Dear yonseis from Brazil. Did you know that starting in July, you will have the chance to go to Japan and live there? That's right, the Japanese government will issue visas for yonseis (descendants of Japanese of the fourth generation) in July of this year.
Last year, the current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tried to lift the visa in November. However, the release ended up being postponed. On March 30 of this year, the government announced that the visa release is scheduled for July 2018. However, the government also imposed requirements on the yonseis who intend to go to Japan.
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What is the government demanding of the yonsei?
Check below what the requirements imposed on yonseis are:
- You yonseis they will not be able to take any family members. Whether spouse, children, parents, siblings, uncles, etc. You yonseis will have to go alone to Japan;
- Visa will be granted only to yonseis between 18 and 30 years old;
- have the JLPT N4 to go and toossu to renew the visa;
- No criminal ancestors. You must have a clean record.
- You must have health insurance.
- And lastly, you have to have relatives living in Japan or employers to support you;
Nikkei community reaction to demands
The nikkei community (descendants of Japanese) in Brazil reacted in a rather negative way to the demands of the Japanese government. Many claimed that nisseis (2nd generation) and sanseis (3rd generation) were not subject to such demands.
Many found it unfair that yonseis will have to learn the language and go alone to Japan. However, personally, I see it differently.
Is the demands made on the yonseis really fair?
“The following opinion does not represent that of all Suki Desu writers and is only an individual opinion of one of the writers”
One of the likely reasons why the Japanese government is wanting nikkeis who speak Japanese is the fact that there are many nisseis and sanseis who speak little or no Japanese. At the time when Japan started to issue visas for nikkeis, the country urgently needed labor.
But today, Japan is not in the same urgency as before. Although Japan is at risk of labor shortages, the government of Japan has recognized that in addition to labor, they need Japanese-speaking immigrants.
And I don't see how this could be an "injustice" to the descendants of the 4th generation, because if a citizen intends to go to Japan to stay, the least they should do is learn their language.
Consequently, the yonseis will not be confined to the niche of Brazilian communities (especially if he doesn't live in Hamamatsu). Furthermore, he will have more opportunities to communicate with native Japanese and immerse himself more in Japanese culture. Subsequently, this will enhance his stay as he will have a better and broader experience.
The yonsei having to depend on relatives in Japan to obtain a visa can also be an advantage. Instead of relying on contractors to work in factories, he can work alongside his relatives.
Although the government is demanding what was not required of the nisseis and sanseis, the yonsei will have more opportunities to better integrate into the country and enjoy the culture of Japan, instead of being in a bubble by not speaking Japanese and only interacting with Brazilians.
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