Transcript Download full version of this powerpoint presentation at: www.debito.org/waseda012208.ppt My paper substantiating all this at: www.debito.org/wasedapaper0108.doc.

Download full version of this
powerpoint presentation at:
www.debito.org/waseda012208.ppt
My paper substantiating all this at:
www.debito.org/wasedapaper0108.doc
1
Implications of Japan’s Human Rights
Practices on Asian Regional Integration
By ARUDOU Debito
Associate Professor, Hokkaido Information University
2
The moral of this story is:
How you treat your guests (or
migrants/immigrants) is a bellwether
of how you will treat your neighbors.
Japan systematically brings in Non-Japanese
(NJ) as workers, avoiding any specific
“immigration policy”, then treats them badly
while they are here.
In the end, this hurts Japan.
3
Historically, why are NJ here?
During the Meiji Period, J imported
“specialists” to enhance its agricultural,
educational, and industrial prowess.
During its prewar and WWII Imperial
phase, Japan “imported” millions of
citizens of empire (and slaves) to man
factories and develop infrastructure.
4
Postwar labor “self-sufficiency”
From late 1940’s, Japan repatriated 2
million former Korean citizens. Created
policy against importing unskilled labor.
During high-speed growth of 60’s and
70’s, tapped other elements of the
domestic workforce: elderly, women,
and automation.
Japan’s economy grew larger than all
other Asian countries combined.
5
Labor shortage of 1980s
According to the Ministry of Labor, by
1989, 46% of all domestic
manufacturers were “labor deficient”.
By 1990, this figure rose to 56%.
Working in “3K” jobs was frowned upon
by Japan’s youth.
Increasing pressure to lower wages for
international competitiveness.
6
Demographic Pressures
With the record-low birthrate and
record-high lifetime expectancies, the
UN predicts Japanese society will soon
have the highest percentage of elderly.
As of 2006, the Health Ministry says
Japan’s population is decreasing and
will fall from 127 to around 100 million
by 2050.
7
「日本の労働力人
口は２０３０年に
は今より１０００万
人も減るという。」
エコノミスト２００８
年１月１５日１８頁
8
By 2050, the majority of Japanese will be
beyond a productive working age (15-64)
Source: Ekonomisuto Jan 15, 2008 pg 16
9
Choices to be made
Japan’s goods were being priced out of
the market, due in part to labor costs.
Japan’s factories at all levels could
either relocate overseas (“hollowing
out”), or go bankrupt.
Or decrease labor costs by importing
cheap NJ labor (or, of course, automate:
“Post-Fordist Economy”)
Keidanren etc. lobbied for NJ labor.
10
Choices that were made in 1990
Institute “backdoor worker” NJ visas.
“Trainees” (gijutsu kenshuusei) would
work for one year, receive education in
Japanese know-how, and be exempt
from labor laws.
This meant they worked for half
minimum wage with no social security.
If they showed promise, they could
graduate up to “Interns”.
11
More backdoor labor visas
 “Interns” (kenkyuusei) would work one or two
more years as regular employees, were not
exempt from labor laws.
 More costly than Trainees, in 1993 “Practical
Trainee” (ginou jisshuusei) extended the
Trainee period two more years. Naturally,
more Trainees than Interns hired.
 “Entertainer” (kougyou) and “Student” visas
(ryuugaku or shuugaku) also brought in Asian
regional labor (particularly China, Thailand,
Philippines, and Indonesia).
12
The biggest backdoor visa
“Spouse or Child of Japanese
National” (nihonjin no haiguusha tou)
and “Long-Term Resident” (teijuusha)
“repatriated” hundreds of thousands of
Nikkei Diaspora to “explore J heritage”.
Unlike other visas, Nikkei had no
restrictions on work status or renewal,
so they could be employed indefinitely.
13
The effects of backdoor work
The registered NJ population has
doubled since 1990 to 2 million plus.
Official estimates of visa overstayers
now around 220,000, but some experts
say more than double that.
Brazilians alone now 300,000 plus, now
the third largest NJ nationality, behind
N+S Koreans and Chinese.
14
The most recent
raw numbers as
of end-2006...
Source: Ekonomisuto
Jan 15, 2008 pg 21
15
Source: Ekonomisuto Jan 15, 2008 pg 18
16
The effects of backdoor work
The number of Trainees who graduated
up to Interns lept from 11,000 in 1999 to
41,000 in 2006
The number of Trainees themselves
more than doubled to 68,305 between
2001 and 2006.
Legal NJ workers in general number
770,000, 2.0% of the productive-age
workforce (生産年齢 ages 15-64).
17
The Dark Side
NJ workers coming for training, being
put to work in unskilled labor.
NJ workers having bankbooks and
passports confiscated by employers,
also employed as illegals and exploited.
Thanks to the “Entertainer” visa, Japan
became a tier-two human trafficker on
US State Department list.
18
The Dark Side
Instances of NJ working 22-hour days in
slave conditions; child labor.
Denial of basic human rights, such as in
one factory: worship, cellphone use,
repatriation of wages, meeting with
friends, even writing letters.
Exploitative conditions even causing a
murder August 2006 in Chiba.
19
An emerging NJ underclass
NJ children remaining uneducated,
since elementary education is only
mandatory for Japanese citizens.
Cases of schools refusing NJ children.
Asahi 2/12/07: Between 20 and 40% or
Brazilian children are not in primary
education. 10,000+ Brazilian children
dropped out or never entered.
Ethnic schools not recognized or funded
by MOE.
20
The point is, Japan needs NJ
 UN and 2000 PM Obuchi Cabinet survey:
Japan must import around 600,000 workers
per year to maintain 1995 working-age
population, tax base (Usui 2006).
 Japanese industry is dependent on NJ labor.
Though 1.6% of population, NJ workers are
3.3% of the productive labor force in 愛知、岐
阜、静岡、三重 (Economisuto ibid pg 19).
 Thanks in part to NJ workers, Toyota has
become world’s #2 automaker.
21
“WITHOUT
FOREIGNERS,
THE
‘TOYOTA
SYSTEM’
WON’T WORK.”
--SHUUKAN
DIAMONDO
JUNE 5, 2004
22
YET JAPAN
CREATES CLEAR
DISINCENTIVES
FOR NJ TO STAY
Both in terms of GOJ policy, and policy
negligence creating human rights abuses
23
Despite effecting UN ICERD in
1996, Japan is the only major
industrialized nation without any
form of a law whatsoever against
Racial Discrimination.
And it shows.
24
..
.
Wakkanai
...
.
.
Monbetsu
Rumoi
Otaru
Ohtaki-mura
AKITA CITY
ISESAKI CITY, GUNMA PREF.
OHTA CITY, GUNMA PREF.
KOFU, YAMANASHI PREF.
DAITOU-SHI, OSAKA PREF
KYOTO
KITAKYUSHU CITY
FUKUOKA PREF
OKINAWA
URUMA CITY
.
.
KURASHIKI CITY,
OKAYAMA PREF.
HIROSHIMA
Sapporo
.....
.
.
.
.
Nemuro
MISAWA, AOMORI PREF.
KOSHIGAYA, SAITAMA PREF.
TODA CITY, SAITAMA PREF.
TOKYO OGIKUBO
TOKYO AOYAMA DOORI
TOKYO SHINBASHI
TOKYO SHINJUKU-KU
TOKYO KABUKICHO
HAMAMATSU, SHIZUOKA PREF.
NAGOYA
More information and photos at
www.debito.org/roguesgallery.html
25
“JAPANESE ONLY” signs and
rules have been found at:
Bathhouses, bars, discos, stores,
hotels, restaurants, karaoke and
pachinko parlors, ramen shops,
barbershops, a swimming pool, a
billiards hall, a sports store, and a
woman’s footbath boutique.
26
More on this and other issues:
www.debito.org
ISBN 4 7503 9018 6 English version, Japanese version ISBN 4 7503 9001 9
27
Shizuoka NPA foreign crime pamphlet 2001
www.debito.org/TheCommunity/shizuokakeisatsuhandbook.html28
Off-color NPA notices warning the public
against foreign bagsnatchers and knifers
(found at bank ATMs and subways)
：
www.debito.org/TheCommunity/communityissues.html#police
29
TOCHIGI
PREFECTURE
COAST GUARD
PUBLIC NOTICE
(MAY 2007):
“PROTECT [OUR
NATION] AND HEAD
THEM OFF AT THE
SHORES:
COOPERATE IN
STOPPING
ILLEGAL
OVERSTAYS AND
ILLEGAL
ENTRANTS”
30
Statements by our politicians
 ”A million [Chinese,
Koreans, etc.], all thieves
and murderers, are in
Japan... making
Kabukicho a lawless
zone.” (Dietman Etoh Takami on
 “Foreigners are all sneaky
thieves. As Tokyo Gov.
Ishihara cracked down on
them, they flowed into
Kanagawa Prefecture.”
Kanazawa Gov Matsuzawa Nov 2 2003)
Sangokujin, Jul 12 2003)
 “Roppongi is now virtually a foreign
 "Given the exceptional
neighborhood. Africans --I don't
mean African-Americans--who
don't speak English are there
doing who knows what. This is
leading to new forms of crime such
as car theft. We should be letting
in people who are intelligent.” (Tokyo
atmosphere of the [2002 World
Cup], we must face the
possibility of unwanted babies
fathered by foreigners who rape
our women.” (Miyagi Pref.
Assemblyman Konno Takayoshi
Jun 27 2001)
Gov. Ishihara, Feb 19, 2007)
31
Recent GOJ policies towards NJ
 Oct 2007: All “employers” must register their
NJ workers with Hello Work.
 Nov 2007: Almost all NJ (including Regular
Permanent Residents) must be fingerprinted
at border as a means of controlling “terrorism
and contagious diseases”, and foreign crime.
 Jan 2008: MOJ proposes NJ pass language
test for “long-term visa” renewal.
 The message: Immigration is scary and must
be kept to a trickle.
32
This is hurting Japan economically
153.17
131.90
103.54
87.64
84.45
66.93
61.29
59.33
59.11
54.46
51.34
47.79
47.14
43.33
38.60
22.94
22.08
-1.47
Ireland
China
Greece
S. Korea
Spain
Portugal
UK
Australia
Finland
Canada
USA
Holland
Italy
NZ
France
Germ any
Switz.
Japan
-50
0
50
100
150
200
% Change in GDP
Per Capita 19962006, 2007 prices
Source: IMF World Economic
Outlook and EconStats 2007
(www.econstats.com/weo/V016.htm)
33
Yet still NJ keep immigrating
Every year we have a net intake of
around 50,000 registered NJ, now 45
straight years of record numbers.
Around 20,000 naturalizing per year.
“Regular Permanent Residents” (ippan
eijuusha) will probably surpass “Special
Permanent Residents” (the Zainichi
generational “foreigners”) by 2007.
34
Source: Ministry of Justice
35
The Immigrants probably
outnumber the Zainichis as
of last year
600,000
500,000
Zainichis
(Tokubetsu
Eijuusha)
"Newcomers"
(Ippan Eijuusha)
400,000
300,000
200,000
100,000
(est)
2008
(est)
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
0
In any case,
soon close to a
million NJ will
be here to stay,
permanently
36
“NEWCOMERS
SUSTAIN
SECTORS
WHERE
JAPANESE
AREN’T ABLE
OR WILLING
TO PICK
UP THE
SLACK.”
--NEWSWEEK
SEPT 13, 2006
37
And don’t forget
Japan’s invisible kokusaika
There are around 40,000 international
marriages per year in Japan.
International children do not show up in
statistics on “registered foreigners”. Of
course not. They are citizens.
International children are also invisible
statistically. The Japan Census Bureau
does not measure for ethnicity.
38
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE
(Amy (left) and Anna Sugawara Aldwinckle 1996)
Born and raised in Japan. Native speakers of Japanese. Japanese citizens.
39
The current ministerial debate
despite no “immigration policy”
 MHLW: Tweak: Give Trainees labor rights
protections, language tests, renewal
contingent on acculturation.
 METI: Paint job: Keep present system,
monitor to prevent abuses.
 MOJ: Slice: Abolish complicated system,
create clear revolving-door labor visa fixed at
three years nonrenewable.
 (MOJ is the most powerful in this arena)
40
Still, the underlying
assumptions remain:
 NJ workers are only temporary workers, not
seen as a solution for decreasing population.
 Despite increasingly arduous tests to qualify
to stay, NJ workers will not be assimilated and
guaranteed rights as residents or citizens.
 Would NJ want to come to Japan and work,
even only as dead-end factory workers?
 Would Japan’s industry have an incentive to
train their NJ workers, even if they’re only
here for about three years maximum?
41
How you treat your neighbors
domestically is indicative of
your attitudes towards your
neighbors internationally.
Does Japan seriously think that other countries
aren’t noticing the raw deal their citizens get
here? Think of how Japan’s media reacts when J
citizens get ill-treated abroad.
Japan needs its neighbors. Given its history,
Japan can ill-afford any kind of reciprocation.
42
Download full version of this
powerpoint presentation at:
www.debito.org/waseda012208.ppt
My paper substantiating all this at:
www.debito.org/wasedapaper0108.doc
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS PRESENTATION.
43
What’s being done to help?
 Local govts (Hamamatsu Sengen 2001,
Yokkaichi Sengen 2006) demand national govt
help guarantee easier NJ access to education,
social security, and immigration.
 Local govts are getting grants (albeit
temporary) to help NJ “settle”.
 NGOs and other parts of Japan’s emergent
civil society are making abuses public.
 Japanese mass media paying attention.
 LDP former MOJ Vice Minister Kouno Taro:
The visa situation is “a scam” (ikasama).
44
What’s being done to help?
 MOJ project team book “Basic Ideas for
Accepting Non-Japanese” (Nov 2006): Make
it easier for residents to become Permanent.
 Keidanren (2004 and 2006): “Guarantee
human rights, prevent discrimination, quality
control, bilateral labor agreements in targeted
job sectors”
 Ministries currently debating to “fix” visa
system by 2009.
45
The future:
“Big vs. Small” Japan
Former Tokyo Immigration Bureau Director
Sakanaka Hidenori’s two scenarios:
www.debito.org/
sakanakaonimmigration.htm
46
“Small Japan” in 2050
Population 100 million, of that NJ 3 mil.
Japan no longer Asia’s leader, but
enjoys a degree of influence as rich
country.
Elderly, frugal population paying high
taxes and leading simple lives in
uncrowded country
Economy no longer dynamic, politics
quiet and conservative.
47
“Big Japan” in 2050
Population 120 million, of that NJ 20 mil.
Japan vibrant, diverse, crowded
multicultural society, ethnicities mostly
Chinese, Indians, and other Asians.
Younger, dynamic society still pursues
wealth, has ethnic strife, employment
sectors divided into ethnic specialties.
Immigration Agency improves ties with
neighbors, degree of Balkanization of
society.
48
My prognostications
 The “Small Japan” scenario will not come to
pass.
 Japan is still hooked on the profit motive, and
the belief that industrial prowess and selfsufficiency has made this society rich.
 The demographics on both sides of the
nationality fence are unoverrideable, given
international marriage and the unstoppably
decreasing J population.
 NJ workers and immigrants will continue to be
wanted, and will continue to come.
49