national

Japanese language school decertified over abuse of Vietnamese student

62 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

62 Comments
Login to comment

That is so wrong in every way holding a student by chain.

37 ( +42 / -5 )

Even after returning to his dormitory, the Vietnamese man was barred from leaving his room.The school employee who restrained the man stood guard outside his room 

That Japanese school claimed it was prank but that more than prank, they even assign guard outside his dorm room.

26 ( +34 / -8 )

No mention in the article of why the Vietnamese man got into trouble with the language school.

3rd paragraph

The incident occurred following a disagreement between the school and the man in his 20s over his wish to change schools.

24 ( +28 / -4 )

Even after returning to his dormitory, the Vietnamese man was barred from leaving his room.

The school employee who restrained the man stood guard outside his room until the next morning to prevent his escape.

This Vietnamese man is either small, or has the patience of a saint. That dropkick "school employee" is very lucky he wasn't eating through a straw for 6 weeks after pulling that nonsense on a grown man. It's what he deserved.

Hopefully the school and the owners are bankrupted.

20 ( +24 / -4 )

The school deserved the punishment. You don’t treat anyone like that. No mention if the student received compensation.

16 ( +21 / -5 )

The school has admitted to restraining the student but described the behavior by its staff member as "a prank without bad intentions." The staff member in question has already resigned.

If the school allowed this "prank" it would mean it is run by incompetents, this would make the excuse as bad as the thing they are accused for. It is a shame the penalty is just decertification.

15 ( +21 / -6 )

Shocking ! & Disgusting treatment...I would sue them for damages.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

The staff member at the Nishinihon International Education Institute in the southwestern city of Fukuoka was found to have restrained the student for several hours using a chain and padlock wrapped around his belt, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan.

Yes! Finally a news report where the company is brought to light! Let that name be known and be shamed.

The school has admitted to restraining the student but described the behavior by its staff member as "a prank without bad intentions." The staff member in question has already resigned.'

"It's just a prank, bro! Chill!" Yeah right, nobody's gonna buy that excuse. They're be better off saying that the entire school staff were drunk and couldn't remember. This really makes me wonder if this also happens to other foreign students but go unreported or gets swept under the rug. =

David BrentToday  07:27 am JST

You should see what the Japanese manual laborers do to their Vietnamese coworkers on the construction site.

I've seen that video where a foreign worker was being beat up by Japanese workers, and the guy just took it. I can imagine worse things happening to them. Good on the news report, bring these things to light. Even if there's little to no action taken, in the very least people will know what they're getting into.

10 ( +21 / -11 )

I do not have facts, but I am damn certain that schools, factories, farms, institutions are abusing immigrants on a large scale and it is NOT being reported due to fear of being deported.

This is what Modern Slavery looks like. Japan must do better, setting up a hotline to report abuse on one way, another is to have officials visit these institutions once a year or so and check on the well being of the immigrants, and everything else

10 ( +21 / -11 )

Restraining someone against its will in Japan is akin to arson, a very grave crime that lands you an automatic sentence of a few years without any chances of suspendend sentence, how come this guy is not in jail?

Imagine if one of their students "restrained a teacher for several hours using a chain and padlock wrapped around his belt" and "stood guard outside his room until the next morning to prevent the teacher's escape"?

8 ( +13 / -5 )

The way this article is written makes it sound like a civil issue when in fact it sounds criminal. Forcible confinement, deprivation of liberty comes to mind.

Has a criminal complaint been made???

7 ( +9 / -2 )

The press officer of the school's operator said it is "currently fact-finding" the situation and could not comment further.

But the case happened last October, almost a year ago. How come they continued to run school business without a thorough investigation? Now about 630 students are losing the place for their study.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

The incident occurred following a disagreement between the school and the man in his 20s over his wish to change schools.

When I first came to Japan in the late 90s I worked at one of the major Eikaiwa chains. Definitely nobody would have ever chained someone up or anything violent like that, but reading this does remind me of the whole "prevent students from defecting to our rivals at all costs" mentality that management had, taken to extremes.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Sounds like some teens should be in school instead of posting here.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Japanese generally hold their tongues regarding their feelings of superiority over Westerners, but it all comes pouring out when they interact with other Asians, especially while in positions of power.

5 ( +42 / -37 )

I completely fail to understand how a school, a SCHOOL, can allow such behaviour and substitute for the force, in this case the police. Whatever the student's behaviour, this action is still completely unjustified. And that it was a prank? In that case, it's probably a good thing the school was decertified. It would be a prank if anyone even bothered to think ahead about the possible consequences and other implications.

In many countries, this would not only result in decertification, but investigations of all involved and most likely, bordering on certainty, charges for restrictions on individual freedom.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

It's laughable they think "it's a prank bro" could in any way substantiate chaining up someone, your customer and then forcibly confining him. Is this some kinky shop?

The fact the school is defending his action in anyway, is itself ridiculous.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

@Yotomaya

I agree. My experience working as one of very few non-Japanese at a Japanese company is that, with westerners, there is a pretense of respect which disappears very quickly when it comes to the crunch. I was passive aggressively punched out of that company for not knowing my place

I have had the same experiences and wish this kind of thing were talked about more. It can be terrifying and humiliating when someone's facade of respect and civility instantly vanishes and you see the contempt that must have been hiding all along.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

You should see what the Japanese manual laborers do to their Vietnamese coworkers on the construction site.

3 ( +39 / -36 )

The press officer of the school's operator said it is "currently fact-finding" the situation and could not comment further.

This had me rolling on the floor. A "press officer" in a Japanese language school? Who in the heck came up with this one!

2 ( +14 / -12 )

My opinion of a joke is different from the japanese language school.

Anyway, taking away freedom from someone is basically kidnapping or obstruction from freedom. This school should be closed since it seems to be a normal joke.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

These south East Asians are abused by schools, work, etc on a regular basis. It’s wrong but it’s nothing new. These people basically use their life savings to come here because they don’t have enough to go to Canada, US, UK so they can make a living and send money back home. A lot of them don’t even really want to be here. Sad reality.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

In my English School in central Osaka, the president said, 'All foreigners are the same' during a managers' meeting (no foreigners were present, of course. It was leaked to us by one decent manager. I'm pretty sure the others thought it was uncontroversial and certainly didn't challenge it. And they wonder why we have no great love for the company.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

this school should change their name.

B.Y.O.C./bring your own chain/

horrible to read.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

With the school now unable to accept foreign students for five years, the agency plans to encourage the approximately 630 students currently enrolled there to transfer elsewhere.

Encourage? How about giving them full service and paying all associated costs of transferring? Encourage. Give me a break! Lock up this clown employee while you're at it.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

A ‘prank’, Jesus wept.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

"The staff member at the Nishinihon International Education Institute in the southwestern city of Fukuoka was found to have restrained the student for several hours using a chain and padlock wrapped around his belt, according to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan."

And all they got was their license taken away for five years? Criminal charges should have been brought against the man and the school (if they knew of it and did nothing) IMMEDIATELY.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Last night I went to bed and for some reason I remembered this article!!? I only have one word to describe the school and it's staff, THUGS, THUGS. THUGS. Must have been so painful for this student to watch his dream of learning Japanese and finding a job crumble at the hands of a group of THUGS.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

You can’t blame the whole school, just prosecute the teacher with kidnapping and assault.

it’s a bit odd that a school has chains and padlocks in classrooms or office.

0 ( +12 / -12 )

The nihongo school I attended, and the ones I researched before choosing that one, all required payment for the semester in advance. Once the semester is up, you can do whatever you like. Of course, your visa will be rescinded if you don't attend another approved language school. I can't even imagine the immigration dept hassle it would to keep the visa when changing schools.

I hope the agency waited until the end of the semester to close down the school, so the current students didn't lose their tuitions without receiving the lessons already paid for. There might even be some who paid for multiple semesters in advance, and will probably lose some money.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

A prank... Highly ignorant people.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Northernlife

Yes, still working there. Sadly, I don't have much option, but over the years I have stood up to the company and have carved out a niche in which I am basically untouchable.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The foreign student has to consult the lawyer's association before the school leaving action. Every action has it's cost and this one made the situation much complicated.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I'd say the nationality of the victim has something to do with that

100%, cant imagine they pulling this on a french, aussie or russian student.

Vietnamese and Filipino people have my utmost respect, from a dozen nationalities working together in a factory etc., these 2 are always the most diligent, humble and respectful of all.

 I was passive aggressively punched out of that company for not knowing my place (i.e., wanting to be treated like other, Japanese, employees).

Actually reading all these comments it only makes me glad to be out of the rat race for good!!!

I'm 100% self-employed exactly because I don't want to waste my time reading everything between the lines and worrying about back-stabbing, reputation, dangerous coworkers with extreme inferiority complex/lack of purpose in life, crazy gossips out of the blue, etc. What a bliss that is to live a simple life, respecting others and being respected!

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

Ha! And I thought I went to a tough school!

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Sarcasm alert....my advice to student...Lawyer up baby....big payday coming your way.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Shocking ! & Disgusting treatment...I would sue them for damages

Japan ain't the USA. Even if he got compensation it would be a pittance. He should just move on.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Chikatiko : it’s common knowledge if you’re aware of the workings of society here. He is spot on.

-3 ( +8 / -11 )

Nothing will happen the school will probably just get certification under a new name. Probably Chain of fools language school!

Japanese language school decertified over abuse of Vietnamese student

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

how come this guy is not in jail?

I'd say the nationality of the victim has something to do with that. Reminds me of the man in Okayama who was caught on camera repeatedly physically assaulting a Vietnamese "trainee" and got off scot free.

The school pulling a "it's just a prank, bro" makes it particularly disgusting.

-4 ( +17 / -21 )

You should try it.

No, thanks.

I'm OK.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

I have had the same experiences and wish this kind of thing were talked about more. It can be terrifying and humiliating when someone's facade of respect and civility instantly vanishes and you see the contempt that must have been hiding all along.

It also gets annoying when they categorize foreigners or OO-jin as iikagen simply based on nationality.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

What about criminal charges against his adductees?????

The cops can not do anything until the person in question files an official complaint against the guy and school.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

This Vietnamese man is either small, or has the patience of a saint.

This; Vietnamese people are passionate as hell, sometimes downright crazy, and are always up for a fight.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

So what's the reason for the restraint? Is the Vietnamese student threatening self harm? I am going to assume there's more to this story. What I know is citizens from authoritarian/totalitarian states are utterly psychologically damaged, Russian, Singaporean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cuban, Iranian...utterly destroyed psychologically by their governments.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

@Yubaru

I agree. My experience working as one of very few non-Japanese at a Japanese company is that, with westerners, there is a pretense of respect which disappears very quickly when it comes to the crunch. I was passive aggressively punched out of that company for not knowing my place (i.e., wanting to be treated like other, Japanese, employees).

The "I'll speak English with you because you're a foreigner" is one of the ways this manifests. While I don't think it's always a power move, it can very easily be. This gets especially obvious when English is not your native language (and you are routinely discriminated against because of that) and speaking it is only a way to stress the fact that you're different and don't deserve equal or dignified treatment.

With people from other Asian countries, that pretense of respect doesn't exist to begin with though, and the cruelty is more obvious. Behaviour like that described in this article can hardly be justified with the usual, convenient "island nation" excuse and needs to be backed by an unabashed superiority complex.

-6 ( +15 / -21 )

Disgusting bullying from the Japanese. Again.

-6 ( +9 / -15 )

Things will be different if the student is a american or eurpoean.! People from third world country are always bullied in many countries, not only in Japan.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

The incident occurred following a disagreement between the school and the man in his 20s over his wish to change schools.

WTF? Who does that? What year is this school living in? 1822?

With the school now unable to accept foreign students for five years, the agency plans to encourage the approximately 630 students currently enrolled there to transfer elsewhere.

I would hope so. What student would want to continue to pay that school?

well, real good timing for Kishida and his “opening of Japan” plan or non-plan.

let’s hope this makes international news and becomes viral some how.

-7 ( +10 / -17 )

Absolutely disgraceful. So much for 'omotenashi' eh? Pathetic.

-8 ( +7 / -15 )

What is with Japan and endlessly terrorizing Vietnamese people that want to live in their country?

-9 ( +21 / -30 )

I agree. My experience working as one of very few non-Japanese at a Japanese company is that, with westerners, there is a pretense of respect which disappears very quickly when it comes to the crunch. I was passive aggressively punched out of that company for not knowing my place (i.e., wanting to be treated like other, Japanese, employees).

In nearly 4 decades of living and working here, I have always been the only non-Japanese full-time/salaried employee. I also had the same experience of getting "punched out of" a company for doing what was expected, but not in the "Japanese" way. They damn knew they hired a foreigner, but wanted the foreigner to be a meek, puppy-dog mascot, and not have any brains!

> The "I'll speak English with you because you're a foreigner" is one of the ways this manifests. While I don't think it's always a power move, it can very easily be. This gets especially obvious when English is not your native language (and you are routinely discriminated against because of that) and speaking it is only a way to stress the fact that you're different and don't deserve equal or dignified treatment.

I wholeheartedly agree, it's not always a power move, and some are truly sincere, but for me at least, as I am a native English speaker, there is the added layer of the inferiority complex of using English that adds another level of stress and discrimination.

With people from other Asian countries, that pretense of respect doesn't exist to begin with though, and the cruelty is more obvious. Behaviour like that described in this article can hardly be justified with the usual, convenient "island nation" excuse and needs to be backed by an unabashed superiority complex.

I believe it is something like many Japanese, not all of course, don't see other Asian's, outwardly at least, as "gaijin" and reserve that for folks from commonly referred to as "western" countries, meaning white or black.

Other Asian's arent Japanese of course, but they aren't "gaijin" either, and the superiority complex of idiots like the one in this article here, is manifested in their behavior.

-9 ( +10 / -19 )

No mention in the article of why the Vietnamese man got into trouble with the language school.

-15 ( +13 / -28 )

@David BrentToday  

You should see what the Japanese manual laborers do to their Vietnamese coworkers on the construction site.

I doubt many know what you are talking about.

Would you care to enlighten us?

-19 ( +7 / -26 )

If you don't have facts, don't rush to any conclusions.

-24 ( +2 / -26 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites