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Will Work For Food

This is what is has come to:

The Japan Times

A union representing teachers of Nova Corp. said Thursday its ranks will soon launch a "Lesson-for-Food" campaign in which they will offer free classes to students of the failed foreign-language school chain in exchange for basic food or meals.

The union said in Tokyo that it has also started accepting donations to help Nova teachers who find themselves destitute and face being evicted from their homes, said Bob Tench, president of the Nova branch of the National Union of General Workers Tokyo Nambu.

"Why are we doing this? People have no money . . . they have no food," Tench told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan. "This is a crisis that is rapidly turning into a tragedy."

"Will work for food" was supposed to be a joke. Nobody's laughing any more.

Japan: 
nova
Eikaiwa: 
Naked Theft

Comments

Oh, for fvck's sake. This starving loser image is doing no one favours. I started at Nova in September; I haven't seen a paycheque. However, I have a new job (even from the first OJT day it was obvious how bad morale was, and when staffroom discussion focussed on when we'd get evicted, I swore that wouldn't be me) and am using my savings for an apartment deposit. Money won't be flush till my first proper paycheque arrives, but I'll deal.

I refuse to be a fvcking victim and I have more pride than to say I'm starving and would work for fvcking food. I'm sure some people are in a bind but will the union stop painting every ex-nova teacher to be some pitiful street urchin. gah!

Japan's one of my favorite countries, but I fled at the end of September and am now sittin pretty back in California. Its pretty sad that some of these people are so in love with Japan that they would rather bum around and hope for something there then try to find a way home. I know dudes who had enough money plus some for a plane ticket home (though still not alot of money) and wanted to keep stickin it out, and still haven't found a job and are now near the end of their rope. Japan's great, but its not heaven. I hope some of those guys aren't staying for the reason that I suspect they might. The grass sometimes is greener on the other side.

http://www.japantoday.com/jp/news/420959

Why is it that everytime the Union have a press conference they have to have that fucked-up person in the Usagi costume on as well? People are trying to bringserious issues to the fore (unpaid salaries/evictions) and you have someone in a huge pink outfit sitting next to you....WTF? Dont ask to taken seriously by the public press if you try to make your point while dressed like a cartoon character.

I don't understand this at all. I also started in September, I also haven't been paid. I have lived for 2 months on 1,000 Canadian Dollars. I eat three meals a day, I go out and do stuff.. I buy presents for family members. How can you not budget your money? I am not struggling... so someone tell me how the people that have been working at Nova for ages haven't set aside money for emergency situations.

FREE LESSONS FOR FOOD??? Are people at the unions jocking or what? I understand that many people are suffering in economic terms because of what happened to NOVA but still we are in Japan and not Darfur or Iraq, we are neither economic refugees or victims of a natural disaster. We are educated people coming from developed countries, holding a valid passport that enables us to travel all over the planet, who happened to work for a private company that went down, as it happens many times all the world over. If we don't find another job we should just go back home or go to another country, but please save us from this humiliation. Teaching for food is like begging and I am sure there are a lot of more options before coming to this (help from friends and relatives, embassies etc ...). In addition, this would drive lessons' fees down. Bob Tench, get back to reality and get a proper perspective!

Do you know what is real bullshit? Is that you have to offer these Japanese people lessons just to get a handout from them! If this shit happend in any other country (America etc.) the locals and the government would supply food and basic needs for awhile............but no not in Japan. Just watch the foreigner that were tricked into coming here and then financially raped become homeless and hungry. Only in Japan, only in Japan.................if the situation was turned around and this happend to educated Japanese families you better believe there would be help pouring in.............it really is sickening.

Do you know what is real bullshit? Is that you have to offer these Japanese people lessons just to get a handout from them! If this shit happend in any other country (America etc.) the locals and the government would supply food and basic needs for awhile............but no not in Japan. Just watch the foreigner that were tricked into coming here and then financially raped become homeless and hungry. Only in Japan, only in Japan.................if the situation was turned around and this happend to educated Japanese families you better believe there would be help pouring in.............it really is sickening.

God this is so fucking stupid. I am aware of the shortage of jobs. Get some private students. Its not like there is a shortage. Problem is that most Nova teachers are institutionalized. Came from Uni or family home to Nova in Japan who basically meant they havnt lived in the real World. I see my Nova friends falling into 2 groups the proactive ones and the damn right useless ones. Welcome to the real World!!!!

You are absolutely correct. New teachers that have no money I feel sorry for and understand the situation. But teachers that have been here for years and have no money get no sympathy from me. Seriously, how stupid are people to not save any money for a rainy day? Then there's the teachers with families and they didn't save anything! That's borderline retarded. Their master plan is to collect UI. How hard is it for people to save even 10% of their income? A teacher making 300 000/month for 8 years and only saving 10% a month would have over 2.8 million in the bank. And yet there are teachers that were making more than that and have been here 8, 10, 12 years and have literally 2000 yen to their name. WHY? If you have a family and didn't save then shame on you!

To the "do you know what is real bullshit" commenter: you obviously haven`t had much to do with Japanese people, exept for those you crowd in next to on trains and teach at Nova, because if you actually new any of them - personally - you`d find out just how amazingly kind and generous they can be. In the one year I`ved lived in Japan I couldn`t count the amount of random acts of kindness and generousity shown towards me; from freinds, and, random strangers. It`s never done with any kind of showiness either; more often than not it`s delivered with genuine kindness and humility.

I know all of us Nova slaves are having a rough trott and that this country maybe has alot to learn - nobody could argue with the fact that this Nova thing has been dealt with badly by people who could have made better decisions - and that sometimes life here seems cold, particularly in Tokyo, but if you actually drop your negative bullshit and got out there and met some locals, you`ll find out this country is full of lovely, generous people. If this doesn`t become aparent to you, I suggest you leave at your first opportunity. (And I know, you probably don`t have money for a plane ticket).

You've lived in Japan one year and you want to preach to me about how nice people are? What a fucking joke. I've lived here alot longer than that. And in fact, everyone I know IS Japanese. I don't even know any foreigners here. I have made it on my own in Japan. You are right in one aspect...........individually Japanese people are very polite and friendly..........most are. But, when it comes down to it you are going to face extreme discrimination if you try to live here long term and get the same treatment as the normal Japanese person. You are a baby in Japan.................you shouldn't even be talking about shit you don't know. Let me know when you've been here a number of years and have had difficulty getting an apartment, stable/reliable job, and being treated like a human being.

Oh, and by the way newbie Japanese people are trained to be polite to everyone. That is the standard here..........they are very polite and follow very giving customs. But, that doesn't mean they like you. Even if a person dislikes another person here often times they will still be "polite" in most situations. All foreigners in Japan are seen as guests..........in Japan you always treat guests politely. You can talk about them behind their backs and try to fuck them over every other way.........just make sure you did it when their face is turned away from you............otherwise it's not polite. Give me a break. I have alot of Japanese friends that are some of the nicest people on earth. I'm not talking about individuals............this goes much deeper. Most people don't understand Japan or Japanese people..............stick around and maybe you'll the "real" world here. It's much different than all those nice little "tourist" books.

If you can find students who are willing to take lessons, surely its better to be paid in yen.

I cant understand the reasoning of working for food. You wanna eat? Use the money you earn to buy food. Im sure offering a discount on the lesson fee is much better than asking for your payment to be cup noodles.

1000 yen is much easier to carry to a lesson than a plate of curry and rice!

Many people who have tried to get an apartment in Japan know that there are a lot of landlords (maybe more than half) who will not allow foreigners to rent their apartments. That is a fact. Just watch the agents squirm while they try to tell you why the one you picked out from the advertising isn't available for you. Then ask them directly if it's because you're foreign. They've answered directly to me ,in the affirmative.

Oh, then if you ask about an apartment with a landlord that the agent doesn't know if he'll accept foreigners or not, and listen to them make the telephone call. They do it right in front of you. Listen to them ask if it's OK for a foreigner to rent the apartment.

Everyone's situation is different. Some people have families to feed, some have mortgages, some are having to pay back tax on Social Security, some have student loans, some have medical bills, and more... So I am happy to hear that you are doing fine and I hope you can continue a pleasant stay in Japan.

You gotta remember that some people have their rich mommies and daddies to go to. They didn't have to go into debt for college, they don't have any bills and at the first sign of trouble mommy and daddy will bail them out.

Is because what if that foreinger decides to leave Japan? Doesnt tell his landlord doesnt give the key back doesnt pay the rest of the contract and so on. Landlords dont like renting to the Chinese, Philipinos, and the Military for those reasons.

The Union has never been serious. Just a bunch of teachers fired for trying to fuck young girls. They have no concern for our working conditions they are just bent on the destruction of Nova.Tench can hardly string a full sentence together. No wonder they tried to fired him. It is like watch a fatass G.Bush stumble through a speech. If he is our spokesperson in the media we may as well all fuckoff home. They are just damaging our image at the moment. We need a real union.

"Is because what if that foreinger decides to leave Japan? Doesnt tell his landlord doesnt give the key back doesnt pay the rest of the contract and so on."

Yes, that does seem to be the reputation we've established for ourselves, doesn't it? It's pretty sad. I do know of at least a couple of foreigners who have left Japan with bills unpaid. Hospital bills, telephone, tax, you name it.

To the author of "You've lived in Japan one" and "Oh, and by the way newbie"

According to you, Japanese people are always polite to you but you assume they despise you? Isn't that like asking someone if he has a drinking problem and when he answers "no" you just assume he must be in denial. There is no way to win that argument. If you take the time to learn Japanese, if you do your share in society, separate your rubbish properly and bother to learn and use keigo after four years and not just try to abuse your rights you will earn the respect you deserve and obtain the same benefits as Japanese people. This society gives back as much you give while your outcast attitude is what is keeping you near or on the fringe of society. You claim you have been in Japan a long time. I have been in Japan for nearly five years and Japan gets better for me every year. I still haven't seen that side of Japanese where they will "fuck you over every other way" as long as they can do it in your back. Would you like to provide some examples where you feel you were treated unjustly? Having a few a Japanese friends doesn't give you the right to insult the Japanese nation as a whole anymore than having a few black friends gives you the right to call others "n****rs". It's a poor excuse that barely hides your bigotry.

"...learn and use keigo..."

Oh man, do we have to? That keigo stuff is confusing and over-the-top. I've got my hands full learning the regular forms at the moment.

Oooooooooh calm down now tiger. I didn't mean to ruffle your delicate little feathers. I mean you seem to be so offended. Is it that you couldn't make it back in your home country so you have to live here? 5years eh? I've been here longer than you and funnily enough I hear the same stories over and over again about foreigners being mistreated here. Not only that, yes it has happend to me. Hummmmmm...........you want some examples? I'll just give you the tip of the iceberg. How about being discriminated against when you try to find a house or an apartment to rent strictly based on the fact that you aren't Japanese.........it doesn't matter if you speak Japanese and have a Japanese wife and children and have been in the country for several years.............you don't have the same skin color as us and you don't look the same so "no we won't rent to you." And then when you do find a place to rent your rent is about 20,000yen more each month than the rest of the people in the building................hummmmmmm interesting eh? I call it the "gaijin tax." Another example? How about working conditions? Foreigners here are routinely overworked, underpaid, and unjustly treated at their jobs. Often times you get no sick days, aren't paid for overtime, and are looked down upon because you are not Japanese. You can be fired for any reason.........the way you look for example. Foreigners are often ripped off when it comes to their last paycheck..........companies routinely steal this money from them because they know that no court will care to hear their complaint. Both of these examples have happend to me and countless other foreigners here. Personally I have lost over 250,000yen that was stolen from me when a company refused to pay me for false reasons............and no there is no way to get this money back. The only reason you are hearing about this Nova thing is because it's been done on a large-scale...........it happens all the time here. You are simply naive, lucky, or just too stupid to see these "common occurences" here.

Japanese people are just as capable of "escaping" within Japan if they want to do that. There was a family living two doors down from me for years whose rented home had huge piles of garbage bags fetsering outside for weeks and months on end. And guess what? They weren't foreigners. Landlords who refuse to allow someone to rent a home simply on the basis of their race or nationality are RACISTS, period.
Think about it: How would Japanese businessmen like it if they went to a a foreign country and were told "Sorry, you can't ride this train because Japanese businessmen sexually molest young women on trains. Everybody knows it's true, just look at the news. We're not being racist."
I love people in this country on a person-to-person basis, but like in many, if not all, societies, institutionalized racism exists. Despite the stereotype of untrustworthy or "dangerous" foreigners, take a look at the mug shots at your local koban. What's the ratio of foreigners to Japanese?

I agree with you in general but have one problem with your post. I think all societies obviously have racism to some degree..........but most societies have laws against acting out this racism. In most societies it would be illegal to deny foreigners (legal and working) rent, pay, and access to public places. But in Japan this practice is totally accepted on all levels............the government even accepts it. Nobody stops it..............nobody sees anything wrong with it. That's the fucked up thing. In Japan if you are not Japanese YOU DO NOT COUNT.

I didn't even have to ask, the estate agent told me straight that the owners of some of the apartments I wanted to look at wouldn't rent to foreigners. And I was with a Japanese friend at the time, so there was no breakdown in communication.

Unions are non-profit right ? So they can't advertise for fee paying lessons. But if they get students in touch with teachers on the basis of working for food or donations, then the teachers can arrange private lessons with the students for a normal fee. I agree, don't work for food, and don't work for 1,000 yen a lesson. I charge 3,000 yen a lesson. But maybe some teachers are not in contact with students, and doing this will get them the contact they need so that they can support themselves by teaching privately for cash. It seems to me you just need to do a bit of networking and you should be able to make enough to get by. That's what I am doing anyway..
By the way I've got nothing to do with the union, so maybe I am wrong..

Get out! Leave! Go home RACIST GAIJINZZZZZ!

I know that the Canadian dollar is exceptionally strong these days, especially against the yen, and I agree that there's no real excuse for not having some money in the bank if you've been working for at least a few months, but are you serious about living easily on C$1,000 for a period of two months? I came here to save, and have had no problems doing so, but I just don't see how it's possible to live on roughly 60,000 yen for one month. Have you been staying in a Nova apartment rent free? Or do you have a Japanese friend who picks up the tab every time you go out? I can live on about about 100,000 yen a month, including 40,000 yen in rent, but unless you're staying somewhere for free, and go out no more than once every couple of weeks, your claim seems pretty implausible. Perhaps there are some special circumstances that would explain how you can manage such a frugal lifestyle.

I'm sure the "food for lessons" thing is just a stunt, but I know, as a matter of fact, that quite a few of my former colleagues are in a serious financial bind right now. I don't think there will be any starving foreigners begging in the streets, but if unpaid wages are not covered soon, there will be some pretty unflattering images coming out of Japan in the weeks ahead. The Japanese government (in whose hands the matter now rests, whatever its legal responsibilities may be) would be well advised to do some serious damage control before the rest of the world comes to the conclusion that this country has slipped from its First World perch.

Incidentally, I've noticed that the Canadian embassy has not taken much initiative in providing information or offers of assistance to its nationals in Japan. Is that because of the newfound strength of the Canadian dollar? Are Canadians now coming to Japan thinking, "Hell, maybe I'll stick around and buy the next Japanese company that collapses with my savings from my summer job"? I don't remember Canadians being that smug before the CAD surpassed the USD not too long ago. Have we entered the era of the broke Japanese and the ugly Canadian? What is the world coming to?

I can't say as I agree that "most societies" have laws that are aimed to stop racism. It's true that for example in the US now you can't refuse service to someone on account of their race, and there are similar laws, I'm sure in Europe, for example. But in India you can get acid thrown on your face for taking water out of a well not designated for people in your caste, according to an article I read in National Geographic. In the Balkans and in Rwanda in the 1990s, horrible "ethinic cleansing" went on. Whatever laws there might have been against these events obviously were ineffective. Not to mention the "colored only" water fountains" that exisied in the uS just a few decades ago. My point is that racism exists globally and if we want to get a handle on its nature in a particular society (such as Japan) we should put it in a global / historical perspective.
Thank you for your intelligent reply to my post, very far superior to the onfantile idiot who said "Go home racist gaijinzzz!"

I meant infantile, sorry. It's sad that the knee jerk response of many people (not just in Japan) when racism is illustrated is to simply say "go home". It never occurs to such morons that for many of us, this IS home.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ....

...and make it better!

Colored water fountains in America were alot longer than 2decades ago. But yes, America dealt with racial issues in the past and a long time ago we made laws that make it illegal to discriminate against anyone based on race, color, or religion. The United Nations even says Japan has a HUGE racism problem. They call it DEEP and PROFOUND. The story is not old. Here's the link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4671687.stm

mmmmmmmm.......interesting.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4671687.stm

Colored water fountains were alot longer than 2decades ago in America. Yes, America has issues with racism but they passed laws a long time ago stating you can't discriminate based on race, sex, or religion. It's a crime. The UNITED NATIONS agrees Japan is racist. They say the problem is DEEP and PROFOUND. Just look it up on a search engine..........there's a nice story from the U.N. about it from not long ago.

There are plenty of bad things you can say about Japan, but Nova crap is all just pathetic. Nova was nothing more than a crappy, mid-sized company that went down. It was not such a big deal. The world does not care! The world does not stop and cry for those who lose their jobs to bankruptcies. It happens all the time.

Get another job, go to another country or go home! Don't cry to us because you were too stupid and irresponsible to save anything or make preparations when all the warning signs were out there.

Japan racism 'deep and profound'
By Chris Hogg
BBC News, Tokyo

Only about 1% of Japan's population is registered as foreign
An independent investigator for the UN says racism in Japan is deep and profound, and the government does not recognise the depth of the problem.

Doudou Diene, a UN special rapporteur on racism and xenophobia, was speaking at the end of a nine-day tour of the country.

He said Japan should introduce new legislation to combat discrimination.

Mr Diene travelled to several Japanese cities during his visit, meeting minority groups and touring slums.

Japan mulls multicultural dawn

He said that although the government helped to organise his visit, he felt many officials failed to recognise the seriousness of the racism and discrimination minorities suffered.

He was also concerned that politicians used racist or nationalist themes, as he put it, to whip up popular emotions. He singled out the treatment of ethnic Koreans and Chinese and indigenous tribes.

Mr Diene says he plans to recommend that Japan enact a law against discrimination, which he said should be drawn up in consultation with minority groups.

He said he would now wait for the Japanese government to respond to his comments before submitting a report to the United Nations.

...A BUNCH OF RACISTS! #1 is still Amerika. The U.N. was originally founded by the most RACIST countries on this earth!!!!!!!!!

Does that include YOU Whites and NOVA teachers?????

The UN was founded in New York almost entirely by the US and its close allies you dolt!

"YOU dolt!"

Yes, we are a "minority group" here. Why? Does it bother you?

I have seen a lot of racism and bigotry on this site over the past week or so. Calling the Japanese Nova staff "retards" and "dumb". Calling the people who worked until last Friday "fucking idiots" and "douche bags".Calling Nova teachers in general,"drones","scum", "rejects" and "dipweeds" (that hurt) There have been slagging matches between Australians and North Americans and between Brits and North Americans.
And finally the Japanese have been called "racist".
Most of these cowardly people have opted to use the name "anonymous" while sending in these posts. It is a bit like ringing a doorbell then running away.
If I was a Japanese national proficient in English and came to this site and read the derogatory remarks posted here ,I would have a poor impression of the foreigners living in this country.

I think that some of the individual who are sitting at their computers complaining how racist Japan is should read their own posts. Your right there is a lot of racism here but it isn't coming from the Japanese.

I guess the truth hurts. When you look at living in Japan long-term it isn't always that pretty. The U.N. was correct.

Even though I have been working for NOVA for 12 years,I had never heard his name until the last 5 or 6 months.But he has supposedly worked for Nova for 13 years and has been working hard to secure more rights for the instructors.I have never seen anything(pamphlets, faxes, notices, phone numbers) from the Nova union or the general union in any branch I have worked in. I was shocked into writing this because of the "will work for food" article in The Japan Times, IS THIS WHAT A UNOIN DOES?????? advise that instead of fighting for what is rightfuly theirs`,that people bacially give up and beg for their next meal???!!!!! Who is this man in a cheap suit that doesn`t even know how to tie a tie? He nor the joke which is the general union does not represent me. I am so tried of seeing the pink bunny suit and the stunts. Get serious,many instructors do not know where their meal is coming from and they have been kicked out of their apartments but the best you BOB TENCH and the general union can do is say people will teach for food.

Anybody ever stop and think about what this is doing to Japan's reputation? If you look around there are stories being printed about this all over the world now...........Australia, U.S., Canada, England etc. Most of these stories state the problems with working in Japan................plus all these people being kicked out and made homeless and don't even have enough money to eat.........it's in the news everywhere and almost every story casts a negative light on Japan. Most say how Japan isn't helping and treated it's foreign community bad to begin with. Plus add in all the family members and friends back home that are talking about it.......................this is really putting an international black-eye on Japan.

This just goes to show, that although we (Western and Japanese) all claim to live in rational, civilized societies, deep down, we all harbor the same bigotted attitudes our ancestors had. We just white-wash it better with tolerant rhetoric and so-called righteous indignation.

The person came here for 9 days!And visited slums. Slums? Where???
I have been here for 32 years and I have not seen any slums and very little racism of white caucasians.If you were Korean you might have a gripe.
The truth does not hurt. The naivety irritates!

http://whatjapanthinks.com/2006/02/15/doudou-diene-un-special-rapporteur...

NOVA teachers' apartments!

Sad bunch of people.

Proficient in English huh? If your the same "Japanese" hate monger that has been spilling anti-foreigner posts onto this site I must say your English is pretty shitty. You need alot of help. Maybe you should find one of those "savage white-apes" walking around to help give you a few basic English lessons.

Oops............I'll give you a free lesson..........I made a "typo." I meant "you're" not "your the same." This lessons free my racist friend:)

Also, "alot" is not correct. You meant "a lot".

Oops............I'll give you a free lesson........."You made a typo or you don't know your own language." You should have typed, "a lot" not "alot" "YOU DOLT!" This lessons free my racist friend:) Should be be revised to; This lesson's (lesson is!) "COSTING YOU A LOT!" D-O-L-T.

Thank you, Anonymous2! But you didn't catch the third one! HA HA HA HA!

onto this site "COMA!" "YOU COMATOSE!"

I'm the minority "HERE!" YOU "ANONYMOUS" DOLT!

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Racist Japanese Magazine-Book
Published February 2nd, 2007 in Japan and Thoughts.
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Amazon, 7-11 and a full list of convenience stores in Japan have recently started selling a xenophobic and racist magazine that among many other things makes liberal use of the N-word. Fukumimi expresses his outrage at the Eichi trash publication that is widely distributed across Japan:

Of course, that doesn’t mean everything that global pressure is trying to force on Japan is, in my opinion, good. Far from it. But rascist rubbish (and, perhaps more importantly, its tolerance by the general public and businesses) needs to be addressed, and this is an instance of a need to air dirty laundry in public.

How could such racism be tolerated by major corporations such as 7-11, Amazon, Family Mart, Kinokuniya and Rakuten?

Japan Probe says:

As reported, it labels foreigners as a source of crime and even has pages in which it condemns interracial sex between foreigners and Japanese women:

Translation of the above image from the magazine: Oi N*****!! Get your fuckin’ hands off that Japanese lady’s ass!! [Actual scan from the book, and it clearly says “n*****” in katakana.]

Black people over represent the prison population in Japan as in the rest of the world. Or is the justice system more severe towards blacks in Japan just like the rest of the world. Lets face it black people generally are stupid and do stupid things. Look at Africa that whole countinent is fucked up. Maybe Japanese people dont want black people bringing HIV and other shit the rest of the world has to put up with because they were afraid of being viewed ignorant and intolerant. By the way nigger. There I said it. It is just a word now get over yourself.

That is truly disgusting. Everyone should search on the internet for the pictures to this book and it's contents.............this shit was sold in convenience stores! That's like your local 7-11 back home selling KKK magazines! Lovely.

This books slams more than just blacks...........it targets ALL foreigners..........and is extremely hateful and prejudice. I remember looking at the pics in it....................I even think some high-level gov't people in English speaking countries spoke out against it and thats the only reason convenience stores in Japan stopped selling it.

Whoa anonymous..........or whoever you are thats some pretty tough talk. You a member of the KKK or something? Skinhead maybe? Probably just a piece of trash floating through life right? It's pretty bad to condemn a whole race in a sweeping statement...............just shows how ignorant you are. I'm not black but I know like most people the "N-word" is very offensive and derrogative. Only low-class pieces of shit use it like you.

Going a bit too far, don't you think? Maybe if you had a real good tan, then I would understand! I was expecting a bare ass or butt cheeks hanging out of hot-pants, how boring the photo! By the way, niggers call each other niggers! Also have to consider the context of the picture, before and after the picture. for all we know, it might be a punch line to some joke! Like someone saying, "F**k the Yankees." Baseball?

FUCK ALL OF YOU NEWBIES TALKING SHIT LIKE:

"Oh I just cant understand why you dont have any money or havent been saving anything, look at me! I havent been paid yet and I still have money and go out, and buy presents for my family, and go sightseeing," and, and, and, and FUCK YOU! STUPID NEWBIE!

OR

"Why havent you found a job yet? I just dont understand, I just got here in September and I already found a new job!". Yay Me!!

WELL GOOD ON YOU YOU FUCKIN GOODIE TWO SHOES.

TO GET A JOB YOU HAVE TO "BE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME", AND SOME OF US UNLUCKY BASTARDS HAVENT HAD THAT KIND OF NEWBIE LUCK BULLSHIT.

IF I HAD A NEW JOB I WOULDNT BE LOOMING AROUND HERE CONDESCENDING ON THE MORE UNFORTUNATE TEACHERS. SO FUCK YOUR TWO CENTS.

AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING:

"Oh these Japanese people are so mean and dont care"

or

"Oh these Japanese people are so nice and love ME!"

SHUT THE FUCK UP.

I HAVE TO FILTER THROUGH ALL YOU GOODIE TWO SHOES CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK BULLSHIT JUST TO GET A SMALL PIECE OF INFORMATION.

THIS IS A PLACE FOR TEACHERS TO VENT ABOUT THESE SHITTY DAYS WERE ALL GOING THROUGH- OKAY YOU BROWN NOSING LUCK OF THE DRAW DOOKIE FUCKS?

IF YOU GOT A NEW JOB THEN MOVE ON AND DONT POST ON HERE.

AS FOR ME, I AINT GOT A NEW JOB. I APPLY TO SCHOOLS EVERY WEEK AND DONT HEAR SHIT FROM ANY OF THEM. BECAUSE IN REALITY, ITS A LOTTERY. WERE JUST CRABS IN A BUCKET. IM PISSED, AND IM BROKE JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

HAVE A NICE DAY FUCKING NEWBIE PRICKS.

Did NOVA have African-American teachers teaching English or Indians?

I do not beleive there is any Nova teacher (should we say ex-nova) who cannot find one person in their lives to lend them the money for a flight home if they are so desperate that they have to offer English classes for food to survive. I suggest that, if they have absolutely no one to get them out of Japan, they should be burnt at the stake like medieval peasant witches in a symbolic display, if for nothing else than being so unfortunately lonely in life that they dont have a mom, dad, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or even a friend who can help them out with ju man for a flight (a 1 way ticket only) back home. if they have no one to help them home and stop their pathetic ethiopian starving children routine, I believe a crisp burning is the only option. if anyone finds this offensive, I suggest they attempt to sodomise a pig with a curly tail. It is a worthwhile pursuit. For those in the know, you know who you are. Keep it real, Phillip. And can everyone keep me entertained by posting their inane views on this site. It keeps me happy to know there are still people whom I can feel superior too. Bit like working at Nova, I suppose.

You dont hear shit from any of them because you are an unqualified bum.And stop dribbling on the Shift key.You wont be hearing from any employer so pack ur bags faggot because your number is 679.

I agree with a lot of posters on this site that Japan is racist in many ways. However, as someone from Britain, I know that if I was a paki, a chink, a darkie or any other non-caucasian I would be at the turd end of society in my own country. Thankfully I have blue eyes and blond hair, which means I am acceptable in any society, particulary Germany, circa 1933. Let us not forget that racism is the normal condition of all human societies. We must try and overcome it, but it is in our genes. We must never forget this. But yes, yes, yes, we must try and stamp out racism in all forms, the world over. Of course, this does not apply to gingers.

B-E-L-I-E-V-E (SP?), STAKES (WITH AN "S"?) , DON'T (NOTICE SOMETHING MISSING?!?), YOU! (JU? SLANG?) MAN (COMA!) , IF (Big letter "I") , Who is "PHILLIP" or do you mean "PHILIP (SP? PLS. DOUBLE CHECK! JUST IN CASE!)" , SUPERIOR??????????????? (THAT'S A GOOD ONE!) So, you worked at NOVA? It shows that you did, I suppose,... in the way you write...Ha!

Bob tench is a bald bastard who wears an awesome leather vest circa 1974, and is an all around douchebag.

You, GF, are an idiot. Picture this: A swarthy man, not rich, speaking no English whatsoever, walks into a property management company in Australia, Britain, the US, wants to rent an apartment. What sort of treatment do you think he'll get?

I thought so.

I've never had a problem renting a place in Tokyo.

The wheels start turning! "Don't put down Japan/the Japanese people in my country!"

"I've never had a problem renting a place in Tokyo."

Two comments. Tokyo, being roughly 10% foreign(?), is much more open to foreigners than the rest of the country is. Many of us don't live in Tokyo. Japan overall is less than 2% foreign.

And I've never had any trouble finding a place to live either, but I've never gotten my first choice. You have to go down the list until they tell you that the landlord will accept foreigners (even one who is able to speak Japanese well enough to communicate with the agent, and is flashing a thick wad of 10,000-yen notes).

What the fuck is a 679.

Like Im supposed to know what the fuck youre talking about.

Oh and by the way its not shift its the CAPS dumbshit.

Oh and you must be one of those "I JUST CANT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU.." people huh.

I dont hear shit from employers, but I hear shit from YOU. And apparently Im just as qualified as YOU are you cocksucker being that we both work for the same damn company, or do you even work for Nova?

If YES then,
Did you jump the ship early and call in sick, or did you stick it out until the last day we were open? Oh of course, you stuck it out until the last day huh.

If NO then,
Why the fuck do you even visit this web page if Nova doesn't concern you. Oh, I see, its your morbid interest in this whole situation right?

679 thats some funny shit. What the fuck is a 679..

THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LINE A HIGHSCHOOL CHEERLEADER WOULD SAY. I bet you snapped your fingers too after you wrote that. Bitch ass.

OH YEA,

And to Mr."UNDERSIDE OF THE SCROTUM".... You are definitely one of those "OH I JUST CANT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU.." idiots arent you. You are a perfect example of why I wrote my previous statement. UNDERSIDE OF THE SCROTUM? Thats exactly what you are. A teabagging fairy butt sniffer. You probably get off to witches and peasants, and warlocks and all that gay shit. I bet your favorite book is the Witch and the Wardrobe. Go watch Harry Potter you condescending worthless prick. You really are a sick fuck. "Sodomise a pig with a curly tail" huh. Fuck You, you sick FUCK.

Anyone else? I still got 15 minutes in this internet cafe.

やるかてめい、YOUR FUCKIN ASS をばしてやるぜ.

didn't you mean 'joking'? 'jocking' is not a word.

Come on - thats not even a common mistake or a typo - its just plain and smply retarded

peace

Well I guess you`re just an expert on everything then right? Really, Japanese culture is based on politeness... really?, there`s racism here?... really?, I`ll always be treated differently?... No shit! A year is long enough to discover all these things and more. Listen mr expert veterin, I`ve already had trouble getting an apartment because I`m not Japanese, as well as having any number of negative experiences; I certainly don`t view this place through any kind of coloured glasses. I do however believe that, like anywhere, there are many genuinely kind people here who do nice things for people because they want to, not because they have to or because they beleive it`s required of them. If it`s indeed true that you do have many Japanese friends - a claim that I have difficulty believing, I feel it`s doubtful that you have any friends at all - you`d know that this is true. Who exactly are you refering to anyway? Strangers on the street?; People that work in shops?; people you stand next to on trains? I don`t know which heavenly, silver lined eutopia you hail from mate, but where I`m from you wont see alot of kindness from those people, in fact you`ll be sure to meet quite a few arrogant, aggressive, and not to mention racist, arseholes. The fact that you`re implying that Japan as a nation is plain nasty and backstabbing is rather questionable I think. Maybe you should have a look at your own attitudes and wonder whether they`re a little on the racist side of things. Oh and by the way fella, of course students pay cash for private lessons, I have quite a few who never have a problem paying for lessons. That whole "food for lessons" thing is bullshit; a just a few teachers trying to make a statement. Is it possible you`ve been here to long? Why do you stay if you disslike the people here so much anyway.

You'll find shit anywhere, if you go looking for it! It might even find you first!

The point of Lessons for Food is not just food, which is a basic need that many teachers realistically don't have right now, it is merely a catchphrase symbolising the active organisation of mutual support, conversation and companionship between teachers and students.

The whole reason for food as a "payment" was because thousands of students have poured millions of yen into a company and may never see it again- why would they want to pay any more?

The concept is like a language exchange, the student pays for the both of you to have dinner, and your travel, and you teach them via conversation.

Not that sinister.

And a good way to get out if you are low on cash and try to make some good come out of this horrible situation.

The union is the only institution organised enough to implement this on a large scale.

There is enough negativity out there to last a lifetime. Let's add a little warmth and compassion to the mix.

Let`s Fight!

The reason for the use of the Nova Usagi is because it is an easily recognised symbol of Nova.

What it represents unfortunately has changed, and so the bunny suit is worn as statement to show the mockery that Sahashi made of all of us, this cute image that made HIM billions and left US with nothing.

If you take the time to watch the International Press Conference and listen to the passionate statement made by the girl in the Nova Usagi suit, maybe you will understand.

http://www.ohmynews.co.jp/photo/20071101/16823

The union is fighting for your rights every day. If you have a problem, I suggest you get to know your enemy, or join the union and have your say.

If you get into a labour dispute, where will you go? How will you afford a lawyer? How will you pay your medical bills if you have an accident and are not enrolled in shakai hoken or NHS? (Which by the way is illegal, but didn't stop Sahashi from duping us into his fake insurance, which btw, we don't have now).

Foreign workers have been treated as second class citizens for years, and the union isn't willing to just sit by and watch us all get screwed over. Even Japanese workers are screwed over every day- the union is there too. Our membership is 80% Japanese.

Bob Tench is President of the Nova Union, voted by all the good people who are working every day to secure our rights as workers. He is also one of us- a teacher who has been done over by Nova. He works voluntarily.

The main fight and focus of the union is job security (abolition of temporary status for foreign employees), secondly, health insurance (enrollment in shakai hoken). Only recently has the Nova Relief Fund become important.

Let's hope that soon there is no need for any kind of relief, and if Nova is re-built the way the Union demands, there will be no need for the Nova Usagi as a protest any more.

According to the Nova Union, Nova Usagi is kawaikunai.

If Nova dies, then so will the Usagi. According to the Nova Union, Nova Usagi is kawaikunai.

Then people will have to find something else to complain about.

Gambarimashou!

IF these NOVA teachers are as important, educated, and qualified as they claim to be...
well finding a new job should be no problem.
even enough work to gather a few sheckles to pay bills. It isn't like there is no marketplace here in Japan. Unless you are living in Inaka-ville, Japan it really isn't that hard to line up at least a few paying gigs.

Or is it that Nova is just too comfortable for you to move on? Does it cover up your lack of personality and independence? Am I generalizing?

yes, your money is gone. But c'mon...looking back in anger isn't going to get you anywhere. And to think this forum will help you pay your bills...well you need to start spending time in town looking for work...not here.
Grow up!

The Japanese response to the teach for food story on the news is simply, "They must not be very good teachers."

NO offence but the pink bunny outfit must go. It may be that the union is trying to draw attention to this issue but that's not the way to do it, especially at a press conference.

The reason for the use of the Nova Usagi is because it is an easily recognised symbol of Nova.

You may have a point here that people know what it is. But everyone now knows about the issue with NOVA. Well, people who watch the news and/or read the newspaper so having someone dressed up in the suit at a press conference isn't necessary I think. Also is that the image that the union wants to present to this nation about the instructors. It was a bad call in my opinion. How do other people feel?

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