Sociology

Japan has been identified as one of the leading destination for Philippine immigrants in the world. Existing statistical evidence however show that most of these immigrants are as a result of human trafficking mainly for the purposes of sexual exploitation (Valmero, 2009). Also clear from the available statistical evidence is the fact that majority of the Philippines in Japan are the main cause of increased criminology and commercial sex as well as lobar force abuse practices in the nation (Valmero, 2209). It is to be stated here that such human trafficking practices into Japan from Philippine has been closely associated with the presence of organized crime groups in Japan. This has also been claimed to be a direct result of the failure by the Japanese government to effectively implement the set international minimum standards of mitigating human trafficking across the globe. Though many see Philippines as major workers in the entertainment sector of the Japanese nation, it is evidently clear from existing statistics that many fall victims of human exploitation thus forced to indulgence into inhuman practices as a survival strategy (Amoyo, 2008).

Existing research data has shown that the trafficking of women and children is mainly conducted by non-governmental organizations and government agencies in collaboration with the mass media (Fujimoto, 2006). It is to be noted here that the major drawback to the fight against trafficking of Philippines to Japan is the governments failure to respect and effectively impose the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act and the International Anti-Prostitution Law. This is because the government has been noted to treat victims of human trafficking as criminals rather punishing the facilitators of the illegal immigration.

This paper is a critical analysis on the claim of illegal Philippines work as entertainers in Japan. The author takes a look on the association of such immigrations with crime, human trafficking and the question of sexual exploitation. A discussion on the problem of immigration and the failure by the Japanese government and the international community to ensure fairness and justice to the victims of human exploitation in Japan is also given.

Philippines working as entertainers in Japan
Although many women trafficking victims come to Japan as tourists, many others enter the nation as entertainers. It is clearly to be noted here that such foreign entertainers trafficked into Japan usually posses a six month entertainer visa (Valmero, 2009). However, most of this end up staying in the nation for long times thus subjecting themselves to breach law illegalities. Statistics have evidently shown that most of the foreign entertainers in Japan are from Philippine. Indeed, it has been claimed that entertainers from Philippine constitute an approximated 60 percent of the total foreign entertainer population in Japan (Nuqui, 2010). Still clear from existing research result is that though most entertainers are meant to sign and dance in entertainment halls, Philippine entertainers mainly serve as hostesses in night clubs. Their duties include serving drinks and singing as well as talking to costumers (Castro, 2010). They are even in some cases forced to practice prostitution (Amoyo, 2008). It is here to be noted that most of this entertainers find themselves working in poor conditions which rarely match the employment contract signed with the recruiting agencies. They are usually given low wages and even heavy penalties imposed on them for failing to meet the set targets of the nightclub. It is due to this reason that many find themselves dating customers as a way of realizing enough income for survival in the nation (Amoyo, 2008).

It is to be noted that all this practices on immigrants are a major breach of the existing international laws. First and foremost, according to the Immigration Act, entertainers are not supposed to serve as hostesses (Castro, 2010). This means that the government of Japan is purposely neglecting the requirements of this law by allowing for the employment of foreign entertainers as hostesses in nightclubs. Another law is the international requirement for respecting Commercial Contract Laws. It is to be understood that most of entertainers from Philippine have been evidently claimed to be working in different conditions than they had signed in their contract with the recruiting agencies (Amoyo, 2008). This is a breach of the contract law which seeks to ensure fairness and justice between two parties. Equitable justice can only be realized if equity is used to address disputing parties. Still clear is the fact that they are also fined heavily for not meeting the set customer number. This is a major drawback to the economic advantage that forced the entertainers to immigrate to the Japan nation. All this mean that the Philippine entertainers are typically exploited for the sole advantage of the Japanese investors as well as exposed to immoral and harsh working and thus living conditions.

Reasons why Japan is a leading destination for Philippines
The most commonly cited reason for the ever increasing number of Philippine entertainer immigrants in Japan is economic hardships in Philippine (Lie, 1994). It is evidently clear to all that the search for better economic advantage is the leading cause of immigration in the world. The Japanese nation is far much sustained in terms of economic stability and prosperity than Philippine. This means that the Philippine government is not able to provide sustainable employment to all its population. It is due to this economic difference between the two nations that many Philippines go to Japan to seek for better earning employment opportunities and thus better lifestyles (Fujimoto, 2006).

Another reason is the geographical proximity between these two nations (Castro, 2010). It is evidently clear that both Philippine and Japan are found on the Pacific Ocean. This makes transportation of trafficked women and children quite easy. Still, in terms of distance, the two nations are close. This means that the cost of transport is low enough to be afforded by the victims thus meaning a potential increase in the number of Philippines immigrating into the Japan nation.

It has been evidently established that most of the Philippine entertainers in Japan are as a result of human trafficking (Nuqui, 2010). It is in fact from existing statistical evidence that over 80 percent of the entertainers in nightclubs come from trafficking involvements by nightclub operators (Castro, 2010). This has been further complicated by the growing number of organized crime groups in Japan who facilitate the trafficking activities. It is worth stating here that the legal processes of acquiring immigration permission to another nation are not that easy. However, it is only by following the underlying immigration rules that individuals can be assured of legal protection in the destination country. It is thus a direct result of the easiness of the achieving immigration status through trafficking that many Philippines find their way into the Japan nation (Valmero, 2009). Therefore, organized crime groups and their involvement in human trafficking are a reason for increasing numbers of Philippine entertainers working in Japan.

Involved conditions of employment contract are also a reason to be cited for the increased number of Philippine entertainers in Japan. It has been evidently established that both the recruitment agencies in Philippine and the corresponding promoters in Japan usually give lucrative employment contract conditions (Fujimoto, 2006). The human person is always out to get the best for ensuring a competitive social and economic advantage in the society. Based on this reasoning and the fact that most Philippines are faced with the problem of unemployment, the quest to realize such impressive economic advantage can be lead to increased numbers of those wishing to go to Japan. This is further complication with the fact that the immigration activities are usually marked with much mass media publicity. It is to be understood that the convincing power of a human being is mainly dependent on the ultimate claim for substantial success so far realized. With the many successful foreign entertainer success claims, many are convinced of potential security of contract. It is thus the lucrative employment contract terms given by promoters and agencies and the purported success stories in the mass media that are highly responsible for the ever increasing number of Philippine entertainers in Japan nightclubs (Fujimoto, 2006).

Lastly, it has been evidently claimed that the Japanese government has been less effective in combating the problem of illegal immigration (Amoyo, 2008). It is the sole purpose of every existing government not only to protect its citizens from both internal and external security threats but also to uphold and respect the human rights of other nations citizens as defined in the international human right laws. With a government that does less to eliminate organized crime groups in the community, then the acts of the crimes will always intensify. The ever growing strength and illegal control as well as corrupting of government responsibilities by organized crime groups is greatly responsible for the increasing number of Philippines trafficked to the Japan nation.

Effects of Philippines working as entertainers in Japan
The increasing number of Philippine entertainers in Japan has been attributed to the increase in the rates of criminology in the nation (Amoyo, 2008). Survival is the most basic need for every human being. It is to be noted here that most of the Philippines entertainers trafficked to Japan end up working in poor conditions. This could be the reason behind the ever increasing rates of crime in the Japan society. Statistical evidence has clearly shown that over 50 percent of the crimes committed in Japan involve Philippine immigrants (Fujimoto, 2006). Still to be noted is the fact that most of the Philippine immigrants are illegally exported into the nation by organized crime groups. Such could be due to the social and economic links existing between these two groups. This can easily enhance criminal activities in the society by shipping in more cooperate gangs for improving cooperation.

Increased Philippine entertainers have greatly compromised the societal norms, culture and value of the Japanese people (Amoyo, 2008). Discriminative employment for Philippine entertainer has been identified to be the main reason behind increased prostitution in the nation. These high rates of immorality in the Japanese society are evidently watering down the moral value and culture of the citizen. Such are indeed are great threat to the sustainable future of the society. It is also to be stated here that the increasing discriminative practices against Philippine entertainers in Japan nightclubs is loss of respect for both human rights and underlying international laws on immigrants (Amoyo, 2008). The Immigration Act clearly stated that foreign immigrants should not serve as hostesses in nightclubs. Contract laws on the other hand require for the ultimate respect for the provisions that led to its signing. It is thus a disrespect of the law that the Japanese government regards entertainers as criminals and deports them without giving them an opportunity to seek for legal justice.

Steps taken by the Japanese government to solve the immigrant problem
Due to the many critics on the governments concern for the welfare of foreign immigrants and the problem trafficking, the Japanese nation has engaged in finding a lasting solution to these social vices. The government in 2004 implemented the Japanese Action Plan of Measures to Combat Trafficking in Persons (Fujimoto, 2006). This action plan adoption led to the revising of the nations Immigration Act to allow for granting permanent residence status to victims of trafficking and abuse. The Penal Code of the nations constitution has also been revised to encompass more stiff punishments for perpetuators of trafficking. Such allows for punishment of the purchasers of trafficked persons as well as the traffickers themselves (Fujimoto). It also calls for high sentences of up to seven years if the transaction involves a child. The revised immigration laws on the other side allows the justice minister of the nation to allow trafficked victims to stay for a while in the nation before going back to the country for the purposes of cooperating with the police in investing of the case. The act also calls for the deportation of foreign found to be involved in the trafficking business and imprisonment or fining of those facilitating the issuance of forged documents to foreigner for the purposes of entering the Japanese nation (Valmero, 2009).

It is however to be noted that the Japanese government has not up to date enacted any law that seeks to sufficiently protect the victims of trafficking or human right abuse of foreigners. Such should not only include recognition, shelter provision and assistance in seeking for permanent residence status but should also ensure justice is done to those found to be victims of mistreatment particularly in the nightclubs employment sector. It is due to this concern that the author recommends for the need to have concrete rules and regulations in the nation to influence the just and fair respect for the underlying human rights regardless of the individuals originality. This should however not be misunderstood to be a call for allowing illegal immigrants unfair advantage but rather dealing with nightclub operators to ensure the reputation of the nations entertainment sector on the international market. This will not only give the sector a competitive economic advantage in the market but will also portray some sense of respect for human rights by the Japanese government.

Conclusion
It has been clear established that Philippine immigrants make the highest percentage in Japan. Indeed, it is clear from statistical evidence that Philippine entertainers make an approximated 60 percent of the total foreign entertainers population in the nation. Due to this high numbers of Philippine entertainers, they have been found to be major victims of exploitation both sexually and lobar-wise (Amoyo, 2008). They are in fact a major cause of increased levels of insecurity in Japan. It is due to all these that the Japanese government should put into place more effective legislation to aid in both combating trafficking and ensuring fairness and just treatment for all at workplace regardless of their originality.