Let's Japan.org Debunking Eikaiwa and Ramblings in Japan

Remember Randy, the guy who protested by himself in Osaka? Well, CTV, Canada's largest privately-owned network, has picked up his story. Consider this another nail in Nova's coffin.

Some Canadian English teachers are among the thousands of worried workers left without prospects and paycheques in the wake of vast financial problems for Japan's largest private language school.

Nova Group, which has 900 schools, employs about 7,000 foreign workers -- more than any other Japanese company.

Thousands of young Canadians have worked for Nova since it launched in 1981. When the yen was strong and the Canadian dollar weak, it provided post-college employment to pay off student loans, and offered a cultural exchange opportunity and valuable work experience.

Nova's Toronto recruiting office wouldn't comment Friday on the problems, or say how many Canadians are currently working for the company in Japan.

Read the rest.

Stories such as this:

Julie Chalmers, a University of Ottawa graduate originally from Sudbury, began working for Nova three years ago in Kyoto. She decided not to renew her recently expired contract, but is still waiting to receive her salary for August and September.

"Nova is such a huge company that it never really cared about its workers. We are all just numbers and the huge turnover rate shows just that," she told CTV.ca.

Chalmers said Nova owes her about $2,600 for the month of August and estimates she's due $1,700 for September. "I have no idea how I'll get my money," she said.

and this:

Khan studied business at Memorial University in St. John's and wanted to learn about Japan's culture and language while seeking business opportunities in the country. He saw working at Nova as a way to get his foot in the door.

"I am owed over $2,000 from Nova and I don't think I'll see it. I have accepted it and am now looking for another job before there are another 7,000 teachers doing the same ... at the moment, I look at it as volunteer work."

are likely to cause the supply of teachers from Canada to dry up. It makes me wonder if this will effect the recruiting of other English conversation schools as well.

The article mistakenly attributes Let's Japan as being Randy's blog, but he, along with anyone else, is more than welcome to post or write here. One of the biggest issues in this crisis is the dissemination of information. Aside from vague faxes of reassurance, Nova has been miserly with information, leaving teachers and staff to speculate in the forums here and elsewhere as to where the company is headed. Fortunately, with so many corroborating stories, people have been able to piece together events to get a better understanding of what's going on.

P.S. This is a good opportunity to spread the word about Nova. Email your university newspapers and let them know that Nova is going down the tubes and not to work for them.