by kelly302

I read a news paper article in Japan, regarding of the Filipinos nurses in Japan. From 2007, Japanese government will agree upon the treaty which allows Filipino nurses to work in Japan.

Personally, I do not encourage any Foreign nurses to work in Japan, NOT for Japanese BUT FOR them. I am afraid they will be discriminated by Japanese nurses and others. I do not know how many Filipino nurses are wishing to move to Japan. But if the income is the same, I personally encourage them to work in the U.S. or in Canada, but not to Japan. I personally believe Filipinos will be less discriminated by Americans in the U.S., compared to by Japanese in Japan.

I am Japanese, and it is a good idea to recruit nurses because of the nursing shortage in Japan. BUT after moving back here in Japan, I realized how much Japanese society is closed for non-Japanese.I do not want to criticize my own country, but it is shameful how much the Japanese society almost ignore foreign people. (For example, there are Koreans in Japan whose ancestors were taken for the labor during the WWII. But there are MANY the second and third generation Koreans in Japan who do not have Japanese citizenship yet. They were born and live in Japan. But just because they were not born into Japanese, the citizenship is not granted yet. )

I'm, too, moving to the U.S. soon. The only place that I worked as a nurse is in the U.S.. But I like the living condition there better. Even though the technology in Japan is very advanced, sometimes I feel that the living condition and life style in Japan is 20 years behind from in the U.S.. The medical technology is much more advanced in the U.S., and there are more opportunities for nurses to advance their careers.

This is just my personal opinion. Please do not give me a wrong impression that I try to exclude foreigners from Japan. I believe Japan has to encourage more foreigners to live in Japan and establish the law system. The treaty to recruit Filipino nurses to Japan is one of the government's effort. I completely agree with the government to open Japan for foreigners. BUT the society and Japanese people's mind is still closed.

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

Thanks for the great info. This means a lot since it's coming from a Japanese.

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

I agree, that does say a lot coming from a Japanese.

I've read that Japanese nurses are very much against the idea of Filipino nurses coming there to work, and it might be a hostile environment.

Good luck in all that you do.

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

I find that very, very interesting since currently a Japanese nurse that trains in another country is not permitted to even sit for the Japanese boards. There are those that trained in the US that went back home and are not permitted to sit for the boards there, same thing for the nurses that trained in Thailand and are Japanese. They have not been permitted to sit for the licensing boards there.

Are these people actually going to be able to sit for the licensing exam, as well?

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

Originally Posted by suzanne4

I find that very, very interesting since currently a Japanese nurse that trains in another country is not permitted to even sit for the Japanese boards. There are those that trained in the US that went back home and are not permitted to sit for the boards there, same thing for the nurses that trained in Thailand and are Japanese. They have not been permitted to sit for the licensing boards there.

Are these people actually going to be able to sit for the licensing exam, as well?

Actually, Japanese whose graduated from foreign nursing schools are permitted to take exams just like those who graduated from schools in Japan. But the exam is held only once a year.

I personally do not want to work in Japan as a nurse. The function of nursing is "to assist medical personnel (=docs)," according to the health ministry.

They are many people who are open-minded, including those who are nurses. Please do not give me wrong. But as anywhere else in the world, people who are older and/or who live in more country sides tend to have more Conservative views toward foreigners. I hate to say this but even my mom make some discriminative statements toward foreigners without realizing they could be considered discrimination, and she is just 50 years old.

I just want to state my honest opinion for those who are thinking about where to move as nurses. Please correct me if I make any wrong statement.

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

Japan is very lucky to have you. You have an open mind. If the next generation of Japanese have the same mind set as yours, Japan will prosper further.

"Pursue whatever your heart desires"

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

Originally Posted by kelly302

Actually, Japanese whose graduated from foreign nursing schools are permitted to take exams just like those who graduated from schools in Japan. But the exam is held only once a year.

I personally do not want to work in Japan as a nurse. The function of nursing is "to assist medical personnel (=docs)," according to the health ministry.

They are many people who are open-minded, including those who are nurses. Please do not give me wrong. But as anywhere else in the world, people who are older and/or who live in more country sides tend to have more Conservative views toward foreigners. I hate to say this but even my mom make some discriminative statements toward foreigners without realizing they could be considered discrimination, and she is just 50 years old.

I just want to state my honest opinion for those who are thinking about where to move as nurses. Please correct me if I make any wrong statement.

Sorry, but they have not been permitted to in the past. And currently not, either. I am in contact with a nurse from there that trained in the US, worked in the US, then went back, and is still not permitted to take the Boards there. Same thing with several of my students in Bangkok, they were from Japan and took nursing training in English in Japan and were not permitted to sit for the Baords either. They are now working in pharmaceutical sales.

If you look at the application for the CGFNS exam, it states that you need to have a license to take the exam, but there is also a statement there for a waiver if you are unable to take the exam. This was because of all of the issues that have been going with Japan and a few others. Nurses that trained in another country were not able to sit for the Boards in Japan, and is still the case. And if they trained in Thailand, but in Englsih, they could not sit for the boards there since they are in Thai.

I spent quite a bit of time to get CGFNS to add that, among other people pushing as well.

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

That was very big of you, Kelly. My deepest thanks for that noble gesture. This world would be a better place with people like you. Domo arigato gozaimashita. At marami-marami pong salamat.

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

Please keep all dialogue in English.

Thank you.

Re: Philippino Nurses to Japan--My view

offensive post and remarks removed by the moderator .

??? What's with this post, that's not nice