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Wednesday, June 5, 2019

10 Things to Do BEFORE You Quit Your Job in Japan

If you’ve seen my journals on YouTube about my life as a teacher in Japan then you probably already know how I feel about one of my jobs here. However I am also aware that every company comes with it’s pros and cons which his exactly why I have personally decided to deal with it for the time being. There is no such thing as a perfect company to work for. The longer you live or work anywhere the more flaws you will see within the place. It's human nature to get tired of things, places, and even people.

No matter how upset your company makes you it's very important that you try your best to remain professional and to leave on good terms with your coworkers and employer. Japan is a very small country and a lot of these schools are connected. You might end up working with these same people again and you don’t want to burn bridges. It’s also nice to have Japanese references so try to be extremely helpful, apologetic, and professional before you leave. Before we get into the the things that you should have straightened out before quitting I want to help you understand some of the problems with the workplace in Japan from a foreigners perspective.


You Can Watch My YouTube Video on This Blog's Topic


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 We Don't Understand Each Other 

When we talk, read, or see anything  about Japan it is usually highlighting how "wonderful" and "cool" of a place it is. While most of those who have done some research on Japan might already be aware of Japan's suicide rate and the ridiculous work hours and stress that a lot salarymen and career women have to endure, very little is discussed about foreign workers in Japan besides general talk about teaching positions and visas. People never really go into much detail about the process of leaving a company nor do they talk about how their employers treated them very often. Because of this lack of shared knowledge many people believe that Japanese employers behave just like the average Japanese person, that is polite,professional and even a bit friendly. While this most certainly can be true for some they can be just as cruel and unreasonable if not worse than employers in your home country.

The market for teaching English is massive. Nowadays everyone wants to be fluent and wants to sound like a native speaker. Japanese people that choose to run these schools have to go through a lot of stress mostly due to cultural differences in the way that foreigner view their work. Most companies in Japan don't have to deal with a turnover rate that is nearly as high as that of English schools in Japan. In Japan it is common for employees to finish up their contracts and to even renew them until they have worked at the same company for at least 2-3 years minimum. No matter how bad they are being treated or how little they are being paid they will deal with it. 
Foreign teachers in Japan also deal with stress and culture shock in reverse. They have to get used to being expected to work off the clock, arrive to work early, do tasks that aren't listed in their job description, accept a low salary, and even put up with verbal abuse (and in worse cases sexual harassment) in the work place, all while dealing with the "them" and "us" work environment (foreigners versus Japanese staff aka cliques).
Japanese employers can sometimes be very strict and hard on their employees because they've been burned in the past by previous foreign teachers that they hired. They have to prepare for their teachers quitting, showing up late, and not taking initiative around the workplace. Just as you are used to having a job with more security and structure your boss is used to being able to boss around their staff, say and do whatever they want, and pay you whatever they decide is appropriate without you complaining. In some cases of employment there's a huge disconnect and it can make working in Japan a totally nightmare for some.Unfortunately this kind of stereotyping is common practice in Japan and if you aren't Japanese it is simply unavoidable. As I have said countless times all it takes is for one foreigner to do something bad and now every foreign person has to be profiled, babysit, or distrusted.




10 Things to Do BEFORE You Quit Your Job

While I don't personally recommend quitting your job just because everything isn't going your way, I also don't recommend staying in a bad environment that has you contemplating suicide or harming other people whether it be a student or a coworker. Your mental and physical health is more important than any cultural differences or any amount of cash imaginable. If you don't feel safe at work or if you are being abused then it's time to quit. If for any reason you feel that staying at your job any longer is unbearable then yes by all means please don't bother giving notice and simply quit your job (professionally). 
You have to put yourself first because if you don't your employer most certainly will not. Working in a a foreign country can be overwhelming and the last thing you want is to have added anxiety, depression, or stress from being abused or taken advantage of all day at work. As an adult living in Japan on a work visa you will spend most of your time working for your company so it is important that you are being respected and treated as though you are human. It is also important to prepare for your departure from your job and to not let your emotions get the best of you. 

1.) Understand that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Your pay might be lower or your hours might longer at a new company. You might also have less freedom and flexibility. You might have to accept a lower position. You might have to work with an age group that you don’t like. There might be more rules or even more people that you don't like but will be forced to work with.


2.) Thoroughly read over your employment contract. See if there will be any deductions for breaking your contract. Calculate your salary. If you're a new employee your salary might be lower than what the contract says for the first 1-6 months so you’ll have to read the fine print and take out a calculator to determine what your employer owes you.


3.) Reevaluate your life and job. Are you just having a bad day? Is there just a few people giving you a hard time? Why do you really want to quit? Will these problems REALLY go away at a new job? If not why are you leaving?


4.) Be sure to receive your final paycheck (your largest salary payout) before you resign or announce your plans to do so. Your employer might scam you out of it and as a foreigner it is very difficult to take legal action in such circumstances. There are a lot of loopholes that employers can take to get out of paying you too especially if you're being paid under the table.

If possible try to resign or announce your plans for it shortly after your payday. Remember that the longer you work at your current company the more experience you'll have with teaching which can not only make a nice addition to your resume but it can help you on a personal level as a teacher to develop skills and understanding.


5.) Be prepared for your boss to fire you instead of allowing you to work for the 30 days (Japan’s version of a 2 week notice is a month), tell you off, or nitpick at your performance. It’s a huge hit to their pride especially if you're the headteacher and decide to quit abruptly in the middle of the school year were applicants and job posts/classifieds are rare. Remember that if you don't give notice you will not be eligible for certain benefits and your boss can use this as an excuse for withholding your last paycheck.



6.) Save up enough money to survive for 30-60 days. If for some crazy reason you get fired, your check is being withheld, or if your new employer requires you to work for 2 months before receiving your first salary you’ll want to have enough money to live off of without having to struggle and live paycheck to paycheck. Tough it out and stay at your job until you have enough money put aside.



7.) Have a new job secured that offers visa sponsorship/support. Keep in mind that having an interview lined up is not a guarantee of employment and not all companies can help youth visa renewal. Don’t quit your current job unless you are 100% positive that you have a new job and a set start date. Your work visa will eventually expire so it is very important that you choose a company that can help you with this in the future. 
 


8.) Be sure to work out any retirement savings programs, and health insurance that was set up through your employer (if you had this). Understand that your employer can’t take anything away from you but your check (which is illegal to do in most circumstances). They cannot take away your work visa if you decide to quit your job or if you are fired. ONLY immigration can do this and it will only be done if you have been criminally charged with/for something. Your work visa is not tied down to your company.



9.) Avoid oversharing any personal details about your new job such as the location, salary, age group etc.. You don’t want your employer or coworkers to stalk you or for them to go behind your back and share negative things about you to your new employer. Do not share where you are planning to move to or the name or location of the company that you are interviewing or set to work for.



10.) When resigning be sure to speak firmly and in a clear voice while still being very respectful and apologetic. Stand your ground while being the bigger person. Japanese employers are known for being very temperamental and are easily angered. 

No matter what they say to or about you don’t insult your boss, coworkers, or the school. It is best to put the blame on yourself and to apologize for inconveniencing the school. If you boss interrupts you let them talk and remain attentive and professional. Don’t let their bad behavior you cause you to break out of character. I know that it can be very tempting to tell your supervisor or the headteacher how you really feel about them (in a bad way of course) but now is not the time to be childish and take shots at people. You never know who you'll run into outside of work or who you'll be working with again in the near future. Japan doesn't have an infinite amount of English schools so you are bound to meet again unless you return to your home country, work from home, start your own business, or become a stay at home mom ( or a Mr. Mom haha).

Take a Break and Think About it

Quitting can be really easy and a huge stress reliever or it ca be really nerve wrecking and frightening if your boss is a bully.
Please give yourself time to relax. Sometimes you just need a vacation or a few days off from work. Work life balance is a must in Japan, You need to have alone time and you need to have time to spend with friends, family, and with your partner. Sometimes you just need to take a deep breath and remember that when you're dealing with a bunch of bad stuff at your job that at least you are getting paid to put up with it. Remind yourself how hard you worked to get here and how badly you wanted to leave in Japan. Think back to how excited you were to have gotten that first interview or t be told that you're hired and now a part of the family. Never make any major or permanent decisions based off of your temporary feelings. You might want to quit today but maybe net week or next year you'll regret having given up so easily.
I wish you theist of luck and I hope that no matter what you choose to do or where you choose to stay that you'll find happiness, peace and that it will all work out for you in the end.




Thank you so much for reading! Do you have any advice that you'd like to give to foreign English teachers in Japan that are contemplating quitting their jobs? Had you ever worked in Japan? If so please share your advice and opinion in the comment section.






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Monday, June 3, 2019

3 Things That No One Tells You About Student Visas

While it's no secret that coming to Japan on a student visa is not only the most ethically way to get here, but it is also the easiest way to live and work here without having a bachelor's degree and getting a work visa, or selling your body by signing up for a sham marriage in exchange for a spouse. It is also one of the least talked about subjects online. Almost all of the information available for foreigners on Japan is about work experience or it's simply random videos of your favorite Jvloggers having fun and traveling in Japan but no one says much about their school. There aren't a lot of reviews for the schools here in Japan and there isn't a lot of talk about what college or language schools are like here. Not a lot of people are even willing to give advice about financing their study abroad or stay in Japan. Because of this lack of available information I cam across a lot of unexpected problems while living and studying in Tokyo, Japan.

 Coming to Japan for school whether it be high-school, college, or a language school can be a really fun and rewarding experience, but there are also some huge downsides to coming to Japan on a student visa instead of a work or spouse visa. I want to share a few of the biggest inconveniences and issues that you might come across during your stay in Japan on a longterm student visa (2+ years).
You can watch my YouTube video on this blog's topic here...







What No One Tells You About Your Japanese Student Visa

Everyone's situation is unique. What one person experiences in Japan can be vastly different for the next person. Please don't let this discourage or stop you from coming to Japan as a student. I am simply sharing a different perspective and giving you some personal advice based off of myself and my own experiences living in Japan on a student visa. There are three problems that you can potentially come across while living in Japan on a student visa. Depending on how much money you have, your country of origin, your living standards, and your duration of stay in Japan some of these things may not be an issue for you on your visa.


1.) Most Landlords & Housing Agencies Won't Rent Out Their Apartments to Foreign Students 

Most students that live in Japan either rent a dorm room in a share house or they stay at a share house disguised as a "normal" Japanese apartment so they may or may not ever experience this strange form of application rejection. If you are living in Japan for more than 6 months then you will probably get fed up of having roommates and neighbors that aren't Japanese because well let's face it there's a huge difference in the way that they behave. I have lived at several different share houses all of which have been noisy, had guests that purposefully would break the rules and do other weirds dirty and trifling things that got on my nerves. Even if you have a private room you'll still be able to hear and unfortunately see somethings that you'll wish you hadn't. You will begin to buy clothes, games, furniture, souvenirs, and books and you will quickly begin to runout of space to store your belongings. You'll find it annoying having to put everything under your bed and into cubbies around the share house,  you will want to bring your dates and friends over to your place every once in a while, and last but most certainly not least you will want to feel like an adult and have the freedom and space to do whatever you want to. The best way to do this is to get your own private apartment but there's a catch. Most apartments in Japan don't rent to foreigners unless they have problems or unless they're a gaijin apartment (aka a share house).

 The reason for this is once again based on stereotypes and rooted in prejudice/racism. All it takes is for 1 foreign student resident to move out without paying their rent or  to move in and "damage and dip" from the unit and then the landlord or agency will decide that they simply cannot trust or risk renting out their unit to another one. 
The most common excuse is that you'd need to have a full-time job (which they know foreign students can't legally have) or they will tell you that you must show proof of income that can cover the rent for the duration of the contract (generally  proof of 2 years worth of rent in a bank account). 
While the initial excuse makes sense in a way at first you'll find that they are so stubborn that they don't care about your background, references, or proof of income. Most agencies will simply tell you that they're sorry but they simply don't rent to (foreign) students.
You'll still be able to rent an apartment through a gaijin agency but most legitimate Japanese apartments that are available to students are run down, roach infested, old, and in need of repairs. They also tend to cost a lot more than they're worth, aren't conveniently located, and lack amenities such as hot water, free internet, free water, bicycle parking etc.. Your housing options will be very limited here. as standard Japanese complexes won't be willing to rent to you and the one that do allow students usually start at about $1400-$2,000 USD a month (not including the endless list of ridiculous move in fees) which most students in Japan can't afford to pay alone.  Keep in mind that if you wait too long you'll have difficult finding an apartment because your visa isn't valid for as longs your leasing agreement which is usually for a minimum of 2 years.Yes, of course there's thousands of rental options available for foreign students in Japan, but most of them are only willing to rent to you because no sane Japanese person with a job would be willing to pay for such a crappy old apartment that's small, smells, bad and is far away from the closest station.


2.) You'll Have Difficulty Finding a Job

There's a few problems with working on a student visa that nobody talks about for some reason. While some of you might already know that you are only permitted to legally work here part-time for about 28 hours a week what you might not know is that it is hard to find a company that will give you 28 hours a week yet alone that will even hire you whether it is for a part-time or full-time job. 

There is also a catch-22. You need to have a permit in order to legally work on a student visa or else you risk getting found out fined and deported and most employers aren't willing to hire you until you already have this permit despite immigration asking you to fill out information about your employer on the application (permit request form) so it basically requires you to lie. It really makes no sense. This work permit process is similar to changing your status of residence just without the all of the official documents and stamps (that your employer/visa sponsor) is required to submit alongside your application. Depending on who accepts your application they can give you a hard time and be a real stickler about this while others will understand and process your application with ease.

You will also be the last applicant choice in most circumstances. Most schools do prefer native English speakers, but since student visa holders are stereotypically more likely to quit and go home, are limited with the hours that they can legally work, and generally have less experience they are often times looked over unless they are seen as very attractive or have connections to get them hired at a particular company. Most students work at retail stores and restaurants in Japan which only pay ¥900-¥1200 an hour and provide you with no more than 25 hours of work per a week but usually it's even less than that. English conversations schools are pretty much the only teaching option that you'll have in Japan while on this visa as it is nearly impossible to become an ALT or a headteacher at an international school or eikaiwa on this visa. While some schools don't care about the fact that you are a student others usually don't offer visa sponsorship at all (even upon you graduating). They also tend to pay students lower wages on average although some can pay as much as ¥2700 an hour. If you are living in Tokyo you might find it a lot more difficult to land a job as a teacher on a student visa as it is significantly more competitive than other cities in Japan. It is more profitable for schools to hire staff as full-time workers and it provides you as a foreigner with a more stable income as well as job security and help with taxes and insurance. However eikaiwas offer higher hourly rates BUT can be competitive and usually require you to be available during school hours with the earliest classes starting at about 2:00pm on weekdays which could interfere with your studies. Most schools on sites such as Gaijin Pot ignore applicants from those who don't have an appropriate work visa even although you can legally work here on a student visa  most schools either #1 don't know this or #2 don't see how your limited availability will benefit them (remember what I said about them believing whatever they heard from another foreigner). They'd rather avoid going through the hassle of hiring students who have work limitations and lack experience and would rather hire someone whom they can have work around their schools schedule instead. Even if you show them proof from immigrations website they will stand their ground and refuse to hire you simply because you're a student with disregard of your age, country of origin and work experience.

 If you are financing your stay in Japan with your own cash then this could potentially be a very scary situation as you'll be desperately searching for a job that can work around your class schedule while also giving you enough hours to afford your stay in Japan (this is where that $10k+ that you should have saved before arriving in Japan comes in handy).
The good news is that you will be able to teach your own private students but this is very competitive in Tokyo as there are thousands of teachers offering lessons and those that are desperate for work have spammed teaching sites and classifieds with their ads charging rock bottom prices that can be hard to compete with.
You will eventually land a "real" teaching job, but it could  unexpectedly take some time.


3.) You'll Have Difficulty Changing Your Residence Status


 Most employers (both Japanese and foreign) are unfamiliar with student visas. The reality is that most of the students who come to Japan on student visas either go back home for various reasons or jump into a relationship, tie the knot and get a spouse visa to avoid doing this and to save money (college in Japan is NOT cheap people) so there is very little known about student visas. Unfortunately most Japanese employers are rather stubborn and don't care to look into this so they will listen to and believe whatever they have been told by their foreign employees. The foreign staff that I encountered before I got my first work visa acted a bit jealous and appeared to have been quite obviously trying to sabotage my chances of getting hired by highlighting and emphasizing on the fact that I just had a student visa and insisted that it wasn't possible to change to a work visa (change your residence status) without first living Japan which of course would instantly make the Japanese school owner or hiring manager freak out and make up a quick white lie to avoid saying "no" and rejecting you to your face. 

 I believe that being an American with a relevant degree was also a gift and a curse during this time as Japanese employers loved this as it made their school look more professional and it was assumed that I wouldn't require much guidance and could easily be the headteacher and help them develop their school's curriculum. However most schools have their foreign staff conduct the interviews either alone or side by side with the Japanese manager so if they (the foreign staff) feel threatened by you they can very much indeed sabotage your interview by nitpicking at your demo lesson, resume, or by flat out lying about the visa status change process claiming to know it all. 
In most circumstances you will be at the mercy of the foreign staff and because the Japanese manager or school owner will pout 100% of their trust and faith into whoever the headteacher or assistant manager is (aka the "chosen one"/foreigner). I also believe that the foreign staff often times saw me as a threat because I had some Japanese ability, I was American, a young female, and I studied in Japan. I think that my background made people assume that I'd be conceited and could potentially replace the person them (the foreigner conducting my interview). A lot of foreigners are envious of those who come here on student visas because it costs a lot of money upfront whereas those who come here on work and spouse visas don't need to make much of an investment if any at all as you aren'trequired to prove your finances and some schools will pay for your ticket to Japan as well as offer you discounted or free housing.
While you can get an extension on your visa and apply for a "designated activities visa" while you continue job hunting in Japan it is not ideal and it is time consuming. There is also no guarantee that your request will be approved.  

 The next problem that you may also encounter with changing your residence status is that most of the employers that are willing to hire you will NOT sponsor your visa until it is about to expire. While this might make sense to you and be okay it is actually taking a huge risk. You are encouraged to apply for a new visa about 2 months before it's expiration date so if for any reason it gets rejected or if your company decides to fire you or changes their mind about being your sponsor now you have to start over with your job hunt and the closer your visa is to it's expiration the less companies you will have to choose from. This is rooted in racism/prejudice. English schools here in Japan are used to being burned and stabbed in the back by their foreign staff so most of them want you to show your worth and prove your loyalty by working for the school for as "little" was 30 days to as long as 1 year before they'd be willing to sponsor or help you renew your visa. All it takes is for 1 foreign teacher to take advantage of and abuse a school's kindness and then the owner/hiring manager will become bitter and decide that they cannot sponsor any visas until the teacher has worked for a designated amount of time. There is no contract promising or guaranteeing that they will keep their word and I have personally been victim of this scam. You basically provide cheap labor for the school by working as a student and then once you finally need them to keep their word and give you the visa renewal support and sponsorship that you wanted they'll let you down and replace you with another teacher who already has a work or spouse visa. 
You will eventually find a visa sponsor without having to leave the country or jump through any hopes but it will take sometime unless you're really lucky or have connections already.

Is It Really That Bad?

Everyone's experience in Japan is unique to that person as an individual so once again please don't be afraid to study here. It is possible to get everything that you need without going through all of these bad things. I am simply sharing my story and telling you what can potentially go wrong or cause some problems for you while in Japan as a student. I wish you the best of luck in your studies and I hope that you will never have to go through any of the bad things that I did to make it where I am today. What was a nightmare and hellish for me can be a heavenly experience for you. Japan is a beautiful country and a fun place to go to school in. Despite all of the crazy and bad things that have happened to me I have continued to fight to make it all workout. As long as you are willing to work for it you too can get through any of the crazy challenges that are put before you. 



Thank you so much for reading! 
Did you study in Japan before? Are you a student in Japan now? What were some of the things that you found challenging or difficult to do on your student visa? Do you have any tips and advice for students who plan to work and live here? If so please leave a comment and help out future students!









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Saturday, June 1, 2019

Why I Won't Put My Kids in a Japanese International School

Some of my earliest memories are those of me begging my parents to let me go to school with my older siblings. When I finally started going to school I fell in love with it and I quickly decided from the start of kindergarten that I wanted to become a teacher. Now almost 20 years later that dream has finally come true. I would have never imagined that my passion for educating others would lead me to teaching in another country. The very thought of teaching in Japan would have been comical at best but now it has gone from being a new dream to a new reality.
I love living in Japan and more importantly I love my job as an educator. I also understand that being a teacher requires you to have passion, understanding, and an overall love for children and people in general. Unfortunately despite the low salary that most teachers are paid around the world this doesn't deter bad people from signing up for this profession.
It goes without saying that this post is obviously meant to highlight the cons of international schools in Japan. Of course there are positives and good things about enrolling your child in these schools such as exposing your children to people from around the world that look and speak differently from them but these are things that most people already know about. Instead I want to talk about the dark side of teaching English in Japan.


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Understanding Why Bad Teachers Exist in Japan 
Unlike countries such as my home country most of the foreign language teachers are not bilingual, don't have relevant degrees in education, and have practically no teaching experience. These foreigners are only working this job out of convenience as it is the fastest and easiest way to get employed and to make decent money as a non-Japanese citizen. While teaching is a skill that can be learned, passion cannot. It has to come from the heart.
It's no secret that teachers around the world are underpaid but in Japan they're arguably paid even less. Most of the English teacher in Japan come from countries that have higher wages and feel under compensated for their work even if they aren't "well educated" they're still teachers and some of them are really great ones. Naturally when people feel as though they are unappreciated they tend to slack off and not put in a lot of work or effort into their job.
As a result this sadly this creates a bad environment for students and often times results in abuse and negligence towards the students.


My Background & Perspective

I am an American female with a bachelor's degree in education. I am a full-time teacher at an international school and a college student living and working in Japan. I have been living in Japan for a couple of years and I have worked in almost every major city at a variety of schools. Despite my short amount of time teaching as a professional and being in Japan I have seen, read, and heard of some pretty crazy things in the the world of education. Some of my expectations are cultural differences such as my want or "requirement" for well educated staff.  Despite my occupation I don't think that I could ever imagine putting my kids in a private international school in Japan because of the lack of structure and security that these schools have in combination with how unprofessional they tend to be.


Why I Won't Put My Kids in a Japanese International School 

Please understand that the problem is a combination of unprofessional and unqualified teachers BOTH Japanese and foreign staff alike. This is Japan so even at international schools the majority of the staff is usually Japanese so it is NOT just random white men doing bad things to kids here. However I do personally feel a lot less trusting and uncomfortable leaving my children in the hands of a foreign man who has no qualifications, a sketchy or questionable background, and that was raised "differently" from a Japanese man. Japanese men and women most certainly DO and have abused children and I see it everyday on the news, and even at work whether its neglecting them, being verbally abusive, or giving punishments that don't fit the "crime" so to speak.


1.) The Tuition is Too Expensive

While some schools are affordable most of them can cost anywhere from $800-$2,000 USD depending on the school and it's location. Unless you or your Japanese spouse is rich then this is way too much to pay for just 1 month per a child. On top of that not all of the staff consist of native English speakers and 90% of the staff who are native English speakers aren't American which is the preferred English accent and writing style around the world. This is confusing for children as they're being exposed to different writing and speaking styles. I don't see a point in paying top dollar for random teachers that are also unqualified.

2.) The Teachers Aren't Well Educated

It isn't worth paying hundreds or thousands of dollars a month for your children to attend a school
where the staff has no credentials and are inexperienced with teaching. Of course having credentials don't ensure or guarantee that someone would make a good teacher, but it most certainly does help tremendously. Again if you're paying $800+ dollars a month you'd probably want the teacher to at least actually have a relevant degree and some sort of formal training beyond just a passion for anime and a self-proclaimed admittance to having "yellow fever".
The foreign teachers in Japan is usually helpless without step by step guides and countless outlines. They're either too lazy and ignorant to create a lesson plan or they think that they know what they're doing and end up creating a lesson plan that is way too advanced and lacks structure (doesn't build off of the previous year/semester). Most of the teachers here are living out a fantasy whether it be an obsession for Japanese women or pop culture and have no interest in teaching nor do they have interest in getting a 4 year education and it shows...


3.) The Staff Haven't Been Screened Properly

I would say that it's an accident waiting to happen but unfortunately "accidents" have already occurred. Yes I couldn't believe it either but there are NO background checks or drug tests in Japan. While of course there are exceptions to every rule it simply isn't standard practice here especially not for foreigners. That cute blonde foreigner could be a murderer, drug dealer, or a rapist in their home country as well as in Japan and you'd never know. While I do believe that people can and do change and learn from their mistakes and can heal with time, prayer, and guidance I wouldn't want my kids to be (test dummies) around someone like this especially not unsupervised and in situations where they are alone without cameras, witnesses or Japanese staff. Anything can happen anywhere. Every criminal has to start somewhere. Having a bad past or a good one doesn't make someone incapable of turning into a pedophile or a killer. I believed that these checks and tests should be mandatory. It is extremely dangerous to have grown men working with and caring for children in an environment that isn't being supervised, but rather they (the grown foreign man/woman) are expected to be the supervisor despite having NOT undergone a through interview OR background check and being uneducated.
It's scary seeing just how trusting both the hiring managers and parents are here in Japan. This is not a problem exclusive to foreign men as there are stories of Japanese teachers and parents abusing and raping their own children, but in my opinion I do believe that this is a bigger problem outside of Japan. Being alone with little boys and girls and not being required to past a drug test and background check is a pretty big deal to me and as a parent that cares about their children it should be to you as well.

4.) Abuse & Neglect is Covered Up

Foreign teachers are often times left alone with students and because most of the foreigner living in Japan are men it is the equivalent of hiring a foreign man in America to babysit your children. These teachers have Not undergone any sort of background check so you could easily have a pedophile, child abuser, rapist, or murderer taking care of and teaching your babies English.
The parents usually never get to see or meet the teachers and if they do it's just for a very short orientation. Some schools have weird rules such as students being required to get undressed from the waist down in order to use the bathroom and requiring that teachers enter the stall with students. It's no secret the the overwhelming majority of abuse that takes place is inflicted on children by men. The last thing that any good parent should want is for a strange man with an unknown pass and that is not a professional taking their child to the bathroom alone. Also for someone who is sick just being able to see the genitalia of 1-5 year olds is more than enough for some people. There are no cameras and no rules have been established so for all you know there can be pornographic images and videos of your children on a teachers phone or online and no one would ever know.
Staff at international schools tend to be very stressed out and irritable thus yelling at students for no reason and for small mistakes are rather common as well as punishing children by taking away their food or not replacing food when it's been dropped (accidentally). Of course the parents are never told about these rules and the teachers will lie and say that your child ate all of their food (you're required to write notes and check off these things at some schools) despite half of their lunch being out in the trash can.
When questionable things take place at work most of the staff feel as though they aren't being paid enough to step in and get to the bottom of things and culturally Japanese people don't like to cause a scene or "disturb the peace". They will do anything to avoid having to talk about their feelings or problems so they'd much rather pretend as though they don't see anything wrong or bad.


5.) There's No Protection for The Students

When students do report problems whether it is sexual abuse or a small injury that took place at the playground the staff (both Japanese and foreign) belittles the situation and acts as though it isn't a big deal, they'll attempt to persuade or hush the students into not speaking up about it, or they will convince the student that there was just a misunderstanding. There are usually no cameras or security at schools besides a guard and a camera at the entrance and possibly keypad entry.
Teachers have the freedom to do whatever they want whenever they want to and the neither the staff nor the students are trained on what to say, do or who to tell should something go wrong.
The staff is very insensitive and seem rather annoyed when problems or concerns are brought up by anyone. I have personally comforted students who have fallen and hurt themselves during recess and my coworkers (even the Japanese staff) acted as though I was doing too much and simply ignored their cries slapped a bandaid on and said "Oh you'll be okay!". I understand that you're not required to do this but as a woman who doesn't have her own children but plans to someday I always hold, hug, comfort, and give a bandaid if a small child injures themselves. The playgrounds in Japan are pure concrete so when kids do injury themselves it's usually a very deep and bloody scraped knee or elbow. I'd be angry if I were a parent and saw that my kids teacher did show any empathy for my kid and acted annoyed at them for being in pain. Kids make mistakes and they're weaker both physically and mentally (they're sensitive) so while of course it isn't necessary to do all of this for an older child I think it is necessary for a 3 or 4 year old. The scary thing is that the Japanese staff that acted annoyed by me "overreacting" to this they are mothers themselves! I can't imagine what they treat their own kids like.
The bigger problem is that even the school owners and principal don't care because they're greedy and just want money. This is why they don't care about the qualifications of the staff because they don't expect them to learn anything they just want cute and fun teachers to make the parents happy and thus attract more students to help bring in more yen. International Schools are just a business. They don't care about your kids education or their wellbeing.


6.) You Kids Won't Really Learn English

Most schools have a fake curriculum that's simply put in place to please the parents but the books are almost never used or they're simply there as an outline for backup incase an inexperienced or lazy but cute teacher is hired so that they have something to look at for advice. Parents think that their kid is learning because they've been taught basic commands, sight words, learned how to read books based on memory, and can sing a few English songs.
The work is way too advanced for students to understand and the school day is mostly recess, snack, nap time, and endless games in English. This is great for a parent to teach their kids at home in America but not for a Japanese person who wants to have a bilingual child in the future. Without a set curriculum that is age appropriate and that builds off of the previous semester or school year their child will never learn English.
There is too much of a focus on crating an  "English environment" and not enough focus on actual learning. When schools do actually try to have the students learning they seem to rush everything to make the parents happy and skip over preschool-2nd grade and just right into 3rd-6th grade work. Journal activities, rhythm counting, chemistry, and 2nd grade math are all common lessons taught to 3-6 year olds at international schools.
There is a huge focus on using simple sentences rather than grammatically correct ones. It is very common for both the Japanese and foreign staff to teach kids improper (Japanglish) and weird English just because it is easier to remember.


7.) It Isolates Biracial Japanese Students

While biracial kids aren't usually treated badly by their peers in preschool or kindergarten (depedning on their appearance of course) mixed children in Japan (coined as Haafu) are already going to have to face discrimination and various social problems throughout their life especially if they are not seen as attractive. Going to a school that is predominantly in English will inevitably cause them to have an accent when speaking Japanese and it usually somewhat hinders their Japanese speaking ability. Most Japanese people already have a lot of (sometimes) innocent but ignorant beliefs about mixed kids such as the belief that they can't speak Japanese or that they don't understand Japanese culture. I think that it is best that mixed children at least grow up going to the same school, wearing the same clothes, and speaking the same language as "normal" Japanese children to avoid bullying in the future. The quality of education is significantly lesser at most international schools due to their hiring process so to me there are no pros besides the ease of being able to communicate with the teachers when picking up your children from school or daycare which in my opinion is selfish and lazy. As a foreign parent with mixed kids you should be studying Japanese and trying to become fluent. You are living in Japan after all!
While I do think that English is VERY important for every Japanese child to learn as it is needed for college, business, and work in Japan, I don't see a point in paying thousands of dollars for this when you as a parents can teach your child through homeschooling and learning materials during the weekend and evenings. Private English lessons for 1 hour are a better alternative for mixed kids here as it is more concentrated and better structured in most circumstances.
My point is that putting biracial children into international schools isn't really protecting them from being bullied rather it is weakening their Japanese ability, straightening their English, and feeding into the stereotype that they're not Japanese enough to go to a normal school and must rely on English. It's easy not to care as a parent and to give the whole chin up speech to your babies, but accents are hard to unlearn and kids only go through elementary school school once. I wouldn't want to send my kids to a dysfunctional school, with unqualified teachers, and purposefully set them up for being bullied and teased. While they can't help the way that they look as a parent I have the ability to help them develop good Japanese skills and cultural knowledge. I noticed that most of the adults that I have met who are half-Japanese had thick accents despite speaking Japanese at a native level and they even had a tendency to do "gaijin like" things unconsciously. I don't want my kids to be like this and will try my best to prevent that from happening.

Additional Articles About Child Abuse in Japan

To keep buy posts balanced and to support my claims I wanted to add some additional materials from The Japan Times which is an English online newspaper (they sell some paper at select convenience stores too). Once again I know that bad things happen everywhere, but I wanted to bring attention to a huge problem that no one seems to talk about here. IN America when these things happen it makes headlines and people get arrested and lose their license. In Japan teachers just go on leave or switch to a different school. Parents are given back their children and the police and Japan's version of CPS does practically nothing to help children unless they have video footage and can see physical scars from the abuse.

Japanese Father Rapes & Kills His Daughter Who Sought Out Help From Her School 
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/08/national/crime-legal/nagoya-judge-clears-father-sexual-assault-saying-court-cant-prove-daughter-incapable-resisting/#.XO-gEC2B3aY

Foreign Teacher Abuses Children (Caught on Camera)
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/05/15/national/canadian-day-care-worker-kitakyushu-reported-abusing-children-video-shows-man-slapping-2-year-old/#.XO-hLi2B3aY

Japanese Teacher Secretly Records Pornographic Child Videos at a Public School
https://japantoday.com/category/crime/teacher-arrested-for-taking-photos-of-girls-in-toilet



As always somethings are out of our control. We cannot stop every bad thing from happening to our kids or ourselves. We cannot predict the future, but what we can do is try our best as parents and as teachers to provide a good and safe environment for our students. Overall in my opinion there are very few pros to enrolling your children in a typical international school. 



Thank you so much for reading! Have you ever worked at an international school in Japan? What was your experience like? Have you ever experience any stranger or bad things? Did you suspect or see any cases of child abuse or neglect? Do you disagree with my take on international schools in Japan? Please leave a comment and share your opinion.





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