The dark side of Japan's underground idols: Little pay, long hours and unbreakable contracts
Idol groups such as the iconic AKB48 are synonymous with Japan. Known for their cutesy, highly choreographed stage performances and film clips, they personify the nation's pop culture. But far fewer people are familiar with the subculture that has spawned chika (underground) idols, a phenomenon ...
Vietnamese trainee alleges he was misled into taking part in Fukushima decontamination work
The government is investigating a case involving a Vietnamese man in the foreign trainee program who alleges he was duped into taking part in 3/11 decontamination work.
With new rules, Japan looks to wipe out abuse in trainee system — but critics say more must be done
Changes include creation of a watchdog organization and the requirement that firms secure accreditation for their training programs.
Shady work practices earn nominations for Black Company Award
Ad giant Dentsu Inc. and courier company Sagawa Express Co., where employees committed suicide, were among this year’s nominees.
Union helps Saitama convenience store part-timers recoup unpaid wages
High school students and others working as part-timers at convenience stores in Saitama Prefecture have recently won a promise from their employer to receive unpaid wages. The victory for the part-timers organized by the Tokyo-based labor union, BlackarbeitUnion, raises the alarm for store operators that ...
Japan students fashion way for abused Indian women to pursue independence
A group founded by Japanese university students has worked to help Indian women who fell victim to human and sex trafficking achieve independence through fashion and styling. Last September, the Japanese group, dubbed Mode for Smiles, organized a fashion show in the northeastern Indian city ...
Invite foreign interns to settle in Japan, think tank says
The government should replace its controversial foreigners' trainee program with a system that invites interns from abroad to settle in Japan, a Tokyo think tank says.
Panel calls for traineeship shake-up
The Justice Ministry is looking at ways to reform the long-criticized foreign trainee program, including whether to boost penalties for employers abuse trainees.
Foreign workers fear exploitation as Olympic projects gather steam
My first Labor Pains column of the new fiscal year will look at the government's recent proposal for bringing in foreign workers. Various proposals on easing immigration restrictions for foreign workers have been bandied about in recent years, but they were inevitably scrapped because "Japan ...
Man arrested for pocketing salaries of illegal Cambodian trainees
Police said Thursday they have arrested a man on suspicion of pocketing around ¥5 million from the salaries of Cambodians working illegally in Japan as trainees. Hirokazu Inatomi, 64, a former senior official of the Inaho cooperative union in Shimotsuma, Ibaraki Prefecture, allegedly told five ...
Foreign trainees still falling prey to Japanese employers
When Chinese textile worker Wang Mingzhi heard he could more than triple his income by apprenticing in Japan, he paid a broker $7,300 to find out. Boy, was he disappointed.
