TOKYO -- Japan first started actively accepting nurses from other countries more than 11 years ago, when the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Indonesia went into effect in July 2008.
- 【Related】Japan's new working visa sees only 219 holders in first 6 months
- 【Related】 Local scheme in Aichi Pref. spearheads 'buddy system' to help foreign trainees settle in
- 【Related】Gov't never examined employers whose foreign trainees fled due to low pay: official
But even though the Japanese government is going ahead with plans to increase its number of foreign workers, a majority of the nurses accepted as part of the "first intake" in 2008 have already returned home.
I went to investigate why so many of these people couldn't put down roots in Japan, and consider what issues there are for foreign nationals to continue working here.
At the Kawakita general hospital in Tokyo's Suginami Ward, Mohamad Yusup, 38, an Indonesian nurse, moves briskly around the hospital ward. "I'm preparing your IV drip now," he says in fluent Japanese to an inpatient. His smile never falters.
He's now in his eighth year working at a mid-level position at the hospital, and also does work teaching young employees. But the road that led him to this point was not always easy.
He came to this country in 2008, after accumulating practical experience as a nurse in his home country of Indonesia, which has a good relationship with Japan. He thought he would be able to improve his career chances by coming here to learn about the latest developments in care.
But what awaited him was changing sheets and other duties usually fulfilled by a nursing assistant. He said he was shocked to realize he wasn't going to be using his nursing skills.
To work as a nurse in Japan, a person must have over two years of working experience in their home country, and within the four years of residency they are permitted in Japan, they must pass a national nursing test in Japanese. Yusup came to Japan with only an incomplete explanation of what it would be like.
He managed to pass the test in his fourth year. The issue was the Japanese language. At work, he used to keep a dictionary in his pocket for checking words he didn't understand. He would study for the test late at night, and his co-workers helped him too. Looking back on that time, he said, "The door (to a new life) opened little by little."
Even after he had memorized medical terminology in Japanese, there were still many words used in everyday life that he didn't know. When he was helping give meals to patients, they would ask him what it was, and he wouldn't be able to say the name of the food. As he was no longer treated as a "guest" at work, he refined his Japanese skills through teaching new employees and by helping to organize work parties.
His primary concern now is what to do about the education of his two sons, who are in elementary and junior high school. His younger son was born in Japan, and his family has now fit into Japanese society to the point that that they tell him they don't want to go back to Indonesia.
But he says that, in case they ever do return, he wants them to thoroughly understand their religion, Islam, and to be able to speak Indonesian. He says he thinks also about options where they are educated entirely in Indonesia.
Like Yusup, Lusy Fitriani, 40, is a member of the first intake. She works at Tobu Chiiki Hospital in the capital's Katsushika Ward. She describes herself as being fortunate in where she was placed. She too was simply told that she would be working as a nurse in Japan, and there were no detailed explanations before arriving here.
But she said that a hospital in Kanagawa Prefecture, just south of Tokyo, which was her first workplace in Japan as a nursing assistant, enthusiastically supported her efforts to get the qualifications. She was able to secure time in the hospital's library to study twice a week, and staff in charge of teaching educated her in Japanese and how to write official documents.
But the reality is that this kind of support is based entirely on the working environment people find themselves in. Reflecting on the three years before she passed the test, Fitriani said, "My nursing skills went back to zero." She added, "I want support systems to be established that help people pass those tests in a shorter time."
Between fiscal 2008 and fiscal 2018, up to 1,300 people from Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, which all have EPAs with Japan, have come to work here as nurses. But current to the end of fiscal 2018, just 413 of them had passed the national tests. The highest passing rate was in fiscal 2017, when 17.7% of applicants were successful.
Overall figures including Japanese people show pass rates hovering around 90%, indicating a huge disparity between foreign nationals and residents. There are also people who have gone back to their home countries without taking the tests, showing how the potential of those who have made the effort to come to Japan is not being utilized.
Kazumi Murakumo, a PhD student at the University of Tsukuba, is researching the EPA between Japan and Indonesia after working at the Indonesian Embassy in Japan.
According to her findings, of the 104 nurses who came to Japan as part of the first intake, 90% of them have already left the country, and just six of them still work at the hospital where they were originally dispatched.
A group of nine second intake Indonesians who have returned home reportedly all said that they first found out they would start as nursing assistants upon arriving in Japan. Many of those who couldn't maintain their enthusiasm about working in Japan had their time here treated as a blank in their careers upon returning to work in their home countries. Part of this is down to the Japanese government, which doesn't issue documents such as certifications stating these people worked as nursing assistants.
There are also issues with the way the government is accepting foreign workers. Murakumo said, "Although these are agreements between national governments, the acceptance of these workers is left up to individual medical institutions, with no model for professional development.
Depending on the prefecture, some have hospitals that are engaged in Japanese education schemes and other support systems, but detailed plans are not set out by authorities.
When asked about a model case that has worked, Murakumo cited Iwasa Hospital in the central Japan city of Gifu, where first intake nurses still work. Among the special support the hospital provided, it helped with housing contracts, accompanied these nurses in training to obtain driving licenses, and extended all kinds of general living support.
Iwasa Hospital offers guidance on obtaining qualifications to practice as a nurse too by showing specific goals they should aim for, and providing them with time and a place to study. Junko Ikawa, 70, a former head nurse at the hospital who used to plan birthday parties and trips to local areas with the foreign nurses, said, "By getting involved in their lives outside of work, we wanted to prevent them from losing motivation."
(Japanese original by Go Kumagai, Lifestyle and Medical News Department)
FAQs
Become a nurse in the same way as the Japanese.
The first way for a foreigner to become a nurse in Japan is the same as for a Japanese. After graduating from a government-recognized nursing school or nursing training school, you can become a nurse by passing the national examination and obtaining a nursing license.
What are nurses called in Japan? ›
A2:You need to take the national examination for "Kangoshi(nurse)" given by Japanese and pass the examination.
Can you nurse in Japan as a American? ›
Foreign nurses who wish to work in Japan are required to pass the licensing examination and obtain a Japanese nursing license.
Can I be a nurse in Japan without speaking Japanese? ›
Japanese language Skills
The first thing you must know about the knowledge and skills of a nurse in Japan is the knowledge of the Japanese language. This skill is compulsory to find nursing jobs in Japan, as you will be supposed to pass a nursing Japanese test before starting working as a nurse.
How much do foreign nurses make in Japan? ›
A: The salary range for nurses in Japan varies depending on experience, education level, and location. The average salary for a nurse in Japan is around 3.5 million yen per year.
Does the US accept foreign nurses? ›
You're eligible to work in the US if you're a Registered Nurse in your home country. Contact the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) to see if you're qualified. When you know where in the US you'd like to work, you can apply to that state's Board of Nursing and take the NCLEX-RN.
What is the highest paid nurse called? ›
What is the highest-paid nurse? Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists! Earning $195,610 annually, CRNAs earn significantly more than any other type of nurse or nursing specialty.
What is a female nurse called in Japan? ›
The enactment of the Nurse Regulations in 1915 resulted in a greater public recognition of the Japanese term “kangofu,” literally meaning “nursing women,” for nurses.
Does Japan pay nurses well? ›
According to Salary Explorer, the average salary of a nurse in Japan is about 418,000 JPY per month. While the lowest salary is about 196,000 JPY, the highest salary is about 661,000 JPY per month.
How many hours does a nurse work in Japan? ›
Approximately 83.0% of the participants in this study had a two-shift rotation, and their daily working hours were 9 hours 52 minutes during day shifts and 17 hours 08 minutes during night shifts.
According to health ministry surveys, there were 63,000 male nurses working in Japan in 2012, which is two-and-a-half times the number ten years ago and six times the number 20 years ago. Nevertheless, this number only accounts for 6.2 percent of all the nurses in Japan.
Does Japan have a nursing shortage? ›
According to the report, 18.1 percent of the population will be older adults, and about 320,000 nursing workers will be lacking in Japan in 2025 when the country's first-generation baby boomers enter the late elderly stage.
Can an American get a job in Japan? ›
To work in Japan as an American citizen, you will need to apply for a special working visa. If this is your first time applying for a job in Japan, contact the Japanese embassy in your country to get more information about the visas available for US citizens and start preparing your application.
Can you live in Japan and only speak English? ›
English is in common use in Japan with Chinese and Korean also becoming more common meaning that you can certainly get around without using Japanese. This is most true in the big cities and in areas frequented by foreign visitors. But as you move outside of the cities, foreign languages will quickly dry-up.
Is it hard to live in Japan if you don t speak Japanese? ›
If you speak English and don't mind living in Japan's English-speaking, gaijin-friendly bubble, having little or no Japanese can be manageable most of the time. You'll still be able to meet new people, experience unique moments, and navigate much of Japan just fine.
Which job has highest salary in Japan for foreigners? ›
Highest Paying Jobs in Japan for Foreigners
| Industry or Field | Average Salary Per Year |
|---|
| Finance | ¥9M to ¥12.8M |
| Banking | ¥11M to ¥13.8M |
| Law | ¥8.73M to ¥18.4M |
| Aviation | ¥7.81M to ¥12.9M |
1 more rowMar 13, 2023
Switzerland: Nurses in Switzerland have some of the highest salaries in the world, with an average annual salary of around $85000. Canada: Nurses in Canada earn an average annual salary of around $75000. Germany: Nurses in Germany have an average salary of around $65000.
Are foreigners paid well in Japan? ›
According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's latest “Basic Wage Structure Statistical Survey 2021”, the average salary in Japan for foreigners is 2,737,200 yen annual income, or 228,100 yen per month.
How much are foreign nurses paid in US? ›
International Nurse Salary
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay |
|---|
| Top Earners | $147,500 | $12,291 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 |
| Average | $80,622 | $6,718 |
| 25th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 |
Registered Nurses with this certification earn +39.73% more than the average base salary, which is $43.96 per hour.
The national average salary for a Registered Nurse is $94,673 in United States. Filter by location to see Registered Nurse salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 1,55,491 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Registered Nurse employees. How accurate does $94,673 look to you?
Which state pays nurses the most? ›
1. California
With an average salary of $124,000 annually, the Golden State takes the prize for being the highest-paying state for registered nurses.
Who are the highest to lowest paid nurses? ›
Highest Paid Nursing Jobs:
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist – $202,000.
- Nursing Administrator – $120,000.
- Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse – $120,000.
- General Nurse Practitioner – $118,000.
- Critical Care Nurse – $118,000.
- Certified Nurse Midwife – $114,000.
- Informatics Nurse – $102,000.
- Clinical Nurse Specialist – $95,000.
Highest-paying states for registered nurses
California tops our list of the highest-paying states, where registered nurses make $124,000 per year on average. Following it is Hawaii, at $106,530, and Oregon at $98,6300.
What are wet nurses called? ›
A wet nurse is a woman who breastfeeds and cares for another's child. Wet nurses are employed if the mother dies, or if she is unable or chooses not to nurse the child herself. Wet-nursed children may be known as "milk-siblings", and in some cultures, the families are linked by a special relationship of milk kinship.
What do you call a male nurse? ›
What do you call a male nurse? There is no gender-specific name or title for a male nurse. Women and men in the field of nursing are all called “nurse.”
What is a senior female nurse called? ›
The chief nurse, in other words the person in charge of nursing in a hospital and the head of the nursing staff, is also known as the Chief Nursing officer or Chief Nursing Executive, senior nursing officer, matron, nursing officer, or clinical nurse manager in UK English; the head nurse or director of nursing in US ...
Which countries pay nurses the least? ›
In Finland, Latvia, France, Switzerland, and Lithuania, nurses are paid less than the country's average wage. The ratio of a nurse's salary to the average wage was 0.91 in France and 0.88 in Switzerland. Ratios were higher in Spain (1.5), the Czech Republic (1.42), and Poland (1.36).
What pays well in Japan? ›
A. Highest paying professions
| Job Title | Average Salary/ Month |
|---|
| Chief Executive Officer | 1,220,000 JPY (8,987 USD) |
| Chief Financial Officer | 1,150,000 JPY (8,472 USD) |
| Attorney | 1,080,000 JPY (7,956 USD) |
| Dietitian | 1,020,000 JPY (7,514 USD) |
1 more rowMay 17, 2023
Singaporean nurses and medical technologists are the highest paid according to the study, earning an average of ₱236,000 and ₱210,000 a month respectively.
Although the legal recommendation for working hours in Japan is 40 hours per week, historically, many Japanese employers have required their employees to work as much as 80 hours of overtime per month. This has led to the Japanese term “karoshi”, which translates to “death by overwork”.
How many years is nursing school in Japan? ›
In Japan, the course is 4 years, compared to our 3 years. The Japanese approach has a far greater focus on academic activities with less time undertaking clinical placements. It was interesting to learn that Japanese student nurses only need to complete 12 months clinical placement.
What is the role of a nurse in Japan? ›
Today, nursing focuses on caring for patients, observing the course of illness, assessing functional status, reporting the patient's condition, health promotion and disease prevention, teaching about health and illness, care management strategies, coordinating community resources to assist families in the care of their ...
Who do male nurses marry? ›
Male registered nurses are most likely to marry female or male registered nurses. Nurse practitioners and midwives are most likely to marry miscellaneous managers, physicians and surgeons.
Are male nurses respected? ›
Male nurses often face discrimination and may not be respected as equals by their peers or superiors.
How much does a nurse make in Japan? ›
Salary Recap
The average pay for a Registered Nurse is JPY 7,630,116 a year and JPY 3,668 an hour in Japan. The average salary range for a Registered Nurse is between JPY 5,318,191 and JPY 9,285,851. On average, a Bachelor's Degree is the highest level of education for a Registered Nurse.
Does Japan accept foreign workers? ›
Full-Time vs.
In most cases, you'll need special permits from the government to work legally as a foreign national in Japan. In fact, even if you already have residential status, this can still apply since it will depend on your residency's limitations and specific category.
Can a foreigner work in the medical field in Japan? ›
Doctors who are from the U.S., the U.K., France, and Singapore can practice in Japan without a Japanese medical license. But their country must have an agreement with Japan and these doctors can only see a patient from their home country, not foreign ones or Japanese patients.
Which country is best for international nurses? ›
- Luxembourg. Luxembourg is one of the top highest-paying countries for nurses. ...
- Germany. If you are thinking about which country is best for nursing jobs, Germany is one of the highest-paying countries for nurses. ...
- United States. ...
- Canada. ...
- Virgin Islands. ...
- Australia. ...
- Switzerland.
While the Japanese Government is the ultimate authority on visa matters, we would like to present some general information on visas for U.S. citizens to aid in your planning. U.S. citizens without a work visa cannot work in Japan. Here are useful links: VISA/Residing in Japan by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
To work in Japan as an American citizen, you will need to apply for a special working visa. If this is your first time applying for a job in Japan, contact the Japanese embassy in your country to get more information about the visas available for US citizens and start preparing your application.
Who is the most foreign worker in Japan? ›
Foreign Workers by Industry
| Manufacturing | 485,128 | 26.6% |
|---|
| Information & Communications | 75,954 | 4.2% |
| Medical Care/Welfare | 74,339 | 4.1% |
| Academic Research, Specialized/Technical Services | 64,261 | 3.5% |
| Agriculture/Forestry/Fisheries | 48,233 | 2.6% |
4 more rowsMar 16, 2023
