crime

No. of fake marriages between Japanese, foreigners jumps by 49.2%

70 Comments

The National Police Agency said in a report this week that between January and June of this year, the number of sham marriages exposed by police was 88 -- an increase of 49.2% over last year. The number of exposed individuals, including marriage brokers, was 264, the NPA report said. Of the total, 144 held Japanese citizenship. Of the 120 foreigners, 85 were Chinese. The next highest group were 23 Filipinos.

The NPA said it is planning a campaign to intensify efforts to expose sham marriages, falsification of passports and procedures for obtaining foreign registration cards, as well as underground banking.

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70 Comments
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The 'fake marriages' is dangerous migration process. After that criminals would be increasing. Also that would be very bad for small Japanese business.

-9 ( +9 / -15 )

And because of this , getting a spousal visa requires a ridiculous amount of paperwork. I hope they continue to expose fake marriages but find a better way to do so.

21 ( +21 / -1 )

Farmboy I believe it's a way to get a permanate visa without having to wait as long.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Farmboy - it is to get a visa although, most do end up standing on a street corner asking if you want a ¥2,000 massage, nod, nod, wink, wink. I pity anyone who has to go through the hell of getting a spouse visa now.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Dissillusioned- it does ... just got mine last month after submitting my past 5 year life story complete with receipts.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

It is very hard for people from some countries, especially developing countries, to enter Japan or stay in Japan for a long time. It is easy to travel just about anywhere with a Japanese passport or one from a developed country. Some people get married so that they can stay here and work on a spouse visa. Often, this is a bona fide marriage at first. In marriages things often change. A break-up and divorce would end a spouse visa, yet the spouse may want to remain in Japan for work or to stay in touch with children resulting from the marriage.

Look at the figures. 88 fake marriages is not many. Farmboy suggests this might be a way to get prostitutes into the country. If it is, it is not he who is missing something, but would be the police missing a lot. If the yakuza are involved in this, the numbers would suggest that they are not the ones being caught.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I doubt the number jumped that much. Just that the police/immigration have finally caught on that many of those foreigner girls working in clubs have Japanese husband - easy way to get in.

Gaijin, IF the yaks are involved? Who do you think is a) running the clubs and b) finding these girls? Been plenty of articles about chinpira marrying girls to get them in.

Whoever made the PR comment is wrong - takes min three years (down from five) but not like you get given it automatically.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"Look at the figures. 88 fake marriages is not many."

Not only not many but infinitesmally small. In 2009 there were over 700,000 marriages in Japan. But I guess when illegal gaijin are involved 88 is enough to sound the alarm.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

Also infinitesimally unlucky to get caught. The actual figure is probably in the thousands.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

In Japan, what's the difference between a real and fake marriage?

A fake marriage is based on money, with no physical or emotional intimacy, while a real marriage is . . .

14 ( +18 / -4 )

VirtuosoAug. 20, 2011 - 10:46AM JST

The actual figure is probably in the thousands.

When at the immigration office, I have some suspicious looking people. But I cannot say why this shady looking older guy was with that younger SE asian woman, or what kind of visa she was applying for. My first guess is usually entertainment. But also, plenty of Japanese guys go for "mail order" brides. Nothing wrong with either of those.

I have doubts that the authorities missed thousands of fake marriages. I just see no proof at all, and even suspicious people can be explained in other ways.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Shame on the people who marry these girls and shame on the people smugglers.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What makes you think they are only girls?

11 ( +14 / -2 )

When the UN chided Japan to control the inflow of human trafficking, Japan did comply and thus the number of SE being employed as prostitutes or the likes decreased. To circumvert the law, the underworld Japan has been busy recruitng people for marriage so that they can bring the young Asian girls to work in pink salons. Should you be in Roppongi, the Philippine embassy is just around the corner and you can see very young Filipinas with suspicious Japanese with them. Often, they register the marriage and while the papers are in the process, they let the girls work while the application is being verified then after 6 mos, they will file a divorce and get another FIlipina or Chinese or Vietnamese or whatever. I know one Japanese who got married 3x in span of 2 years.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Another yakuza run business :(

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Its just the easiest way to get PR or a passport (developed countries such as Canada). I think its easiest in Japan for people with white skin and from English speaking countries. Whats are the pros and cons of PR vs Spousal visa? If i already have s PR, should i remainvon it or switch it to Spousal once married?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Yakuza and Filipinas?? NO! Unheard of! Never!

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Naruhodo, do you know anything about getting PR or a Japanese passport? Both take a lot of time. They do this for a spouse visa, not PR and certainly not for nationality.

Personally, I don't see an issue with people marrying for a visa - as long as they are doing so because they want to be in Japan to work. Loveless marriages based on money. How is this any different than your average Japanese marriage? Oh right, these women at least work unlike the Japanese women who marry for the same reason.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I had a student who said he had yakuza friends who set up sham marriages (he was a weird dude, so it didn't surprise me). It's a way to get girls from China and the Philippines into Japan "legally" so they can work with no problem. If you're going to have girls working in jobs that will generally get foreign workers deported, it helps to make them somewhat un-deportable, I guess. That's the thinking behind it.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Oracle@ you based your argument on strangers you encountered in the immigration office. If you go to a foreign hostess club, you'd be amazed at how many of the hostesses are working "legally" on a spouse visa. I have over the years talked to about a dozen of these women, including Colombian, Filipino, Chinese and Malaysian nationalities. The way the system works is that they pay the first time for the "husband" to marry them and get them into Japan, and then when their visas come up for extension they pay the man a second installment for documents attesting that they are still married and living together. During the bubble economy years the going rate for this payment was as high as 750,000 yen. Regional immigration offices are said to be more lenient than Tokyo since they tend to be shorthanded in terms of investigation staff.A lot of the "husbands" involved in these arrangements are truck drivers who are on the road most of the time and almost impossible to pin down.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

One must do what must do in order to work.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

I want to become a resident but I forgot the name of my kindergarten in the Us so it is a no-go

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japangal... no one should have to get a fake visa to work. If they have to, it usually means that it is illegal business or something that they aren't deemed qualified to do. That's why the government is cracking down on this.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Hey sakurala,

The visa isn't fake but the marriage based upon it is.

I agree with JapanGal. I also wish there was peace everywhere on this planet so we can freely go live and work anywhere we please.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I guess a fake marriage means the Japanese spouse has been financialy compensated. Happens in Europe too.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Dekichattacon.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

DenTok2009: well aware that the visa isn't in itself fake but it was aquired under false pretenses. I know it happens all over the world and usually done by people from less developed countries in an attempt to get a job that pays more in more developed country. The sad thing is though, that a lot of these people are exploited.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Sakurala... things must have change in the last 5 years (which would be remarkable for Japan0. It took me five days (two of them were a Sat/Sun) to get my spousal visa. Lickety split. I wonder what made you so suspect?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Meanringo: I think that things may have changed in the past couple of years but I don't know what was required before. Im far from suspect being a white girl from Canada so I women was able to get my visa a month after I applied. However the amount of paperwork they require is quite intense. I had to hand in about 15 documents, an 8 page survey that included an essay and pics of my hubby and I through the span of our relationship. It seems like it would catch fake marriages more often but there are pros to help people beat the system for a price.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

VirtuosoAug. 20, 2011 - 02:20PM JST

Oracle@ you based your argument on strangers you encountered in the immigration office.

Yup. But you based your first post on nothing.

Thank you for clarifying though. Now I understand why you made the statement. Not sure I am a believer yet, but it is compelling information.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I was once offered a "job" in Bangkok to take Thai women to Japan as my wife. Good money and very nice sales pitch, but I was concerned by the fact that I could do the job a number of times, worried about how it was possible to reenter with a different wife each time?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

And these Chinese are not happy with a Japanese visa. Now they are talking about marrying Americans to get American visa..........

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

FYI, it is almost impossible for a Chinese (mainland) to get a permanent US working visa unless they marry some here in US.. Some smart Chinese students are required to go back to China after accomplishing an excellent academic work.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Probably most people are in fake marriages in one way or another ...

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Most of these fake marriages are to get to a country for the opportunities.China is coming up but with 1.3 billion people some folks have a better chance elsewhere. I know for a fact that many of these girls are not trafficked and chose to come for the seedy stuff. They do it at home but the money is crap. Sit back and listen to em chat those of you who have studied any Chinese or dialects. If someone is working, even as a ho, I have no problem with it as it serves a stress releasing purpose for someone and that someone is usually a Japanese businessman who ain't getting it at home. I worked in New York with a group of Israelis who paid about 10,000 dollars at the time to an American for marriage so they could stay. I believe it should be easier for people to cross borders to some degree. in America we have a shortage of many math and sciences workers and researchers but the government makes it difficult to hire with a cap on the number and its very expensive. Meanwhile we can't get many native born kids to take up the studies......

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Thank god my PR was just processed and approved; no more ridiculous spouse visa paperwork for me!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

well now homosexual marriages are starting to make sense-though I still think civil union or some other word would be better, but at least theyre talking about some kinda love, or is it a money matter too?-BUT when you hear how some people even on here talk about marriage and work, it is no wonder both have been abused. So how can we dob somebody in for being a fake Id love to know. And would you? Or could you? Or better yet, maybe if you know a fake, you could bribe them, would that work? Itd be a lot of hassle though, maybe just dobbing is easier.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I know quite a few men back in the states who married women from the Philippines. Some of them married for love and others got themselves a cook/maid/sex slave. Almost all the women were decades younger and had degrees in science. I and a few others were surprised that young educated women would be willing to have a relationship leading to marriage and a family with older American men. One despicable jerk retired from the company and came back to visit and brag about marrying a young Filipina. "She cooks, cleans and satisfies me!" I'm sure there are marriages based purely on money; marry for the legal right to remain in the country but no need to even shack up, just complete the paperwork.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And here I am thinking that marriage is based on love-what a revelation this is..........

1 ( +1 / -0 )

88? That's ridiculously low!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

hopefully the numbers will decline, I can't see why anyone would want to come to Japan while there is an ongoing disaster and the nukes are still all critical.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

cwhite-People from SE Asia will always try to come to Japan for economic reasons. Disaster or nuclear radiation will not deter them.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I agree with everything sakurala said. Even the other way around. (me getting my wife to the states) is a difficult task. Plus the money that you spend in the process. God forbid if your spouse lived in another country for 6 months after the age of 16. That is even more and more paper work for police records, time and money. I'm not even going to talk about the headache to request marriage while I was in the military. The fact that I was not allowed to have a D.R. on base check her for free anymore, because of the so called "legit" process. But was able to pay the embassy civilian D.R. a few hundred dollars was ok. All this does in the end is justify future processing to milk legit marriages for more money. It's all about money.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Once again it's smoke & mirrors time from the racist NPA.

.

"Dirty foreigner sham marriages up 49%!!1!"

. .

In other words 88 marriages out of 40,000 international marriages a year in Japan. Or 0.2%. Ridiculous.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

If a real marriage requires emotional and physical intimacy, then there are many thousands more fake Japanese/Japanese marriages than foreigner/Japanese. The percentage of sexless marriages is very high. The women stay married for free room and board for her and the kids, and the men get a housekeeper and cook. If fake marriage is a crime, then law enforcement will have quite a job.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Just to clarify the who marriage debate from my view....feel free to disagreee, but this is how I think it's defined.

Marriage is a contract between 2 people to support each other and possibly some kids at some point. However fake foreigner-Japanese marriages do not meet even that requirement. The 2 people have no need for each other and will not support each other in any way except for the few payments that are required. If one became ill or had a legal issue, the other wouldn't be expected to do anything about it. Moreover, after the foreigner is able to obtain permanent residency, they can divore and the foreigner would not have to worry about getting a new visa and can continue to work in whichever job they have chosen.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

And your point being sakurala, is you are morally superior than others. Who says the two will have no need for eachother ? That is not a fact. Take care of your own life , perhaps you are more fortunate than others . and for that you should be humbly grateful.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Im far from superior but that is how I think people can tell if it is a fake marriage ... I highly doubt either person in the fake marriage would expect the other to be there for them if they have a serious problem whereas people in a real marriage would be much more likely.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"......perhaps you are more fortunate than others ......"

and what exactly does that mean-like you are not willing to understand that there is such a real thing as love? From what sakurala is saying it would seem it is heaps easier for a fake marriage to obtain the legalities to be together than it is for a (I hesitate to add 'real') marriage. Sure seems that way. So why dont you explain why you feel it is okay to have your way with the word marriage, and when you want pity, why dont you just up and say why that is?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And any body harping on about the numbers and stats, just visit my neighbourhood street and Ill bet you can find your 88 right there!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In Japan you get a Japanese passport just by marrying a Japanese national? My ex-wife came from Russia and she could not get a U.S. passport until she became naturalized.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

In Japan you get a Japanese passport just by marrying a Japanese national?

Absolutely not. You've got to naturalise, of course. And that takes forever....

4 ( +4 / -0 )

If you owe money to the Yakuza they demand you marry a woman from overseas and let them live with them to pay off their debt.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

After I married my Japanese wife I discovered she was fakin it.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Farmboy, another form of fake marriage is when normally the woman is already married with children to someone in her home country but pretends to be single to get a visa and money to send back to her real husband and kids. It is ruthless. There was one case where a Japanese man had been married for years to one of these women and gave her money every month thinking he was helping her mother NOT her husband. He even paid for her to make regular visit to her "mother"/husband. It was a terrible shock for him to find out she was maintaining her marriage overseas and just using her Japanese husband for her convenience and profit. The man later found out from police this is not a rare event. It happens fairly regularly.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A fake marriage is based on money, with no physical or emotional intimacy, while a real marriage is . . .

…based on money, with no physical or emotional intimacy. My wife agrees with this too ;)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

There was one case where a Japanese man had been married for years to one of these women and gave her money every month thinking he was helping her mother NOT her husband. He even paid for her to make regular visit to her "mother"/husband. It was a terrible shock for him to find out she was maintaining her marriage overseas and just using her Japanese husband for her convenience and profit.

In my travels to Japan since 2006, I have met two girls who were doing this. One of the man found out about it and moved her out of the home but would not divorce her because he did not want to make his mom upset. He was waiting for the mom to move on to the next life to file paperwork.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Actually a great deal of them are actually with koreans, and zainichi koreans have businesses setup to bring in other koreans through this type of scheme. but of course the media in japan is infiltrated by these dirty scum and so you see no mention of the koreans in the statistics

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Oh, I love the comment that bookowls made. "A fake marriage is based on money, with no physcal or emotional intimacy, while a real marriage is based on money, with no physical or emotional intimacy. " Though this article is probably more inclined to be about illegally staying in Japan, I just find it so curious how in many marriages here in Japan the married couple sleep in different rooms (often in later years). So I ask, does that happen in Western countries?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I hope it isn't so difficult, my gf and I have discussed marriage and although she has said she would be willing to move to Australia to be with me, she has also stated on many occasions she would rather not leave Japan. Also being almost a decade older than me, with a permanent Job, where as I am just a University Student with options that allow me to work in other places, with only casual work to support me, I feel I am less restricted and that it would be more troublesome for her to move than it would be for me, I think. I am not happy by the thought that this might complicate matters in the future because some people choose to do things illegally,

I also don't like the sound of the whole providing previous five year life story with receipts business. I never keep receipts :/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

what a joke....go and do some real police work...who cares.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Yes Zichi you are correct, on the account I have the option to get married in Australia, but changing my Visa would be a bit pointless as I am already Australian ^o^ Hehe, I think it would definately be alot easier to get married in Australia, but if my gf doesn't want to move to Australia, then I guess some troublesome papers are the price to be paid if we want to be together,

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Zichi

Really? Oh wow, thanks for that. Well that is good to know. I think my gf would be happy to hear that too. It has been something we have been wondering about for a while now,

0 ( +0 / -0 )

85% Chinese and 23% Filipinos.

That is the market..?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

That's over 100% simply counting these people.... Numbers don't add up!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Let us not lose sight of the fact that this is a Japanese problem not our non-Japanese problem. The perpetrators are Japanese criminals who are coddled in this country.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What do Japanese get in return if they engage in an imitation marriage?

there is no sex involved?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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