Visas to Japan

Visas to Japan

My sister and 20 other persons intended to visit Japan as
tourists. Their travel agent applied for visas at the Japanese
embassy in Jakarta. Much to the travel bureau's chagrin the visas
for three old ladies were approved but the applications for the
others were rejected. The travel bureau was understandably
disappointed as it lost a source of income.

I know that there are bogus tourists from poor countries who
came to Japan to get a job. As soon as they do, they disappear
from the watchful eyes of immigration officials and go
underground.

For many Asian countries, migrant workers -- legal or illegal
-- are an important source of foreign exchange income. Japan as
an industrial country needs many laborers and there is always a
shortage of laborers for menial jobs: sweeping roads, hauling
garbage, and cleaning sewers. It is common knowledge that the
more educated a population is, the harder it is to find people
willing to do such work -- that's where migrant workers come in.

A. DJUANA

Jakarta