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

The October 26 edition of the Yomiuri Weekly carries an article that illustrates how much of a scam the travel abroad sector is--it's all about money, and the rules to protect consumers from being swindled are few and far between. The YW takes a look at why Gateway21's clients will never see the ¥950 million they paid the company.

A recent article in the Sankei Shimbun notes that a committee has been set up by the LDP to review the Nationality Act with a view to amend Article 11 that states dual citizenship is unlawful.

The impetus for the committee comes not from a sudden burst of altruism, but from the fact that Nobel Prize winner Yoichiro Namba has American citizenship. (And that is embarrassing for Japan or denies it greatness somehow?)

Following the announcement of the Nobel Prize for physics, the Japanese press enthusiastically reported that 3 Japanese had won the prize while the rest of the world reported that 2 Japanese and 1 American had won. for an overview.

I'd certainly consider taking Japanese nationality and I'm sure my wife would have fewer worries about leaving Japan knowing that she would able to keep her Japanese passport. Dual citizenship is not going to become a reality any time soon, but it promises to be an interesting debate to follow.

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Original article

ノーベル賞が思わぬ余波！　国籍法改正を検討　自民法務部会　

2008.10.10 18:25

ノーベル物理学賞を受賞受賞した南部陽一郎米シカゴ大名誉教授が米国籍を取得していたことを機に、自民党法務部会の国籍問題プロジェクトチーム（座長・河野太郎衆院議員）は１０日、二重国籍を認めない国籍法改正の検討を始めた。南部氏はすでに日本国籍を喪失しているが、ノーベル賞受賞が思わぬ波紋を広げたようだ。

国籍法１１条は二重国籍を原則認めておらず、出生地で国籍を決める「属地主義」の米国などで生まれた日本人は２２歳までにどちらか一方の国籍を選択することになっている。

外国籍を取得した人はその時点で日本国籍を自動的に失うが、地方法務局に届け出なければ、戸籍はそのまま残る。個人情報を外国政府に照会することはできないため、実態把握は難しいが、法務省では、外国籍取得者の約１割しか届け出ていないとみている。

日本に戸籍が残っていれば、旅券取得や選挙の投票などが可能となり、犯罪に利用される懸念がある。一方、国際結婚などで政情不安な国の国籍を取得した人には日本国籍を残しておきたいとの思いも強い。

法務省は法改正に慎重だが、ＰＴでは「正直者と有名人がバカを見る制度だ」（河野氏）、「二重国籍を積極的に認めた方が日本人が世界に雄飛しやすい」（猪口邦子衆院議員）など改正論が根強い。ＰＴは二重国籍の実態や問題点を洗い出していく方針だが、国籍は「誰が日本人か」という国家の根本問題だけに論争を呼びそうだ。

When Gateway21 announced that it was bankrupt, there was talk of students already studying abroad having to return home due to Gateway stopping payments to overseas schools. Some students appear to have caught a break:

On Wednesday, TBS aired an exclusive interview with Tomomasa Fukui, president of the failed study abroad agency, Gateway21, in which he said the company failed due to poor management. Fukui also denied embezzling any of the ¥950 million in fees paid by students.

Failed study abroad agent Gateway21 held a meeting Sunday to apologize to its clients, telling them that their money had vanished into thin air.

The Chunichi Shimbun writes about how Nagoya and Gifu Prefecture are favoring ALTs from private dispatch companies over the goverment-funded JET Programme when it comes to teaching English.

Another sign that the eikaiwa industry is still in trouble: Gateway21 plans to file for bankruptcy protection with debts totaling 1.29 billion yen.

When the exploded on the internet, the Mainichi Daily News quickly pulled the column and its archives to the chagrin of many readers.

A new report by the Yano Research Institute shows that the language study market is still feeling the effects of Nova's collapse.

Osaka-based NPO, Kansai Consumer's Support Organization, has sued English conversation school operator Fortress Japan for "undue solicitations."