The downturn of the Japanese economy is severely affecting foreign workers in this nation, most of whom are temporary employees. The labor ministry says at least some 5,600 foreign workers have lost or will soon lose their jobs. But that estimate is likely low.
According to a recent poll of foreign residents in Oizumi, Gunma Prefecture, where 17 percent of the population is non-Japanese — including many Brazilians of Japanese descent — 39 percent had no jobs and only 8 percent of those employed were full-time workers.
This poll and an international symposium recently held in Nagoya point out that language poses the greatest barrier for foreigners seeking new employment. Many jobless foreign residents can no longer afford to have their children attend private schools for foreigners, yet public elementary and middle schools do not have enough staff to teach Japanese to such children.