Foreign victims of domestic violence band together This article includes the story of Mardonia Nishimoto, a Filipino woman who came to work in Japan and had two abusive Japanese husbands and who formed Kalakasan Migrant Women's Empowerment Centre to help other migrant women suffering domestic violence. Japan Today, 8 Jun 2008. See more on Kalakasan below.
Noriko Calderon - A Filipino girl born in Japan whose parents were deported because they were undocumented migrants
Girl chooses Japan over parents "A teenager in Japan whose parents are being deported to the Philippines has decided to stay in Tokyo with her aunt. After the family lost a three-year battle to remain in Japan, Noriko Calderon, 13, had to choose whether to stay in Japan or go with her parents." BBC News, 14 April 2009.
Schoolgirl told to choose: Country or parents Watch an interview with Noriko and her parents as they pack in preparation for the parents' deportation back to the Philippines. CNN, 13 April, 2009.
Calderon resumes classes as parents prep for deportation " Filipino girl whose parents face deportation Monday started her second year at a local junior high school Wednesday prior to her parents’ departure for the Philippines." Japan Times, 9 Apr, 2009.
The sad story of Noriko Calderon: Some painful lessons in illegal migration WASHINGTON D.C., United States?There are many reasons why Filipinos and citizens of other economically struggling countries migrate to the United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, just to name a few. These immigrants, whether legal or illegal, believe that greener pastures await them in those countries. Global Nation, 15, Apr, 2009.
Japan's Filipino community puts down roots, moves past hostess origins Almost four decades on from its origins in the arrival of women to work as hostesses at "Philippine pubs," the Filipino community has become one of the most rooted in Japan -- but one that still remains largely female. The article explains that Filipino women now often work as English teachers, caregivers and domestic workers, and more Filipino men are coming to work in Japan. Kyodo News, 2021.
Filipino in Japan forms labor union for overseas workers A Filipino woman has formed a labour union named Aichi Migrants Workers which aims to help foreign workers and is the first local community-based union for non-Japanese laborers in Aichi. Kyodo, 2021.
First group of Filipinas arrive in Japan under new foreign housekeeper rules Mainichi, 2017 Japanese version
Kawasaki Youth’s Murder Exposes Japan’s Social and Policy Failings in Coping with Immigration This three-part article looks at the brutal murder of a junior high school student in Kawasaki and tries to explain it by looking at the situation of the Filipino community in Kawasaki, the family situation of Japanese-Filipino children, domestic violence and relations between Filipino mothers and their Japanese husbands, and problems in Japan's immigration policy.
Part 2: Deported to the Philippines for Delinquency
Part 3: Reluctance to Divorce
Filipinos in Japan Wikipedia.
Life In Tokyo: Work & Culture Shocks For Filipinos In Japan Introduces the views and experiences of Filipinos living in japan, and doing a variety of different kinds of work. Live Japan, 20 Aug 2019
Filipinos in Kansai: Living Within Japanese Society This article explains the history of the Filipino community in Kansai, the issues it faces and some responses to those issues. HuRights, Oska, Dec 2017.
Traffickers target Filipino-Japanese kids This articles looks at how brokers (or traffickers) target Filipino women who have gad children with Japanese men want to get Japanese nationality for their children. "This has given rise to an increasing number of brokers seeking to profit from women seeking a better life for their children. For many it turns into nothing more than a nightmare." Nikkei Asian Review, November 02, 2016.
Filipinos in Japan call for acceptance with new film This article looks at a film made by Filipinos in Japan, called “Accept Us Maybe” which asks Japanese society to recognize the positive contributions that Filipinos are making. Featured in the film are Filipino English teachers, volunteers and elderly-care workers in Tohoku. Japan Times, 12 Jan 2015
Fake Marriages and Filipina Hostesses in Japan by Nakashima Kōshō This piece looks at the situation of Filipino women who work as hostesses in pubs and bars in Japan, many of whom enter 'fake' marriages with Japanese men to Japan because there is no visa for working as a hostess, explains the exploitative conditions many work in which may be a kind of human trafficking, and considers the reason that Filipino women get involved in this kind of work. Nippon.com, 23 Apr 2018.
Filipino woman meets Japanese kin for first time On May 16, a 73-year-old Filipino-Japanese woman from the southern Philippine province of Davao met her Japanese relatives from Okinawa for the first time ever.
Kalakasan Migrant Women Empowerment Centre in Kawasaki: "We support women struggling to resolve various difficulties they face such as being caught in abusive relationships, starting life again with their children after fleeing from such relationships, legalizing visa status, and addressing problems related to child recognition, rearing and education while in Japan." This organisation was set up by Mardonia Nishimoto - see above for her story. See also: Help for abused migrant women in Japan Leny Tolentino, lay missionary at the Kalakasan Migrant Women Empowerment Centre near Tokyo, talks about how the centre helps Filipino women who are suffering physical abuse or having legal problems. Caritas, 17 July 2012. Also: Foreign victims of domestic violence band together This article includes the story of Mardonia Nishimoto, a Filipino woman who came to work in Japan and had two abusive Japanese husbands and who formed Kalakasan Migrant Women's Empowerment Centre to help other migrant women suffering domestic violence. Japan Today, 8 Jun 2008.
Japan curbs 'entertainment visas' Japan has started applying stricter regulations on the tens of thousands of Filipinos who come to Japan on so-called entertainment visas. The new measure is a response to criticism of Japan's failure to curb human trafficking. Many Filipinos who arrive on such visas end up working in Japan's sex industry. BBC News, 15 March, 2005.
Citizen’s Network for Japanese Filipino Children We are a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Tokyo. We support Japanese-Filipino Children (JFC) who are born to Filipino mothers and Japanese fathers.
OM conducts project for Japanese Filipino children The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has announced that it is undertaking a two-year project to improve multi-agency cooperation and raise awareness on issues faced by an estimated 200,000 Japanese Filipino children (JFC) in Japan and in the Philippines. abs-cbn NEWS, 03/26/2009.
Most Jap-Fils prefer dad's 'love' over citizenship Most Japanese-Filipino children (JFC) would rather meet their fathers in person and be recognized as their children than be granted Japanese citizenship. This article also gives some background on Filipino women who went to work in Japan, mainly in the 'entertainment industry' and on the identity crisis faced by Japanese-Filipino children. GMANews.TV, 08/21/2008.
>>> More on Children's issues in multicultural Japan >>>
Japanese settlement in the Philippines: A Wikipedia article
Japan-Philippines Relations: Basic data
"Filipinos in Japan are exploited, an OFW says" is the title of a 2007 article from the Sun-Start newspaper in the Philippines.
Fukushima “Heroes” A 2011 Philippine Embassy announcement about four Filipino caregivers working in the institution for the elderly located in Fukushima Prefecture.
"Japan cuts Filipino nurses some slack" is a 2011 newspaper article explaining how the Japanese government has decided to revise the qualifying exams for care-givers and make it easier for the applicants to pass.
Human Trafficking for Sexual Exploitation in Japan is the title of an International Labour Organisation report that focus on the serious problems of sexual exploitation in Japan as a destination country for human trafficking. Pages 22-31 of this report deal with Philippine nationals trafficked to Japan.
"Why are Most Filipino Workers in Japan Entertainers?: Perspectives from History and Law"is the title of a 2007 paper that looks at the historical development of overseas Filipinos' occupations in Japan from musician to entertainer.
"Trafficking of Filipino Women to Japan: Examining the Experiences and Perspectives of Victims and Government Experts" is the title of a report carried out by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute in Turin, Italy as part of a project on trafficking in human beings from the Philippines.
New link added 04 May 2019 Educational Challenges of a Japanese-Filipino Child in a Japanese Classroom A short academic article that looks at the experinces of a Japanese-Filipino elementary school studnt to understnad the challgnes facing bicultural children in Japan, especially in terms of language, classroom discipline and parent-school relationships. Click on the blue button int he top right to download the pdf file. By Melvin Jabar, DE LA Salle University, July 2011.
New link added 04 May 2019 Japanese-Filipino Students and Overcoming Their Difficulties This academic article looks at the history and situation of Japanese-Filipino families and, through a case study of a school in Kyoto, the difficulties faced by Japanese-Filipino children in terms of family life (especially for single mother families), language issues, questions of identity and and the Japanese school system. By Sena Nukata, Kyoto University, no date but probably 2015 (includes data from 2013 and 2014).