Interesting article @mysndf
Interesting comments, too. Here are a few select ones.
iss******** 4/7(日) 12:51
I think it’s a good thing, but as everyone has written, the wages of people who have been working there for a long time are not increasing. I got a qualification, but I quit and changed jobs.
Even though I have over 20 years of welfare experience, I returned to my hometown to care for my parents, but the current situation is that I was not even offered a full-time position from the beginning. And the wage is less than 180,000 yen, so it’s hard to live if you’re treated the same as a high school graduate. I really think the welfare industry needs improvement.
yuk******** 4/7(日) 10:54
I work with Filipinos, and they are always cheerful and positive. They also work really hard and are serious in their jobs. They are kind and good at teaching.
If you think about it, they didn’t understand a word of Japanese at a young age, but they worked in Japan and learned Japanese, and can speak three languages. They even send money to their families to support them. I’m always impressed that at this point, they are better than most Japanese people.
nsc******** 4/7(日) 13:33
I work at a convenience store, and there is a Filipino who used to work in a pub.
Part-time jobs at convenience stores are also minimum wage and the work is complicated and strange, so they are no longer popular with housewives or students, and there are more foreigners working there.
Foreigners with experience in the night business or customer service are really valuable.
kur******** 4/7(日) 14:15
With the inbound tourism boom and labor shortage in Japan, Filipinos, for whom English is the official language, would be a strong asset.
If it were a customer service job like a hotel, where there is a high proportion of foreign customers, I feel they would be willing to pay a higher salary to hire foreigners over Japanese people who cannot speak English.
As the example of the Filipino pub shows, after coming to Japan and living there, all the employees were able to speak Japanese to some extent and provide good customer service.
As the article said, their cheerful personalities seem to make them the best suited to customer service jobs out of all the people in the surrounding countries, including Japanese people.
sai******** 4/7(日) 13:30
Many Japanese people shy away from caregiving jobs, and many who do so do so out of necessity, but Filipinos are not just doing it to make a living, they are cheerful, kind, and take care of others with all their heart. I think this is also influenced by the fact that their national character is one of large families where caring for one another is the norm.
The Japanese imagine a happy family as a loving couple with adorable children, with elderly parents merely a nuisance. At best, they think they are showing their filial piety by going back home a few times a year to show their grandchildren their faces. Many people take care of their own parents out of a sense of obligation, but Filipinos are very kind to the elderly.
きりん 4/7(日) 12:17
The worsening labor shortage is finally giving labor-intensive industries like the nursing care industry a “chance” to improve productivity (raise wages).
But because foreigners are brought in to fill the labor gap, the nursing care industry remains a black market and wages remain low.
If the labor shortage is filled with manpower, the situation will not improve, but will get worse. It doesn’t matter if the workers are diligent or competent. We must not increase the number of people. If we are to increase the number of people, we should do so by raising wages.
As the population ages and the birthrate declines, wages and productivity should usually increase.
The reason this is not happening in Japan is because we have increased the number of workers, not only foreigners but also the elderly and women, without raising wages.
uup******** 4/7(日) 18:33
Among Southeast Asians, Filipinos have outstanding communication skills. Why is this? It is partly due to the inherent cheerfulness of Filipinos, but most of them can speak English, and they also have some Spanish, and of course they are extremely bilingual, being able to speak their native language, Tagalog, and the local dialect, Visayan. So if you spend a little time in Japan, you will also be able to speak Japanese.
This is a notable difference between them and other Southeast Asians.
Filipinos have a high ability to blend in with Japanese people. It is also understandable why many children of Filipinos and Japanese people become athletes and entertainers. I hope that Filipinos will be given priority as immigrants, if we must increase the number of immigrants.
此方へ返信は不要です。 4/7(日) 14:16
There was also a movie called “All Under the Moon.” Ruby Moreno, who appeared in it, was a Japayuki herself, and her life itself could have been a movie.
Well, in reality, as far as I can see, it’s not just Filipinos, but also Japanese who get their start in the nightlife industry, some of them study and get qualifications and move into nursing or care work, while others continue in the nightlife or wind industry even in their thirties or forties.
Some become mothers who run their own businesses, while others find good husbands and become stay-at-home mothers. Changing is a woman’s strength. I haven’t changed, so I guess I’ll soon be the one being cared for.
他力本願寺 4/8(月) 8:21
I worked with Filipinos at a nursing care site for three years. I think it’s rare to see people like this being introduced here. There were two people at the site where I worked, one with 15 years of service and the other with 8 years, but both of them couldn’t read or write and could only speak broken Japanese.
They were married and had children, but they couldn’t read or write and could only speak broken Japanese, so people at work who had children of the same age taught them about school events, entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies, etc. The same goes for paperwork. There was a lot of paperwork involved in the nursing care site, so it was quite difficult.
I supported them quite a bit in terms of both life and work. I tried to get in touch with the two husbands many times, but I was only able to contact them once every few times, which was troublesome. They were certainly cheerful at the site and good at communication, but I don’t think they are suitable as human resources. I think it also has to do with their personalities… I will not be hiring Filipinos in the future.
mal******** 4/7(日) 13:03
I went to a Filipino pub on a company trip. Everyone was cheerful, kind, and had a family-like atmosphere. I don’t usually go to pubs. I’ve been taken to Japanese pubs, but rather than warmth, it was more like quiet verbal appreciation and a “please drink” atmosphere.
At the Philippine pub, they never asked me to drink, and they treated me warmly and naturally, and asked me with a smile if I wanted to sing, and I thought they were like family. And when the time came, they said, “It’s time to go, but would you like to sing, Mr. President?” and I remember it being very pleasant. I’m glad that people like this are involved in nursing care. But as a little tip, you should avoid dating Filipino women unless you’re serious. That’s the only thing I’ve heard.
nap******** 4/7(日) 11:01
Recently, there was a brutal incident in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward where a Japanese couple was murdered by a woman working in a Filipino pub, but Japan’s tolerance for accepting foreigners in these types of delinquent industries is a bad thing.
In Western countries, nightlife establishments are banned in the first place, and as this article says, the United States pointed out in 2004 that Filipino pubs are sexual exploitation of human trafficking, so from a country that bans nightlife establishments that provide entertainment, Japan’s tolerance for accepting foreign women in the nightlife industry may seem strange.
Maybe it wasn’t the other day. But surely the incident happened more than a month ago?
It sometimes makes the news, but…
Just as Japanese people have their dark sides and secrets, there are good and bad people among these people who come to Japan.
When foreigners commit crimes, they are often reported prominently, so it’s easy to remember them. There are a lot of bad people among Japanese people too.
Murders are not just committed by foreign delinquents, but by Japanese delinquents as well. Are you really such a good person that you have to look at them through such rose-tinted glasses?
The majority of crimes committed by foreigners are committed by Vietnamese and Chinese.
The Philippines is the fourth or fifth most populated country in terms of foreign residents, but has a surprisingly low crime rate.
kita******* 4/7(日) 13:09
I used to go to pubs a lot when I was younger and it was fun. They were a great way to find solace even when times were tough.
Some of my colleagues got married (to Filipinas), but I guess they have their own reasons for doing so.
I imagine it was tough for them to live in a foreign country. I’m glad to hear that some of them have gotten married, started families, or are doing well in their own fields.
I’d love to meet someone from back then if they were now a bar hostess or something.
kov******** 4/7(日) 13:36
This was a very interesting article. I think they had a lot of experiences dealing with men in the entertainment industry working in pubs. That past never faded, and there was also the language barrier, so it would have been difficult to change jobs in Japan, but they were able to get a job in caregiving. They are probably aware that there are harsh criticisms from society. The article conveyed their attitude of accepting that and working positively and happily. It gave me energy.
hir******** 4/7(日) 14:19
I work with foreigners.
Filipinos especially have a strong love for their families, so many of them tend to be suited to nursing care jobs.
But!!!
Realistically speaking, everyone is already preparing to leave Japan!
For some reason, food factories hire a lot of Vietnamese people and don’t give jobs to Filipinos. But it seems that Vietnamese people get a better hourly wage.
The yen is also so cheap they send money to their families, but they’re struggling just to live in Japan, and the taxes are so high that everyone is angry.
So many people are reluctantly moving to nursing care jobs. But reports and the like are in Japanese, so they feel very stressed.
People with children still live in Japan, but they are already astounded by Japan’s tax increases and subsidies for tax-exempt people.
A Filipino woman said the other day that everyone in the Philippines is saying that the Japan Dream is no longer a reality. There’s no point in learning difficult Japanese to come to Japan!
Japan is finished!
nis******** 4/8(月) 1:53
I worked with two Filipino women. They were very positive! They were cheerful and kind, and I didn’t see any hidden meanings in their personalities. I think that was their natural personality. Of course, it wasn’t all good. They were very relaxed about things like time, so I told them that in Japan it’s normal to be punctual, and even though it’s normal to come to work 15 minutes before the start of work, they didn’t know that and didn’t seem to understand, so I had to teach them from scratch why they had to come to work 15 minutes early.
Also, they didn’t mean any harm even if they took a sudden day off. They had a mindset that if they were absent, it would be fine, right?, so they didn’t feel guilty about taking a day off. Still, they were hardworking, and I still remember sometimes that they were easier to work with than the Japanese staff at the time. I worked with them for three and a half years, but I quickly moved to Tokyo because I thought I could earn more money for the same job. I thought I couldn’t imitate their decisiveness, vitality, and speed of action.
kjc***** 4/7(日) 13:30
This is just my personal opinion, but I get the impression that many Filipinos want to earn money easily. In particular, caregiving is generally considered to be hard work, so I think they tend to gravitate towards simpler light factory work or customer service jobs such as nightlife. On the other hand, Indonesian and Thai women don’t seem to be too resistant to caregiving work.
rcq******** 4/7(日) 20:09
I’ve been to Philippine pubs a few times, and they’re just so cheerful. The girls are incredibly cheerful.
Their natural cheerfulness, combined with the culture of large families, might make them well suited to jobs like nursing care. I hope they’ll be more rewarding in terms of pay.
moe******** 4/7(日) 12:45
I don’t think everyone is like this, but I work with people from overseas, and there are a lot of people who are absent or late on the day. By the way, I work in the nursing care industry. There is such a shortage of manpower that they hire just anybody. So I think that in old age, people will be more likely to be cared for by people from overseas than by Japanese people.
uew******** 4/7(日) 12:42
Unlike Japan’s closed-minded thinking, people overseas are always positive. It’s something to learn from.
I wondered whether foreigners would be accepted as users of elderly care facilities, but there were no problems at all. Conversely, there are some elderly people who feel more energetic when they are taught by foreigners.
But that being said, I don’t think it’s right to leave the world of nursing care to foreigners, and I think Japan will suffer in the end. Well, by that time Prime Minister Kishida will have stepped down, and it will end with him saying “we’ll leave it to the current prime minister.” It’s over when he steps down, and it’s over when he runs away.
I wonder what it’ll be like in a few decades.
黄昏ジジィ 4/11(木) 8:56
My wife is exactly this type. She didn’t come to Japan as a hostess, but she met a Japanese expat while she was in the Philippines, and they married and came to Japan. She divorced her husband because of his severe domestic violence, but she has been working hard in Japan alone with her two young daughters. The only job she could do efficiently while she was fluent in Japanese was the nightlife.
Then she met me and remarried, but she tried her best to study Japanese, got a driver’s license, and took the initial nursing care training course because she couldn’t work at night forever, and now she works at a nursing home. She is so lively that she wishes she had started this job sooner, and she thinks it’s her calling. She seems to be well-trusted at work, and they’ve already asked her to become a sub-leader. The Philippines has a culture of cherishing the elderly, so nursing seems to be a good fit for her.
fuk******** 4/7(日) 12:57
I’m shocked at the comments about foreign workers being nuisance without any consideration for the rapid population decline in Japan in the future. It is said that the working population will be 80% of the current level in 15 years, and industries that are currently struggling to find jobs rely on foreign workers.
The current problem of a declining birthrate is the result of the government not taking any measures for the Lost Generation. Despite this, the government and the Liberal Democratic Party are unable to accept immigrants due to opposition from the religious right. I’m grateful to hear that they have a very good reputation in welfare facilities.
kxi******** 4/7(日) 12:57
Japanese people need to change their mindset of thinking of foreign workers as cheap labor. For a long time, Japanese people have felt inferior to Westerners, but they still have an arrogant attitude towards Asians.
They should be given the same wages, treatment, and benefits as Japanese people. Of course, they should pay the same taxes and insurance premiums. If this doesn’t happen, they won’t settle down, and no one will want to come to Japan to work.
屁ブボビッチ 4/7(日) 12:50
Due to the weak yen, there is no longer any benefit for foreign workers to work in Japan. Moreover, there is no point in working in Japan and losing money, where wages are more than twice as low.
The nursing care industry is quick to promote the “rewarding” aspects of the job, but people are working to make a living, so no one would go out of their way to work in a place with poor conditions. Are nursing care facility operators doing anything for their facilities that would even put them at risk?
スリ・ジャヤワルダナプラ・コッテ 4/8(月) 9:07
I am married to a Filipina woman. Overall, I thought the article was a good one, with a bright and positive outlook.
However, there is a dark side to it - Filipinos also come to Japan for their own reasons, so of course it’s not all good news. I don’t think it’s right to naively believe this article.
I think foreigners and Japanese people are all about giving and receiving. After all, if you don’t love the other person, they won’t love you back. I’m sure the two people in this article had many “good interactions” with Japanese people before they became like them.
fih******** 4/7(日) 14:14
When my son was taking online English lessons, I heard the Filipino teachers, both male and female, laughing so brightly that my son started laughing too, which was quite an impressive thing. Perhaps there really is such a thing as a cheerful national character.
kob******** 4/8(月) 13:46
The Philippines is a country that prioritizes family for religious reasons. It also has Latin culture and genes. It has a staunchly cheerful national character. I think that in Asia, it is a country that is the polar opposite of Japan in every respect.
That is why Filipinos can fill the gap in the nursing care industry, which Japanese people tend to avoid, by providing services such as pubs.
However, it remains to be seen what will happen in the future. With the weak yen and the development of the Philippines itself, will they come to Japan? In particular, there is a high demand for Filipinos around the world who can speak English, provide nursing care, and are willing to work for low wages. A fierce battle has begun in Europe, America, Korea, and elsewhere.
With a shortage of people willing to work in the nursing profession in Japan, it is urgent to raise wages, regardless of whether they are Japanese or foreign.
des***** 4/7(日) 14:03
I saw the movie “Sociology of Philippine Pub Hostesses” (Be My Guest, Be My Baby) mentioned in the article. It is set in Kasugai City, Aichi Prefecture, and much of the filming takes place in the city. I live in other cities in the prefecture, and have various contacts with them. I remember that there were many women from the Philippines in the nursing care jobs mentioned in the article, and in the food factory where I worked as a seasonal part-time worker.
I also went to the English mass at the Catholic Church and Tajimi Church, but it was mainly the women and their families. Not many South Americans belong to the Catholic Church these days. As an aside, mosques are being built little by little. Currently, I am in a group that teaches Japanese and learning to foreign children and students, and the majority are Filipino nationals. Ten years ago, about one-third were South Americans, but now there are almost none in my area. However, there are many South Americans in areas with automobile factories.