'Entertainer' visas? They're all professionals

[Taro Toporific]

Japan not attacking root causes of abused, exploited foreigners: experts
The Japan Times: Oct. 8, 2003
[Australian Sally Cameron, senior project officer for the New South Wales government's Department of Women:] Japan has no law that specifically prohibits human-trafficking, and authorities mainly apply immigration and labor laws against traffickers, she said. "The government's incomprehension, where it views the trafficked victims as criminals for having engaged in acts such as prostitution, has kept it from aggressively prosecuting and punishing the criminal organizations involved," she said.
Cameron added that the "entertainer" visa is another area where there is a substantial gulf between policy and reality.... as many as 40,000 Filipino women enter Japan every year with such visas, and a large number of them are trafficked, even though the Justice Ministry in September 1996 reiterated its position that these visas only be awarded to professional singers and dancers.

[jim katta]

somebody help me understand something. I'm jumping through all kinds of hoops preparing to sponsor myself with a business visa right now. but if so much corruption via an entertainer visa is being allowed, what's so hard about me just signing up for an entertainer visa and meeting the criteria by reciting poetry once a month in some non-descript dive bar? this is a serious question, any comments?

[Taro Toporific]

... what's so hard about me just signing up for an entertainer visa and meeting the criteria by reciting poetry once a month in some non-descript dive bar? this is a serious question, any comments?

Yes, I've pondered that entertainer visa idea for hours waiting with the hookers in the Immigration Office. Basically, the problem is that entertainer visas MUST have a full Guarantor from the owner of a registered Bar/Lubeshop. No bar is gonna want to vouch for you UNLESS you get a Sex Change. :P

[Big Booger]

So if you are a hooker you can come over on an entertainer Visa providing some slum vouches for you, you're in there like swimwear, but if you are a businessman wanting to invest or set up shop in Japan, ur gonna have a tough time?

I say let the hookers be.. nothing like that Sabisu... Just kidding.. It is preposterous to think that hookers are considered "entertainers".

Entertainers should be someone with a "legal" skill that is considered entertainment like street performers, circus acts, musicians, etc...

Not hookers who blow and go..

[Greener]

From what I understand a lot of club/rave DJ's and musicians are able to get entertainer visas rather easily. As do actors. However, I believe you have to already be in Japan to obtain one if you are an actor. (A friend of mine does a lot of tv work there and is on an entertainer visa right now.)

[jim katta]

From what I understand a lot of club/rave DJ's and musicians are able to get entertainer visas rather easily.

REALLY? Shit, djing is something I actually do. can you, or anyone else, elaborate? How long are those kind of visa good for? do they come in 1 & 3 year versions like others?

[blackcat]

its this way because prositution is entertainment for many japanese men, esp. when the women can be treated like dirt as the are only "foreign prostitutes" then discarded and labeled criminal.

Refugees!!! japan couldnt give a shit, genuine immigration??? fuck that.

slaves! baby! thats what they want...slaves.

as for the "trainee program" this is just what japan wants...slave labour..not much has changed has it.!