Greetings everyone. I'm from Turkey and currently going to a medical school in Turkey. But I want to work as a doctor in Japan after graduating since I love Japanese culture, history, people and music . I researched a bit about what qualifications I need to work there- of course, I know that I should be able to write and speak fluently in Japanese so I'm learning the language-, but answers I found were vague and very different from each other. I came across a somewhat solid answer by reading "Ministerial Ordinance to
Provide for Criteria pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 1 (2) of the Immigration Control and
Refugee Recognition Act", but there is a controversy regarding that as well. You see, I found two websites with the said law, and one of them has this part
While the second one has the part above replaced with this one:
As you can see, the second article doesn't mention anything related to doctors.
So I am in need of guidance. First of all, I'll have to ask for your help in clarifying this issue. Right now I'm quite confused. I don't know if I have to study medicine in Japan from scratch or enter an exam to get certified in Japan or none of those or maybe I'm not even allowed to work as a doctor. My guess is that a Japanese person familiar with laws or a foreign doctor working in Japan may be able to help.
Secondly, I'm curious about how foreigners are generally perceived in Japan, Turks in particular. I read a few articles about foreigners in Japan and some of them implied that xenophobia is common.
Related to the question above, I wonder about the working conditions of foreign doctors. I did a bit of research on that as well, and nearly all of the resources state that foreign doctors won't be employed in hospitals, they have no chance of finding work unless they open their own clinic, and even if they do Japanese patients will avoid them and that their clients will only be other foreigners in Japan. I also wonder if this is a common fact or just misfortunes encountered by a few foreign doctors. If it is a common thing, there will be no point in working in Japan and suffering through all that. It'd be wiser to visit as a tourist instead.
I hope I can get answers to my questions. Thanks in advance for all your replies and your interest.
Provide for Criteria pursuant to Article 7, Paragraph 1 (2) of the Immigration Control and
Refugee Recognition Act", but there is a controversy regarding that as well. You see, I found two websites with the said law, and one of them has this part
(KansaiNow.com Japanese Immigration Page)2. In cases where the applicant is to practice as a medical doctor or dentist, he or she must fall under one of the following categories.
a) A person who has graduated after completing a course of medical science or dentistry at a college in Japan, and who is to practice as a trainee, at a hospital attached to a college, a college faculty of medical science, a college faculty of dentistry or a research institute of a faculty of medical science or dentistry, a hospital designated by the Minister of Health and Welfare in accordance with the provisions of Article 16-2, Paragraph 1 of the Doctors' Law (Law No. 201 of 1948) or Article 16-2, Paragraph 1 of the Dentist's Law (Law No. 202 of 1948), or at a hospital designated by the Minister of Justice in the Official Gazette as equivalent thereto, for a period not exceeding 6 years from the date of graduation.
b) A person who has graduated after completing a course of medical science or dentistry at a college in Japan, who falls under Article 41 or 42 of the Doctors' Law (Law No. 201 of 1948), or who falls under Article 42 or 43 of the Dentist Law (Law No. 202 of 1948), or who has a license valid in Japan as medical doctor or as dentist as of June 1, 1990, and who is to practice at a medical office, designated by the Minister of Justice in the Official Gazette, in an area where it is difficult to secure a medical doctor or dentist.
While the second one has the part above replaced with this one:
(https://www.cas.go.jp/jp/seisaku/hourei/data/mopcp.pdf))ii In cases where the applicant is to practice as a dentist,
he/she must fall under any of the following categories.
a) A person who is to practice as a trainee at a hospital
attached to a college or to the faculty of medical science,
faculty of dentistry or a research institute of the faculty of
medical science of a college, or at a hospital designated by
the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare pursuant to the
provisions of Article 16-2, paragraph 1 of the Dentists Act (Act No. 202 of 1948) , or at a hospital designated by the
Minister of Justice in a public notice as equivalent thereto,
within a period not exceeding 6 years from the date of
receipt of a license valid in Japan to practice as a dentist.
b) A person who is to practice at a hospital or a medical
clinic designated by the Minister of Justice in a public
notice in an area where it is difficult to secure the services
of a dentist.
As you can see, the second article doesn't mention anything related to doctors.
So I am in need of guidance. First of all, I'll have to ask for your help in clarifying this issue. Right now I'm quite confused. I don't know if I have to study medicine in Japan from scratch or enter an exam to get certified in Japan or none of those or maybe I'm not even allowed to work as a doctor. My guess is that a Japanese person familiar with laws or a foreign doctor working in Japan may be able to help.
Secondly, I'm curious about how foreigners are generally perceived in Japan, Turks in particular. I read a few articles about foreigners in Japan and some of them implied that xenophobia is common.
Related to the question above, I wonder about the working conditions of foreign doctors. I did a bit of research on that as well, and nearly all of the resources state that foreign doctors won't be employed in hospitals, they have no chance of finding work unless they open their own clinic, and even if they do Japanese patients will avoid them and that their clients will only be other foreigners in Japan. I also wonder if this is a common fact or just misfortunes encountered by a few foreign doctors. If it is a common thing, there will be no point in working in Japan and suffering through all that. It'd be wiser to visit as a tourist instead.
I hope I can get answers to my questions. Thanks in advance for all your replies and your interest.