, very reassuring.....
Of instant significant note is":

".....A Foreign Ministry official in charge of the issue stressed that the idea is not exclusionary. "It is not about placing new restrictions by imposing a language-ability requirement," the official said on customary condition of anonymity.

Someone with high Japanese proficiency may be given favorable treatment in return, including easing of other existing visa requirements, he said. "(High Japanese proficiency) may actually make it easier to come and work in Japan," he said. "We want to provide incentives for foreigners to learn Japanese."....."

I feel better already!

[Mulboyne]

The Asahi has a report here on the proposal. Perhaps it's a backdoor way of closing down the JET scheme.

[ttjereth]

The only requirement currently for language in the USA a simple comprehension of basic English (probably below a graded level on any language testing), which is required for Citizenship only.

Today's Japan Crimes has an article that is of course, very reassuring.....
Of instant significant note is":

".....A Foreign Ministry official in charge of the issue stressed that the idea is not exclusionary. "It is not about placing new restrictions by imposing a language-ability requirement," the official said on customary condition of anonymity.

Someone with high Japanese proficiency may be given favorable treatment in return, including easing of other existing visa requirements, he said. "(High Japanese proficiency) may actually make it easier to come and work in Japan," he said. "We want to provide incentives for foreigners to learn Japanese."....."

I feel better already!

Incentives:

Foreigners who speak Japanese fluently will:
Not have to be subject to daily harrasment by police
Not have to attend weekly floggings (only monthly)
No longer be offered (force fed) natto by national decree
Be allowed the same ease and lack of legal repurcussions when cheating on their wives as Japanese men

[Greji]

Incentives:

Foreigners who speak Japanese fluently will:
Not have to be subject to daily harrasment by police
Not have to attend weekly floggings (only monthly)
No longer be offered (force fed) natto by national decree
Be allowed the same ease and lack of legal repurcussions when cheating on their wives as Japanese men

These incentives are seasonal and subject to change.

[ttjereth]

These incentives are seasonal and subject to change.

Based on the whims and/or menopausal status of your immigration agent on any given day.