Improving Immigrant Life in Japan

[timaki]

Last week, I encountered a major roadblock in my relationship with my Japanese bank: they refused to issue me a debit card to spend my own money from my own account. (I wrote a blog post about it if you want some more details.) In the grand scheme of things, it's not a big deal since there are other options available to me. But it confirmed something that has been gnawing at me for several years: Some Japanese institutions put up significant barriers against law-abiding, Japan-loving, productive immigrants, the very group they should be encouraging to assimilate fully into society.

I moved to Japan in part because I love the country and it is a good cultural fit for me. I plan to spend the rest of my life here, and to that end I have been working on my language skills, adjusting my mannerisms to Japanese norms, acclimating to the bureaucracy, and eating as much Japanese food as I can. I pay all my bills and taxes on time, wear a mask in public, avoid causing "meiwaku" to others, and try my best to be a helpful, contributing member of Japanese society. I don't expect Japan to change its standards just to suit my foreign ways; I just want to be treated like an ordinary resident.

And yet, there are laws and rules that work against my being productive or helpful. The specific law in this case is a 2016 identity verification amendment to anti-corruption banking laws (マネー・ローンダリング対策の法律) meant to prevent yakuza or terrorists from laundering money, but that in practice makes every foreigner a suspect. I'm all for preventing bad guys from using money for bad things. But when the law prevents good guys from using money for good things, then there's a fair chance that the law isn't written or implemented correctly.

It isn't just about debit cards, either. As most foreigners who live in Japan are aware, about one-third to one-half of rental properties are off limits to them. Certain visa holders can't open basic banking accounts. Then there's the entire system of guarantors that makes it expensive and sometimes impossible for immigrants to carry out everyday, mundane actions.

I've been pondering how to deal with these and similar situations that negatively impact otherwise upstanding immigrants to Japan. I'm not the type of person to start protesting in the streets. I'd rather get involved in something that naturally drives positive, long-term improvements in the relationship between the native Japanese population and beneficial immigrants. And I would rather not reinvent the wheel. I was wondering if there are organizations that are already addressing these issues. I know there are lots of groups focused on labor rights for foreigners, or that help those at the fringes who have urgent legal needs. Those are great, but I'm looking for a group that is focused on the mechanics of everyday life for immigrants, with an eye toward long-term improvement.

If such a group doesn't yet exist, I would be interested in building something from scratch, although at this time I don't know where to start or who to partner with. I look forward to any input or suggestions.

 

[bentenmusume]

Just out of curiosity, what is your current visa status and how long have you been in Japan?

I sympathize with your plight, and the situation with your bank and applying for a debit card would have frustrated me too, but my experience -- and I realize this is only anecdotal evidence -- hasn't been quite as bleak as the picture you paint.

For example,

It isn't just about debit cards, either. As most foreigners who live in Japan are aware, about one-third to one-half of rental properties are off limits to them.

That seems like a bit of an overestimate to me. In my whole time in Japan, I've inquired into and applied for numerous rental properties, and the amount of times I was told a property was "off limits" to me simply because I was a foreigner -- i.e. even after me pointing out that I was completely conversant and literate in the language -- was literally twice out of some twenty or thirty total places I looked at.

Then there's the entire system of guarantors that makes it expensive and sometimes impossible for immigrants to carry out everyday, mundane actions.

In what sense? I can't think of anything in my daily life that has ever been inhibited or restricted by the "entire system of guarantors". The only thing I've ever needed a guarantor for was applying for a visa, and once that visa was obtained it pretty much became a non-issue. For apartments, almost every place uses a 保証会社 these days anyway (which bothers me now that I'm married and technically could use my in-laws or whoever as a guarantor, but inevitably end up having to pay the 保証会社 fee anyway).

 

[timaki]

For my comment about real estate, I was quoting others who had mentioned such a statistic to me, as well as a native Japanese real estate (who worked for one of the national firms) who said directly to me that at least a third of units wouldn't be available to me. I didn't do research beyond those comments, so you may be right that it's not as troubling as what was mentioned. But I didn't have any reason to doubt the agent or those who talked to me about their personal experiences.

Your are also correct that the guarantor system is focused on visa and housing, but those are two very important areas. The first time I rented an apartment, the unit owner's agent would not let me complete the paperwork until I let him speak with my guarantor. Using a third-party corporate guarantor wasn't even an option in that case. If I didn't have in-laws, I would have lost that unit. Hence, the use of "impossible." I'm not trying to complain. My in-laws were happy to help and everything worked out great. But that doesn't mean it is the correct or optimal way of dealing with immigrants, especially those like me who have been married to a Japanese national for decades. I think there is room for improvement.

I'm not ready to put my immigration status on this public forum. If you think it will help with the dialog, I can communicate it by DM.

I have no intention of making a mountain out of a molehill. I have read stories online from expats who have terrible encounters that are surely based on their foreign status. But my own experience, like yours, hasn't been that dire. In general, life is smooth for me here. I still believe that moving to Japan was one of the best decisions I ever made. But there are some important areas where daily life and (interpretations of) regulations for foreigners overlap in ways that can appropriately be called "barriers." If unnecessary barriers were removed or replaced with more common-sense alternatives, it would be better for everyone involved.

 

[mdchachi]

You're definitely not alone. In case you missed these recent threads.

1. This guy seems to have run into similar difficulties regarding application of the "gaijin card" verification

Opening and using Japan post bank (yucho) account - a report

Just wanted to give any other foreigners a heads up regarding this bank. Disclaimer: I'm not qualified to give any kind of financial or other advice, and you should do your own research and consult with qualified experts before deciding what course of action is best for you. I previously delved...

jref.com

2. This guy's nightmare made worse by institutional behavior of banks

A torii, time for reflection and an end to legal troubles

This story is shocking on so many levels and, I assume, more the exception than the rule. I cannot imagine coping with such greed and (institutionalised) racism after losing your spouse. ☹️ https://www.tokyotimes.org/a-torii-time-for-reflection-and-an-end-to-legal-troubles/

jref.com

 

[timaki]

Based on the paucity of responses, I am guessing that no such organization currently exists in Japan.

 

[mdchachi]

Based on the paucity of responses, I am guessing that no such organization currently exists in Japan.

That's quite possible. It's also quite possible that your post wasn't very well distributed.

 

[Lomaster]

I just want to be treated like an ordinary resident.

You are being treated as an ordinary foreign resident, which you are. Imagine if every immigrant in your country was given the same rights and no obligations like native residents.
Do your best and work your way up the residency statuses, gaining more rights and less regulations with each step.

a debit card to spend my own money from my own account.

There are many illegal and semi-legal activities which can be done with a debit card.

the law prevents good guys from using money for good things

Id does not prevent you from anything. You just have too scan the QR code they kindly put in your post box once a year, fill in the form, submit it and continue using your money for good things. It takes 5 minutes. Well, maybe 10 minutes when you do it for the first time.

It isn't just about debit cards, either. As most foreigners who live in Japan are aware, about one-third to one-half of rental properties are off limits to them. Certain visa holders can't open basic banking accounts. Then there's the entire system of guarantors that makes it expensive and sometimes impossible for immigrants to carry out everyday, mundane actions.

Once again, work your way up. Build trustworthy relationships, make friends. Mention your guarantor problem to them. They would offer to become your guarantor without even you asking.

Please don`t get me wrong. I had the very same frustrations in the past: getting my first bank account, my first credit card, my first sim card. Renting my first apartment. Applying for a side-job permission. I also wanted to cry to some "organization addressing immigrants frustrations".
But trust me, each time you overcome those obstacles you become closer to becoming the ordinary resident you dream of becoming.
Getting your second bank account, second sim card, second credit card will become a trivial matter. You will have a much wider selection of apartments to rent when you find a guarantor (of course there will still be owners hesitant to let foreigner in, but we`re talking more like 10% here, not one half of the properties)
From your second visit to your local immigration office and on you will be all smiles with the employees, and actually appreciate their work. Just compare the effectiveness of the immigration offices in Japan with that of your country.

Since you are afraid of disclosing such sensitive personal information as your visa status on the forum, may i at least ask for how long have you been living here?

 

[bentenmusume]

I agree with Lomaster's post above. It hasn't really been my experience that Japan is a particularly unwelcoming country to immigrants, at least not the type of immigrant I am (a white American male). Certainly not to the point that I would feel the need to seek out or be part of some advocacy group -- or do anything except roll with the punches and try to improve my own situation as best I can.

I suspect that immigrants from less prosperous nations in South Asia, Africa, etc., face more discrimination and troubles than people like me do, and I would support any effort on their part to improve their lives here -- I do not, however, not feel qualified to speak on their behalf.

 

[timaki]

Imagine if every immigrant in your country was given the same rights and no obligations like native residents.

That's not what I am asking for, and it's also inaccurate. The native population has both rights and obligations as citizens. (For example, the official English translation of Article 12 of the Japanese constitution says that citizens "shall always be responsible for utilizing [their freedoms and rights] for the public welfare.") As a non-citizen resident, I also have certain rights and obligations, although they aren't exactly the same sets as what citizens have. I have no problem as an immigrant having certain limitations that don't apply to citizens. It has never bothered me that I have to carry a zairyu card with me, or that I have to fill out paperwork with the immigration department periodically, or even that I need to show more evidence than local citizens when I want to open a bank account. All of that stuff is fine.

There are many illegal and semi-legal activities which can be done with a debit card.

That standard applies to citizens and non-citizens alike. By that logic, debit cards should not exist. But to return to the main point, the vast majority of both citizens and immigrants who obtain debit cards use them in legal ways. I don't have statistics, but my guess is that the proportion of immigrants who abuse their banking privileges is not that different from the percent of locals who do the same. If that is the case (and again, I am making some assumptions about that), and if the bank can properly ascertain that an immigrant has no history of such financial misuse, then a debit card should not be withheld solely on the basis of visa status. (Credit cards are a different matter, and it doesn't surprise me that the standards for issuing credit are significantly higher for visa holders.) I understand that it might be more difficult to determine that status for an immigrant, and if the bank told me directly, "I'm sorry, but our institution lacks the resources to check your overseas credit history," I wouldn't like it, but at least it would be clear and honest.

Once again, work your way up. Build trustworthy relationships, make friends. Mention your guarantor problem to them....each time you overcome those obstacles you become closer to becoming the ordinary resident you dream of becoming.

I get that. I don't want any special treatment as an immigrant, regardless of how long I have been here. It makes perfect sense to me that there are vetting processes for newcomers, and that those build up over time. That being said, if I have in fact met both the vetting and timeline requirements in the eyes of the law for some activity, and if the law says that a permanent resident or visa holder meeting those requirements can enjoy the societal standards for that activity in line with what the native citizenry enjoys, then instances where access to such standards are withheld should give me pause. I'm not crying about it. As I said above, the specific obstacles I faced were surmountable via other options, and my life will go on just fine. I'm not bitter or irritated. But there is no shame in pointing out when something is not meeting the standard, or in desiring to dialog with others about how best to ensure the standards are being met.

I am glad to hear that things are going well for you (and for @bentenmusume), and that my long-term prospects for living here as an immigrant are positive, based on your experiences.

Since you are afraid of disclosing such sensitive personal information....

Fear has nothing to do with it. I don't deem it appropriate to post details of my legal documentation in this type of public forum. But to answer your question, I have been here less than five years.

 

[mdchachi]

Fear has nothing to do with it. I don't deem it appropriate to post details of my legal documentation in this type of public forum. But to answer your question, I have been here less than five years.

No need to be coy. You posted publicly the month/year when you arrived. But if you want to let people figure it out for themselves, I will not post your open secret.

It occurred to me, though, you must be a young'un which means you might not be aware of Debido Arudou. He's the original, "let's not roll with the punches and call Japan out when it needs calling out" gaijin. Rather than roll with the flow, he went hard the other way. Even to the point of naturalizing to Japanese citizenship just to make a point. He's so famous he even has his own Wikpedia page. If anybody knows if there are opportunities for advocacy of the sort you are looking for, he or somebody in his circle would certainly know.

Debito Arudou - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[timaki]

No need to be coy.

What can I say? I'm just a shy guy!

It occurred to me, though, you must be a young'un which means you might not be aware of Debido Arudou.

I was following Mr. Arudou's blog for several years before I moved to Japan, and I've had a chance to interact with him. His methods for grappling with the complexities of Japanese society are certainly direct. I'm looking for something a bit more in line with the local cultural temperament: more carrot, less stick. But thank you for the suggestion.