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

"People fight hardest of all to preserve their delusions" -Michael Moorcock

“Increasing capital or procuring capital”?!?! Monkey Bridge’s financial advisors would have to be Howard fucking Houdini to scrape together any kind of funds for NOVA. Simple natural law that applies to finance: You can not create something out of nothing. NOVA doesn’t have shit, except a huge dept. No capital and no property. Just a bunch of shitty text books, some pink stuffed bunny toys and some ginganet machines. It’s only resource is a bunch of people who grew up in English speaking countries. There is absolute no collateral? Who in their right mind would invest in NOVA right now? There won’t be another pay day. Some people might get something from the government, but I’m sure that will be along drawn out complicated procedure.

By the way, where did all the proud NOVA douche bags go on this forum?
Did you finally realize what a shitty job you have?
Where are all the TI's and other fags who love NOVA?
Did you have an epiphany and come to comprehend the fact that you fucked over a lot people to get yourself ahead in such a despicable company?
What happened to you loser's integrity, pride, dedication to the precious students?
Have you grasped the fact that deep down the customers and staff don’t really care about you?
You retards gave it your all. You made the sacrifices for your glorious corporation and what did it get you? So far you’ve been cheated out of 7 weeks of pay and counting.

"The literally lubed themeselves up for a shafting..."

I think most people don't understand what the word "literally" means. Let me get this straight. Before work, they actually lubed up their own butts in order to have something inserted into them? Is that what you meant?

Possibly he/she means... "metaphorically" or, then again, in a hentai way, maybe they do mean literally.

Do you think we will get a bonus for all this service work Sahashi?
You liar!

"When your big..."

Don't get me started on English teachers who don't know the difference between "you're" and "your".

Actually, I'm currently studying my Japanese, which might be better than your English. What are you doing? I know, you're just making yourself look dumb.

We should neither mock nor ridicule those amongst us who take pride in their extensive knowledge of their, they're and there. We should be in awe of the fact that these people still possess knowledge in the ancient art of TTT(TM). For in these times when we, together as one, are both literally(TM) and metaphorically(TM) fucked out of our job, these people, nay, these great people amongst us hold onto the knowledge of days past. Knowledge of simpler times, when the biggest decision one would make would be between the J-staff with the cute bucked teeth, or the slightly tubby one who had spent just maybe a little too much time in America. Those days are past now but we may take comfort that this knowledge may be passed on, from douche bag to douche bag, pole smoker to pole smoker, amen.

By the way, I find it strange that my comment was insulting to your English, yet you seem to have responded with a show of prowess in Japanese. Did you have problems understanding what I wrote?

I'm a Japanese who has nothing to do with NOVA. Since I work at an office close to a station in Tokyo,I can see a NOVA branch right in front of my window.It was still open last night. I often think it should be really hard for employees to be in such an awful situation in a foreign country. I sincerly hope everyone finds a way out of this mess.

In this site,I read two or three of fax Sahashi wrote. What I want to say is, not many Japanese businessmen would use that sort of language in writing, whatever the situation is. He always starts with "Shokun" to refer employees. An old type school teacher might call his students "shokun", but not a company president. At Japanese companies, things are normally written in a polite way. Sentences usually end with "desu" or "masu",which Sahashi never uses. Even when he admits his mistake, Sahashi uses his arrogant way of writing. Once his fax is translated, it sounds pretty much business like. Traslation conveys the meaning alright, but not his boss-monkey-talks-to-its-subordinates style of writing.

Your just another person who has been in Japan too long and likes to make sweeping generalizations.

I suppose you think all australians come here on working holidays, and most americans are loud mouth wankers?

You even think im a Nova teacher because im posting on this website!

Why would somebody who quit a company 3 years ago spend their time blasting away at people they think are jack asses on this website?

Obviously you have nothing better to do with your time.

Get a life! Mr English teacher

the problem is that exercising the warrants means that they can buy Nova stocks at a pre-determined price (3400 yen I think)... BUT the current market price last time I checked was BELOW this. Hence, if they exercise the warrants they LOSE money.

aka crap. but who knows, maybe the price will have risen again by the time I post this.

Calling Sahashi arrogant is exactly right. That is his character through and through. I remember that the Japanese office managers often had to attend meetings at the head office in Osaka. These meetings continued for hours, sometimes until 2:00 am! Many times, the reason for this was because Sahashi was late and everyone had to wait for him. He had to feel that he was the center of the universe, even in a simple staff meeting. He showed no concern for his staff at all. Many of the managers had to work an early shift the next day. They also said that the meetings were pretty useless. His arrogant attitude caused him to insist that nothing was done in the company without his direct involvement and approval. He must hold all the power. This caused one of the main problems that JASDAQ complained about: Nova was unable to disclose information in a timely manner. Due to his arrogance and stupidity, he has hurt a lot of people. And he continues to be arrogant and stupid. He doesn't even have the guts to face people and own up to what he has done. Come on, Sahashi, isn't it time to be a mensh?

How many times can the same lie keep working? In this case too many times. There's an old saying about fooling me once shame on you...

I wonder how the phrase will explain the allocation of shame in the current situation. Fool me twenty times shame on...?

The fact of the matter is that this lie has run out of steam. Sahashi, being the con man that he is, knows that merely repeating it would be laughed (or cried) at.

The next trick in the con man's bag is to do an about face and accept total responsibility in the hopes that he will gather some (misguided) support and empathy and in turn keep the company going a little longer. It looks as though he might atually step down soon and take the blame with him. I'm sure everyone places the blame directly on him so this might actually help the company. But like many things, it is too little too late. The company has been irrepairably damaged beyond repair (I know the end of that sentence is redundant but guess what! So are all Nova employees in reality!!). I know "bad joke"!

We have seen a 100% turn around in Sahashi's behaviour between the latest 2 faxes. There was no gradual realisation, just outright lying to accepting total responsibility. Maybe he picked up a Diplomat and flipped to F34: Calming Down Angry People. In the ML you will find the phrase "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault".

Sahashi has consciously decided to hurt teachers (eg taking teachers' rent money) out of pure self interest and am certain that if indeed he does jump ship it will be with a golden parachute while the rest of us are still salaryless. I knew a long time ago that I would not see my last 2 months salary but it is still a kick in the teeth everytime he lies to me (and believe me, when someone robs me of over $5k and tries to take more from me thereby depriving me of a roof over my head and food to eat it is definitely personal)!

By the way, isn't denial the first reaction to death, and finally it is acceptance? The end is near!

R.I.P NOVA (and may Sahashi burn for all eternity in the deepest pit in hell)

Those of us who were saving our holidays to go home for Christmas and used up all of their days recently -- because, let's face it, Christmas ain't comin this year for Nova -- are out much more than 7 weeks pay. They owe me an official two full months pay, as I'm covered up through the end of the month thanks to my vacation days. Just imagine, I could have used these vacation days earlier in the year to actually see some of Japan had I known this was going to go down. By the time the first signs came up, I was awaiting a Visa renewal. By the time I got my Visa renewal (just last week), it was already too late. Some of us got royally screwed by this. We're not going to see this pay. These people at Nova owe me over 450,000 yen that I'm never going to get. I feel bad for those on the nightshift that will be out close to 600,000 yen thanks to this crap.

Dude... People aren't being fooled by this. We aren't going to work saying, "DON'T WORRY FELLOW NOVA TEACHERS, WE WILL BE PAID ON 'AROUND' THE 25TH OF THE MONTH. WE SHALL CELEBRATE THAT DAY AND BE MERRY." Right now, people are sticking around so that when the company tanks, they will undoubtedly be accepted for unemployment if the company goes under. Either that, or they just literally have nothing better to do with their time. Working at nova has made me go crazy; I just can't handle working with many of the students anymore. Especially with all this stress. My friends and I joke that when nova doesn't go under and doesn't pay us, the drunk GAIJIN (more like GAYjin, if you are willing to refer to yourself as something so degrading) will roam the streets and screw up Japan royally. I certainly know that I won't be doing that. I'll be on a plane, heading home to my family, whom I haven't seen for over a year.

"whether the two investment companies (both with the same owner i think) will exercise their warrants"

They aren't investors, they're speculators. The money they paid Nova was a bet that the price would stay over 35 yen long enough for them to resell a bunch of shares and pocket a tidy profit. That whole deal seems to have collapsed anyway, there are reports of very shady dealings going on, so there is absolutely no chance of anyone getting any money out of Nova. The bunny is dead, it's just a matter of how long it will take for the maggots to devour the putrid corpse.

at least you've been paid at least once... some of us over here just got here last month and are hoping for our first paycheque. kinda hard to not go to work when you have no funds to fall back on.

is it may 7th yet?

what is fear?...

serious question..anyone know any good websites for dealing with fear, depression, anxiety..like that?

Seriously............to all you people struggling to eat and that have nowhere to go...........you should leave Japan and go home. You can always come back in the future. Try to borrow money from back home.........if you are absolutely stuck and can't get money from back home or put the plane ticket on your credit card or something contact your embassy in Japan. They have to be able to do something for you. If you are in such bad situation you can't do that pick up the phone and dial 119 to get an ambulance to the hospital or walk into your local police station (box) and plea for help. Take it from someone who's been there...........you don't want to fuck around in Japan and get stuck here without any money or help...........this is one of the most expensive countries in the world and can quickly turn into a nightmare if you aren't careful.

Well. this may sound ridiculous, but I think Sahashi is broke! I dont think he's got any money either. If I was him, and I was wiping my oshiri with 1000 yen bills. I would be long gone by now preparing my log cabin and chopping wood for the long winter ahead.

I think dude is ass broke. At any rate, since September I dont think he personally is making any money either. Ive heard this business only produces profit through students paying UP front. Have you seen any exchanges of money lately in your branch? I sure havent.

Think about it. Sahashi has employees in Australia, US, and England. Oh and dont forget about the new branch that opened in TAIWAN. I wonder how those poor bastards are doing by the way.. Everyones branches rent is at least 4 months late. The small schools have shut down. Now the BIG fish are gonna start bellying up.

The BTs and AAMs and Japanese staff havent been paid for 2 pay checks. What makes you think we wont? Because were the front line right. Well, I honestly think that if there was ANY money, Sahashi would have paid his AAMS and Japanese staff by now. There simply isnt. I think he is putting his last efforts into his stocks by lending them hoping that speculation will up the price so Nova can cash in.

Its really like a Japanese businessman playing at PACHINKO.

He's hanging by a thread, pushing this company by day to day. Same old news same old poetic crap. But it works doesnt it? IT FUELS OUR FIRE to allow us to talk shit and take it out on our fellow employees by slinging mud at each other on these forums right? It only takes up space on these pages.

JUST THINK ABOUT the 400000 something students (and teachers) who are going to go to fucking GABA if this company tanks.. And by the way, (they dont pay for your travel money.. They dont hook you up with accomadation. They dont pay you for a cancelled lesson. And they pay you 1400 yen for 40 minutes regardless of who you are experienced or not). And until working for them for 6 MONTHS, then you can take 3 courses which of course are UNPAID and take a fucking test that if you pass you can get a 100 yen raise.. And THOSE fuckers are really the ones laughing all the way to the bank!!!! REally!

Nova did hook you up with Accom, they paid for travel money, remeber all those frees and shit where you mindlessly packed tissues for an hour? YOU were getting paid!! If it wasnt for Nova I wouldnt fuckin be here man...

So, I asked my RAAM what are you going to do? With a patch over her eye and cigar hanging out of her mouth She said, "Well Im goin down with the ship baby!" And that was that.. someones got to.. shit. Me, I hope I can find somethin before I run out of money. Then Ill be checkin out the nicest bridge I can find. But in the meantime, Ill pay for that goddamn train ticket so I can teach students who I dont even like, just because they dont deserve us walking out on them while we can still hang.. even though I cant stand the fuckers.

So until someone gives me a damn job. I am now a Volunteer worker. But Im not gonna wear that goddamn TIE by the way. So if you are still going into work because you are expecting to get paid, I think you should put in those holidays or unpaid leave and just spend your time trying to find a new job. Cuz we aint getting paid baby! Me,.. shit. Maybe Im spinning my drunken wheels and wasting my time, but Im only doing this for those students who really dont give a shit about us... SHIT! It isnt even about them, its about the PRINCIPLE Mother fuckers! BUT I guess that is what DOING A GOOD DEED IS ALL ABOUT eh?

Oh you? You FOLD? Well fuck it then, Im all in.

Sinserely,
a drunken english conservation techur.

Im not riach biyatch!

oh and that fuckin math question by the way the answer is 14 assholes.

yeah, my japanese roommates just read his fax & were appalled by his choice of words...

When two of my students heard about how serious the trouble with Nova is, they cried. I don't think all the students can be lumped together as "not giving a shit about the teachers". I'm convinced there are students who've really enjoyed themselves at Nova and care about what happens to the teachers and staff. Not necessarily all of them, but some. The worst thing you can say about lots of Nova teachers is that we have done the best we can with an imperfect system. Perceptive students who are decent human beings (and yes, they are out there) understand this.
I wish all my fellow teachers out there the best of luck in your post-Nova future. Let's think ahead, because that's really all we can do.

......I cry becuase scool no give money back, and no get free english lessons.

Yes, I noticed that some students do care also. I've had some students actually offer me help, such as food and stuff, while others were a bit teary eyed also, as they found out that we haven't been paid. My neighbor also expresses regret and apologized for Sahashi's "rude" ways. She also, brought me dinner the other night, very simple but still good. I keep telling her I'm okay. Let's stay in perspective here, and try not to generalize.

Oh, and btw, Sahashi is an fucking asshole, that Bi - atch.

;)

Good "SPIRIT" "SPIRITS" Chris!

you feel this way about these people, and I'll forgive the simple thinking and stereotypes, and you're still here! LOL!!!

Some people have no choice but to stay here. It's quite obvious not all people are like this..............just the majority. Stay here awhile you simple cocksucking faggot and you'll find out:)

"...simple cocksucking faggot..." haha.

Um...after 10 years of being here, means your at least 30, and still talking like that. I don't think I'll hang around that long after all.

Anyway, back The Fall of Nova

Ever consider I'm not a Nova Teacher? There are a multitude of ways a person can stay/live/be from or in Japan............hell I could be 25 for all you know. Sorry, I like to speak natural English. You sounded like a naive cocksucking fag so I thought I'd call it out.

You made a smart-ass comment to what I had to say and you think I would just let it pass? Sorry, my friend I don't like shit-talkers. Especially ones that try to act "all friendly" after they've lost an arguement.

yeah, you know what my students said to me...."we are very sorry for the horrible time you've had in Japan" I fkn love Japan, and yet they still apologize. I've been here for 2 months and the bunny has fucked me so hard I think im going home. I've been paid once for 10 days work, i have nothing left. Monkey bridge: go play in fkn traffic!

WTF? The beer here is foul and overpriced. Give me my home state's 3.5% beer tax any day over the extortionate 60% shit here in J-land.

I'm back in the States and I still keep in touch with a few of my students - even after 3 years. I'd say about half of them couldn't care less what happens to NOVAss, but the other half are genuinely upset.

What does the BIBLE say? There will be much slander! etc. etc. etc.

The meek shall inherit the earth.

I hope you are joking. I think we're talking 2 months here and continually paying train fares, etc for a company that may, like other mismanaged English schools before it, collapse. Japanses part-timers also are having it tough, but they generally have family support, or even live at home. How you can jump on the media bandwagon to blame gaigin barbarians for everything that's wrong is beyond me, though ultimately it's true that they make Nova and they can break it, if it becomes no more than a slave-labour scheme.

I'm not so surprised if the media spun it this way, it is a way to relieve the Japanese conscience of the shame of whats going on- evictions, no pay, etc. Maybe you lack sympathy for your fellow man, but this is a crisis for these people. The key area of difference is your confidence in 'my company'. Nobody could ever say that about Nova, even high up people, as it is a scam-company, just until now a very successful one.

Saruhashi should have earned that sense of loyalty that a real company has. The story isn't that foreigners are lazy. It's that they are in a company that is collapsing under the weight of it's own lies- i.e. misleading students, who now want incredibly massive refunds.

Maybe Nova will be bought out, maybe the government will step in, even at a loss, maybe there will even be a lightening restructuring program. But teachers have been given no grounds to trust in anything like that, many who are working are just hanging on until it falls. Don't forget what caused all this- illegal buisiness practices getting exposed. I also don't want the reputation of foreigners to be damaged. But until Japan develops a multi-ethnic media (no time soon), 10% sympathy is better than none.

So to boil it down, "Suck it up and deal" would be your position?

Sorry, mate. When a company mismanages itself to the point where it can no longer meet one of the fundamental responsibilities of business - paying its employees in full and on time - there is something seriously wrong that needs addressing. No employee of any company on Earth should be expected to work without guarantee of pay, and reactions to the violation of the basic employee/employer relationship, such as anger, frustration and acts of rebellion are to be expected.

As for being homeless, nobody in any country wants to go through that, and I reckon we would fight just as hard to avoid it in our own countries as we would here. The new teachers being evicted from their apartments were unaware when they came here that they might need the $US2-3,000 to get their own apartment - if I remember correctly, NOVA recommends bringing about US$1,500 to cover basic living expenses before one's first paycheck. I was lucky and was able to bring more, but not nearly enough to cover the massive financial cost of getting a new apartment. I'll grant you, anyone who has started with NOVA over the last four or five months should have done better research, but "Why didn't you BRING enough money to help you through the first couple of months?" is kind of like asking a mugging victim why he doesn't know karate - obviously he should have expected to get mugged and prepared himself, right?

Your argument is supported by wild hearsay, broad stereotype and, if I may hazard a guess, deep personal antipathy towards NOVA and its employees. I cannot, and would not, ask you to stop hating us, but I think it would be in everybody's best interests if you built your arguments on facts and logic.

You're right about the cruel realities. but wrong to target the teachers. I know why this is happening. Older people are surprised by the seeming naivety, but what you are saying is incredibly unreasonable. People should work for free for a scam company, just to help it along? People should bring enough with them to pay key money and everything 'just in case'? Look, people willing to work that devotedly would do so as a salaryman for a real company, leading as you say to a nest-egg and if they could afford the vast amounts you suggest, they probably wouldn't be Nova teachers at all. Nova is the working holiday gone wrong, the small-scale Tsunami on a Thai beach. Why shouldn't young people have the chance to enjoy a working holiday before they settle down? You can't prepare for every crisis.

Nova clearly advertises their job as a working holiday, not as a 'serious job'. They require nothing but (sometimes) a degree and little training. They aim for the young and fun-loving, which is incidentally what a lot of Japanese look for in a native-speaking teacher, they often prefer entertaining people to overly ones. If we can agree on this, we can agree that Nova has a special responsibility due to the demographic they hire from. Not overly experienced people with lots of savings.

Face, it, Nova should have restructured and not hired more people than they could pay. Saruman's pride got in the way. I suppose the recent strike does look bad to Japanese eyes and purile to others, but language schools have been known to go down in flames without paying the teachers. I suggest the sacrifices you speak of are actually impossible. Also in extreme cases, Japanese workers do go on strike, organise lawsuits and so on. What about the lawsuits against Nova that got this ball rolling, should the students have just 'taken it'. Nova has been incredibly stupid to alienate the teachers this way and then on top of that delay/cancel payments. Hanging on for the next pay, as you seem to suggest, is a huge gamble since the money allocated for pay is being used for refunds instead. How is this the teachers' fault?

Nova lied to everyone. This is the fruit of dishonesty. It's not normal to lie to this extent. But however many laws, written or otherwise Nova broke, we should still keep it legal. That's what seperates us from the beasts and from my experience of Nova, they really are (were?) a beast.

Also, one point I may agree on is that dreams like getting private students or waiting for UI are just that- if you want to stay in Japan, you need a job, otherwise it's better to go back and come again later. Don't count on people being generous, just people paying you because it's your salary and they have to. It's just too bad that Nova had to implode (or dramatically restructure, which could still happen), whilst you are with them. As others have said, this is a very expensive country and even though Nova has wronged you, the answer is to find your cheese elsewhere and not expect too much from overworked and possibly unsympathetic litigators.

This is the most important point anyone can make to you- To be in Japan you need a job that pays. I know of foreigners in fact becoming homeless (one of whom ironically was saved by getting a position at Nova). Don't risk it.

Don't take everything Burly says to heart.

If you look closely at his statements, you'll actually see its a bit funny, not the content, of course, but the overall argument.

It was written to one end, and one end only, that is to Anger, which often happens in forums and blogs. It's a way of venting, about other issues that are sometimes similar yet unrelated current comments and opinions. Anyway, Burly's statements are totally accusatory ,prejudice, and down right inflammatory. In regard to prejudice, not only about foreigners, but also employee vs. employer, (think you can find that one), and a few more problems with his argument. Don't waste your time getting upset, he's just fucking with you all, and/or just not completely up to date with the situation.

A half valid point was made about the employees, tho, just a bit over the top.

No one in there right mind can defend the management of this company, the government cant, neither the judicial (more loses than whens in court) nor executive (METI), the customers cant (lawsuits going back 5 years +, contract cancellations etc.), the employees can't, not even the private sector itself (JASDAZ), and blah blah blah... Burly kinda brushed over the management problems, I noticed.

and

Shut up and suck it up isn't such a good policy, many examples we all can relate too.

I often read on this forms about how foreigners tend to be in bars drinking all the time.

Are this people using double standards, are a bit bias/prejudice.

I'm not intended to make excuses, but bring a bit of a balance. We all know foreigners drink alot, but many people make it sound like it's a bad thing, and hat only foreigners do it.

But,

after 8-9pm you see many people, on the station plat forms vomiting or pissing in the bushes, asleep on the train smelling just awful from vomit and shit, and staggering down the steet making up and down the stairs only by the the grace of god.

Many of this images I'm quite sure are fresh in anyones mind if you live in Tokyo, but most of this images are probably not foreigners, but people in business suits, or varying ages.

What a prick.

First of all...(Burly)

The company has screwed itself, which has then led to Japanese students wanting their MONEY BACK!.. The key word there is MONEY.

We all know the Nova story, so I'm not going to dwell on that. However, for someone to suggest it's our fault that Nova is going down makes me sick! I'll tell you right now, does it look like the students are saying to Nova, "Oh, don't worry about giving us back our money right now, I know you are going through a difficult time, please send it when you can." HELL NO!!! Are the landlords telling Nova, "It's okay, pay us when you can"...OBVIOUSLY NOT. Or rather, are the Japanese landlords offering us innocent foreigners a place to stay for free. NO... the reality is, you can blame us foreigners for whatever your little heart desires, you can call us lazy, ignorant to the Japanese way of life, but at the end of the day we all know it's NOVA WHO SCREWED OVER THEIR OWN NATIONALS! We did everything right, until we didn't get paid. If Nova can't pay its teachers, why do you expect us to work? Moreover, if Nova can't even pay the rent, how do you expect us to teach?

All we want is our money...just like the students and the landlords...

Well, it has started! Nova AAMs are offering not only travel money to be paid in advance but also your salary in advance. Yes that's right, check with your AAM and see if they will pay you in advance to work the next three days because it is being offered to teachers where the schools are extremely short staffed as a last resort!

But fuck them! How dare they pay people for future work and write off our past work! No doubt this will work on some of the gutless teachers out there and those that need to prostitute themselves for the cash because they have nothing left to survive on. All I want is what I am already owed!