Language skills to be needed for Japanese visa?
Here’s a good one from Kyodo news to get stuck into, and which could my successors who come to work in Japan:
“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.
“For foreign people living in Japan to be able to speak Japanese is not only important for improving their own quality of life, but also necessary for the Japanese society as a whole,” Komura told a news conference.
“It would be a very good thing if this helps build momentum for learning Japanese language in the respective home countries of foreign people living in Japan,” he added.
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.
Japan recently tightened its immigration control and began fingerprinting and photographing all foreign nationals entering Japan from Nov 20, exempting only visitors under age 16, special permanent residents and diplomats.
As of the end of 2006, there were 2.09 million foreigners registered for permanent and non-permanent residency in Japan, including those for work and study.
Among them, Koreans form the largest group at 28.7 percent of all foreigners, followed by a rapidly rising number of Chinese, and Brazilians; many with Japanese ancestry.”
Now, while some language skills would be good, I certainly hope they’re not going ask for something like Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) 1 or 2 for entry. And do you think the government will ask for this requirement when people are coming into the country in answer to labour/skill shortages in certain industries? If not then the influx of foreign workers is really going to dry up? And would this also mean that current foreign workers would stand the chance of being deported if they don’t understand Japanese to an acceptable language?
This could affect the JET Programme adversely. I would hazard a guess that the proportion of people who could have got level 3 on the JLPT before they came to Japan would be relatively low, and these people in the future may be barred from entering Japan on a working visa. And for those people who don’t have it, will they be willing to put the study in for a language test when they may only be in the country for one year. Admittadly, it might get rid of some people who are using the ALT placement as a “gap year” after they have finished university, but would surely decrease the numbers of applicants.
Well, whatever makes the government feel more nationalistic…
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I personally don’t think its a good idea for Japan and it may affect my ever coming back to Japan to live, which makes me sad on a personal level. Japan is a great country to come and teach English in an learn the language while you are here in country… but, it seems thats not really going to be possible if this goes into effect.
I don’t think any country should require you to know the language starting off, but perhaps helping people learn the language once they get here, or requiring mandatory classes would be a little better than turning you away before you have the chance to try.
Okay that was a bit short and incoherent, but I got to get off to work!