Immigration In Japan
September 2nd, 2008
Today I had my visa extended, and to do that I had to go to the Tokyo Immigration Office ( 入国管理局 ) in Shinagawa. It was a total and utter nightmare.
To sum up my frustration, I made a video. Click the image below to watch!
Ooooh Mike I see you finally got one of them cool cool waistcoats. Why do we all have problems with Japanese immigration? Seriously, they should get rid of the grumpy old frenchy Japanese man. Its not healthy.
Aimee: Actually I never met him he was purely for plot development. Also yes, waistcoat rocks XD
Mike, I knew it was entertainment. I was going along with it. hehee. Although, there are always grumpy men who make people feel unwelcomed into Japan. (even if their not French).
at immigration I mean.
Secretly, I hope he exists…
I’d like to tell of the terrible time I had renewing my visa this year, but I’m afraid that if I did, I’d curl up into the fetal position and start calling out for my mommy.
Dude are you serious…. have you every tried to get a VISA extension in the UK? I guess no…how do you think the Indo’s and Paki’s go trying get get VISA’s in the UK, and racist pricks like you bitching like school girls to your mates about how may Paki’s are in the uk…???? so this is just normal process everywhere.. if you don’t like it the fuck off out of Japan and don’t extend your VISA… seriously you are a visitor here nothing more so don’t be a baby and grow up.
I also guess you are teaching some English on the side for extra cash to make ends meet… hmmm… pretty brave move whinging about the government while cheating on your VISA conditions…and publicly on your blog.
私は、移民局がみつけださなければいいと思います。
I also take exception to your high and mighty stance on your post on October 6th: “We’re only safe if every foreigner is on record” is not a measure against criminal activity, it’s simply promoting Xenophobia in the nation”…. are you fucking kidding, you think Japan is the only country doing this???
This is to keep cheating mooching whinging pricks like you out, you bring nothing of value except a few tourist bucks.
Even for a 20 something year old you are extremely naive and childish, you really think that Japan or 日本人 give a flying fuck about you??? the answer is no…
-Paul: Wowwww okay then. I’m going to answer your post. I hope that doesn’t make you so angry that you SWEAR ON THE INTERNET.
No, of course I haven’t tried to extend my Visa in the UK, as I’m a British citizen. So evidently I’ve never been there and have never seen the state of it. So surely the best thing to do would be not to mention it. Oh wait, that’s exactly what I did it.
The idea of YOU calling me racist is pretty enjoyable when you refer to two ethnic groups as “Pakis and Indos”. Whoops, you just broke the hypocrisy meter!
If the state of Japanese immigration really IS the same as the rest of the worlds, then I’m airing my complaints about all of them. The FACT is the place is poorly run.
“Cheating on my VISA conditions” is an interesting phrase - yes, I am teaching on a purely friend basis with people I knew a year ago, but something tells me that is not the sort of terrible crime the immigration office seek to stamp out.
Reguarding the Oct 6th post: WOW. If I am suggesting fingerprinting in Japan is a bad idea, what do you possibly think my opinion on fingerprinting in other countries could be? I’ll give you a hint: I don’t like it. Plenty of countries do just fine NOT fingerprinting, why on earth would I single Japan out?
“This is to keep cheating mooching whinging pricks like you out, you bring nothing of value except a few tourist bucks.”
What? I volunteered here for 12 months! I payed into the system for a year and took out a volunteer’s wage! How on earth am I mooching?
To finalize, I believe the childish one of us *might* be the one desperately screaming about me being racist about Japan, when in fact I’ve done nothing of the sort. Not once have I ever compared Japan to another country in a negative light. Not once.
So honestly, do you think anyone gives a ‘flying fuck’ about your little tirade? The answer, I’m afraid, is no!
Nice try, though.
my diatribe was to provoke a reaction and to uncover the reason why you are complaining about a system you are trying to use… Sorry it didn’t work… But you will be gone soon so care factor pretty low.. But happy to try… p.s. Stop bitching and enjoy your little time left and don’t come back.
-Paul: So let me summarize the amazing technique you used:
“I am going to post an unfounded, poorly written attack on someone who complained about immigration! That way they are bound to admit everything they have done is a lie!”
Did you think that was going to work? Like, at all?
How long have you been in Japan, out of interest? “Angry, bitter ‘I’m the only PROPER foreigner in Japan’ man” really doesn’t suit you.
Oh, and “Stop bitching”? I’m pretty sure it was you who took so much offence to me parodying your precious immigration office that you stormed right on over and make an ANGRY INTERNETS POST?
p.s. I’ll be back in a year, for a whole year!
Paulh? Nice photo dude :)
I wouldn’t say poorly written, I’ve already had several congratulatory emails on my diatribe, and that you gave me the time of day to respond, and keep responding, BTW, you are a moocher as you admitted to stealing your neighbors internet last year….hmmm…short memory Mike… and I used Indo and Paki as your fellow countrymen who come regularly to my office use those terms so often that I knew you would understand.
Let me guess, back for a whole year … teaching english.. .wow! way to set the world on fire.. look at me.. my skill to speak my native tongue surpasses everything that I am. Nice Mike, Nice!
As far as the bureaucracy goes, I choose to live here so I accept the way it is, if i didn’t like it I would leave like you should, but no, you will bitch and moan, and come back for more. Typical tool like behavior.
How long have I been here, 4 years, and no I am not the only proper foreigner here, there are many of us who now how to assimilate, and enjoy winding the likes of you transients up.
BTW, check out the domain name you chose… kind of sums your approach to Japan…
Nah mate I’ve been here twice as long as you and the bigger tool is you…obviously you couldn’t make it in your home country so you offloaded yourself to Japan…at 35….stay classy mate!
Yes! It’s totally true! I chose Japan Is Doomed because I am deadly serious! I hate this place! That’s why I keep coming back!
Here we go again. This is fun!
“I wouldn’t say poorly written, I’ve already had several congratulatory emails on my diatribe”
No you haven’t. Who on earth would write ‘Dear Paul. Thank you for telling that nasty Mike off! You have saved mighty Japan’s honour!’
“BTW, you are a moocher as you admitted to stealing your neighbors internet last year”
Alright, you got me there. As I’m staying at the school I’m borrowing some net. Luckily, internet superstar Paul Hartrick is here to stamp out crime!
“Let me guess, back for a whole year … teaching english.. .wow!”
Bwahahaha. So, er, Paul? What do you do? I was invited to teach at the school, for no pay, because I love teaching and I want some experience in it before I take TESOL next year. How about you?
Your pointing out that I’m ’setting the world on fire’ suggests you ARE doing something very important and worthwhile. What is it? Trolling blogs that don’t line up with your naive fairy-tale beliefs isn’t really significant…
“my skill to speak my native tongue surpasses everything that I am” - What? What does that even mean?
“As far as the bureaucracy goes, I choose to live here so I accept the way it is, if i didn’t like it I would leave like you should, but no, you will bitch and moan, and come back for more. Typical tool like behavior.”
Hang on, woah woah. At no point did I refuse to live here because of the way it is! Infact, I’d say I’ve accepted the way things go down here pretty well - I’ve not been arrested!
“How long have I been here, 4 years, and no I am not the only proper foreigner here, there are many of us who now how to assimilate, and enjoy winding the likes of you transients up.”
Quote of the year right here. So do you have a team of people helping you troll people who don’t accept your “Japan is perfect sparkle sparkle” image?
Reguarding domain names, didn’t you choose your full name? If you’re going to play domain name analysis, doesn’t that suggest you’re a little, well, self centered?
In summary!
1. I like Japan. I like the way it is. That doesn’t mean I can’t parody and critisize it. If I hated it, I would leave.
2. I, just like you, can’t stand the “I’m coming to Japan to get a girlfriend and then leaving this hellhole” people who wash in and wash out. I get the feeling we may be on the same side here and just not making sense to each other.
Keep going though Paul, I have recieved several emails congratulating me on answering your comments! No really!
you got me Mike, im a troll… got me damn… im exposed.and you right no one emailed me I was just being a childish troll… one clue … i don’t teach English.
So it does sound like we agree on some points , but to go to the extent of making a video about the immigration dept… 3 minutes on google could tell you to get stamps before anything else and what to expect… unprepared is not a reason to shitbag the system.
No internet superstar , just pay for what I use, no mooching.
Let me explain “my skill to speak my native tongue surpasses everything that I am” … you went to university for I guess 2-4 years and you aspire to be a native tongue speaker in a foreign country… wow .. you impressed me.. wish my job was that good….
My domain name, I wouldn’t say self centered I would say a little vein and proud of my achievements thanks for asking, but thanks for dropping by… p.s. if you want a clue to what I do … he decode my geek block on my about page.
look forward to catching up for a beer sometime so we have a better understanding of each other.
-Paul: Alright okay. You’re right - I didn’t Google before I went. I was pretty suprised when they told me to buy a stamp from the convinience store (why not just sell it at the desk?), but I still maintain I’m not shitbagging the system - my video was a stupid parody and not much more :)
One thing, though. Next time someone, me or someone else, posts something you don’t like, maybe you could ask them to explain why they don’t like it further, rather than dive in guns blazing. Honestly, it makes you seem overly aggressive and needlessly creates a whole lot of rage.
@properforeigner why the anonimity? 8 years in Japan well I’m impressed, I was answering Mikes question not blowing wind up my arse like you… dickhead.. Yeah I had a real shifty job in Australia and now I came to Japan and got a great job. Please tell us a little about youself, don’t hide in a cave.
its just a blog. if you dont like it why bother leaving this many comments.
honestly, calm down all of you.
we’re all foreign and believe it or not we are allowed to think differently about Japan, have different experiences and tell others if we chose to. it doesnt make us wrong, just different.
what is a “proper foreigner” anyway…might be interested in becoming one of those!