Next year the rules for renewing a visa in Japan change, requiring every foreign resident to undergo a new process in order to extend their stay. Listed below are the key things to keep in mind.

(more…)

Less than a month ago I wrote to you about the great debate going on in Japan and by the way America about the presence of American Military in Japan 60 years after the war and who is paying the bills. It seems that all the politicians in the World have picked up on this and are making statements that for the most part are uninformed or culturally out of whack. The only place where this doesn’t seem to be a fact is at Camp Zama, in Kanagawa Prefecture where everything is on track. The Command at that small installation has worked very hard to keep the local population informed. MG Wiercinski, the Commanding General of all Army Forces in Japan is constantly on the road visiting and informing the Japanese leadership near all Army Installations in Japan. (more…)

The port city of Kobe, which has a long history of openness and acceptance toward non-Japanese, has sent a letter to Japan’s national government about the new Immigration guidelines.  The Kobe City Assembly, chaired by Mr. Kenji Yoshida, has drafted a consensus demanding clarification of the proposed guidelines and the criteria that Immigration will use when determining whether to renew visas.  The letter was sent to a number of high-ranking government officials, including Prime Minister Hatoyama, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the House of Councilors, the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and the Minister of Justice. (more…)

In April 2010, the Immigration Bureau will begin requesting foreigners to show their social health insurance cards as a prerequisite for visa renewal.

Why is this a bad idea?

The guideline was intended to compel employers to observe the law by enrolling their employees in social insurance. However, it puts foreigners between a rock and a hard place because their employers may force them to join the national health plan instead. Foreigners not previously on the social system would have to pay up to two years of back premiums – up to five in some cities. Such action would undoubtedly force many honest and hard-working foreigners to leave Japan, while coercing dishonest or otherwise-legal foreigners “underground.” Ironically, this is precisely the opposite of the intended effect of the newly passed Immigration laws that seek to curtail foreigners from overstaying their visas.

The guideline is too ambiguous and a violation of human rights . . .

It does not specifically state whether foreigners who are not able to enroll in social insurance will be denied visa renewal or if they would instead be required to join the national health plan in order to qualify for extension. It gives individual Immigration officials complete and total discretion in determining whether or not to renew a visa – discretion based solely on personal judgment rather than on concrete principles or instructions.

The Free Choice Foundation will therefore petition the government under Article 16 of the Japanese Constitution to revoke the new guideline.

Please join our online petition drive at:

http://www.FreeChoice.jp

We welcome your support

Why are the American military still in Japan 60 years after the war and who is paying the bills?

Have you heard the story about the Japanese Elementary School Teacher who was giving a lecture on the Great Pacific War when one of his students raised his hand? Yes, the teachers, said. The boy asked teacher (Sensei),” Did we have a war with America?” “Why, yes,” the teacher replied. “Oh, who won?” said the student. Duh! (more…)

In April 2010, the Immigration Bureau will begin requesting foreigners who are obligated to enroll in social insurance to present their health insurance cards as a prerequisite for visa renewal. Many foreigners in Japan choose to purchase private health insurance because it offers certain benefits that expatriates consider important and that public insurance does not cover, such as: (more…)

What is an action director?

There’s a lot of different titles for people  who are responsible for creating a fight scene; the action director, the stunt coordinator, the fight coordinator, etc, so it’s easy to get confused. An action director is like the overseer. They are the ones who have to think about the drama portrayed by the action, the camera angles, the editing, and the sound.

(more…)

Since this is my first blog entry, I’d like to express my thanks to you for at least reading this sentence, and say that this blog’s angle will be to offer practical advice and insights from the perspective of a long-time foreign resident in Japan. I’ve been here since February 2003, it’s been a great experience overall, and I hope you will be able to say the same after a few years here, too.

(more…)

Japan’s ministries are bickering with each other over an NJ issue (tourism), demonstrating how MOJ and MLITT are stepping on MOIA’s toes and goals.  (Not to worry, alphabet soup defined below.)

Also exposed is how Japan’s hotels aren’t keeping their legal promises.  They’re snaffling tax breaks for registering with the GOJ to offer international service – without actually offering any.

(more…)