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- Jyuminhyou,
tohon, re-entry visas
- By: Terri Nii
- The UMJ Volume 1.4 (Editorial)
- By: Terri Nii
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The points covered by Ms Gunilla Okabe corresponded closely with those that UMJ is concentrating on effecting increased awareness and, ultimately, change for the members of our international community of spouses of Japanese and permanent residents. On March 8 President Imtiaz A. Chaudhry, Kanawagawa office director M A Haque, Secretary of Welfare Julian Shu, and the Secretary of Communications attended the "Sawayaka Volunteer Gathering" sponsored by Chiba prefecture and held at Makuhari Messe. Having lived 17 years in Japan, Gunilla pointed out that when she enrolled her 2 children into kindergartens and public school, it was awkward because the official documents do not show their mother's name, or indeed that they even have a mother. As a foreign woman married to a Japanese national, her name is listed in the top "comments" sections as having married her husband, but does not show her as a current member of the family in the area where members are named. Another panel member, Mr. Hon from Korea, is a research student at Chiba University. Some of the examples of difficulties he has encountered included the lack of complete acceptance of him by other research students. This is in spite of the fact that he has been in the department for over 6 years, longer than any of the other members, all Japanese, doing the same study. In a group comprised solely of Japanese, he would be considered a "senpai" or senior member, in an unwritten scheme with which Japanese are very adept. Although Mr. Hon clearly does not seek particular status, he does want to be recognized for the participation and contribution he has made during the past 6 years, and wonders how something that usually comes so naturally has been suddenly rejected. Mr. Hon also noted that while he can say that his and his family's life here now is more comfortable than it was in the beginning, it is because he has adjusted to the difficulties, not that the difficulties have been solved. "Things are getting better for foreign residents" is something that we often hear, but he hopes further improvements are made in the near future. In his view, the reason that he is more comfortable now is that he has become accustomed to the "Ara! Gaijin ka?!" comment under the breath when he opens his front door to a salesman. He is now able to deal more mildly and calmly to that kind of reaction. He notes that an adjustment on his part cannot be counted toward progress in Japanese society. After the panel described areas of difficulty for foreign residents of Japan, the audience was invited to comment. Representative after representative of various "volunteer" organizations in Chiba stood to speak of problems of which they have heard or which they have helped foreign friends or clients solve. It was astounding to hear of how many organizations exist for assisting foreigners. There was the agency that provides Spanish language interpretation, the legal advice section of a government facility, low-cost Japanese language instruction, and counseling services, both public and private, in many facilities and areas. One woman, Flora, who has lived in Japan for 20 years related an informal, friendly encounter that served as a very practical lesson for her, one that she will never forget, and of which she makes use still today. When she first arrived in Japan, a woman in her neighborhood came by with the ingredients for miso soup, and proceeded to teach Flora the names of the items, "nasu," "negi," etc. that can be used to make miso soup. Although Flora, because she raised 4 children, admittedly has not mastered the Japanese language during her time here, her story impressed the listeners with the realization that it is the day-to-day activities for which support and help are necessary. Listening to the various accounts of problems and solutions encountered in life in Japan, and of the various "volunteer" organizations, it occurred to me that while outside assistance is certainly valuable in some cases, we as members of our international community of residents in Japan are the ones who best understand each others' situations, and can best support each other. We can provide each other with information and recommendations as well as emotional support when difficulties occur. As long-term members of Japanese society, it is important to show the commitment toward improving our situation by supporting each other. No matter how long we have lived in Japan, we don't know when something about which we think is only in the newspaper might befall us. At that time we need to know that we can get support and assistance from people who have gone through the same kind of experience. We UMJ members felt that the 2 foreign panelists represented the concerns of foreign spouses and permanent residents fairly and persuasively. Both spoke excellent Japanese and were completely understandable to the mainly Japanese audience. They presented some of the legal questions, jyuminhyou, tohon, re-entry permits, etc., as well as some of the emotional hurdles that we must go through to adapt to life in Japan.
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