By: Eleonora Adara
Edited by: Mudra Srinivasan
Retrieved from https://creativecommons.org
In the midst of the pandemic, Japan’s border policies have been in a flux. Earlier, on November 5, Japan announced its ease of border restrictions – allowing foreign students, business travelers, and technical interns to enter the country. It was good news for people from all over the world who had been eagerly waiting to enter Japan. Since then, “APU had already begun procedures for the entry of international students as well as the preparations for welcome after entry,” said Vice President of APU, Hiroshi Yoneyama, in an interview with APU Times. In partnership with JTB, a Japanese travel agency, APU launched its Online Immigration Support System (AMARYS) on November 25. Students were enthusiastic about clearing the bureaucratic hurdles and the prospect of entering Japan. Those with eligible COEs (Certificate of Eligibility) have already utilized AMARYS by entering their information and essential documents to apply for screening certificates that are necessary for them to obtain a visa. Many have immediately started on their paperwork.
“I was excited to go to Japan. I wanted to be proactive in doing whatever I needed to do to get there,” explained Aaron Seah, a 3rd-semester Singaporean student who hasn’t been able to enter Japan. Yet, things took a turn. Just a few days after AMARYS was launched, the Japanese government announced that it will be suspending new foreign entries from all countries and regions for one month, as of November 30th. “Due to this measure, international students who were scheduled to enter the country are once again unable to enter,” confirmed the Vice President of APU, Hiroshi Yoneyama. Application and issuance of screening certificates have also been suspended by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) for the time being.
Japan’s entry ban has come as a “great shock and setback” to APU, and certainly to other educational institutions in the country as well. Even more so, since the government announced on December 21 that the restriction is to be extended for “an unspecified period of time.” Up to now, the restriction applies to all new foreign entries from all over the world with no exception. This includes students, business travelers, and technical interns, who were previously exempted from the ban. “It was absolutely devastating when I first heard the news. It was really discouraging for me, especially as a student,” expressed an Indonesian student, who hasn’t been able to enter Japan. “As a foreigner, I think it’s quite irrational. Because everything that you have worked for is all washed down the drain,” said Seah, referring to the previous efforts he has made to complete immigration paperwork. “I didn’t expect them to close the borders just because of the Omicron variant. They had only been open for less than a month,” he continued.
According to APU Vice President Yoneyama, there are currently 843 APU students waiting to
enter Japan, excluding Fall 2021 entrants. These students come from all parts of the world, with different intakes to APU, and therefore different COE issuance dates. Some of those whose COEs were issued after March 2021 haven’t gotten a chance to apply for the necessary paperwork when the borders first reopened earlier in November. “We weren’t even included in the schedule (to apply for screening certificates). So if they close the borders now, when are we supposed to go?” questioned Isabeau Gast, a 5th-semester transfer student from France. “We don’t know what to expect, and that’s crazy,” she continued.
In the meantime, Vice President Yoneyama encourages students to continue taking classes and other activities online. “APU conducts various exchange projects and extracurricular activities online,” he said. “If you make friendships and network through these activities, you will be able to start your APU life smoothly after entering Japan. I would like you to actively build relationships and interact with each other even in the current environment,” he went on.
However, this is easier said than done. “It’s much more difficult to reach out to people and to make friends,” said the Indonesian student. It may be convenient to be able to take part in various online activities. But inevitably, in online settings, students cannot be fully involved in said activities. “We’re paying a lot of money for this university, and attending college online would be a waste,” sighed Leonna Desty, a 3rd-semester transfer student from the US. “We’re spending thousands and thousands of Euros for nothing, actually,” said Gast. “It’s really upsetting,” said the Indonesian student.
Having to do everything online while being stranded in their own countries has deprived students of numerous things. “We can't meet our friends, we can't meet our professors, we can't have classes on campus, we can't become TAs, we can't do baitos, we can't explore Japan...We can't even experience the Japanese environment that we wanted,” listed the Indonesian student. Possessing a valid visa and a Japanese residency card are just a couple of the requirements for foreigners to set up a Japanese bank account. This, therefore, explains why these students are unable to apply for jobs in the country.
Not to mention those who experience significant time differences. Like Gast and Desty, for instance, who haven’t seemed to be getting enough rest. “I have to wake up in the middle of the night, and I can barely stay awake in class,” explained Gast. As for circle activities, some particular activities just aren’t possible to be conducted online. “The clubs that I’m interested in – they’re not things you can do online, you know?” said Desty.
It surely hasn’t been easy for these students, and it can get very frustrating sometimes. “I spent a lot of time and energy trying to get to Japan. I worked really hard and I just feel betrayed by this country because it doesn’t want me,” said Gast with a smile, ironically. Similarly, Desty mentioned that she has turned down a lot of opportunities in her country due to Japan’s obscure border policies. “Whenever those opportunities come up, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m going to Japan, so I can’t.’ And then the next day, Japan drops the news on you that they’re closing the borders again,” she told us. “It’s like a toxic relationship. I’m doing everything for Japan,” she laughed.
These mountains of frustration have also been taking a toll on students mentally. “It's like a bird being stuck in a cage,” illustrated the student from Indonesia. “Being trapped in a room, and seeing your classmates in pictures through a screen is very different from seeing them in real life,” explained Seah. “I keep going like everything is normal, but I'm not happy. I feel like I am not in the condition to do my best, and it’s a pity,” said Gast. “It hurts me so much. Because every time you think you’ll be able to go (to Japan), they just close the borders again. It’s like a slap on my face for having expectations,” expressed Desty.
APU students who haven’t been able to enter Japan hope that the university “conveys information as quickly as possible, whenever they are available,” stated Seah. Currently, APU seems to be doing just that. Vice President Yoneyama clarified that they are “currently collecting information on procedures from government agencies and will share it with awaiting students as soon as accurate information becomes available.”
Yoneyama also mentioned that “the Japan Association of Private Universities and Colleges, which APU is a member of, had been petitioning the government to ease immigration restrictions.” These requests were sent to several Japanese Ministries, including the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the Japan Association of Private Universities has not yet decided its position in regards to the current restrictions due to the Omicron variant. Many similar petitions and movements have been circling around online as well. “When I see a petition and I agree with its propositions, I try to sign it,” said Gast. “It makes me feel good just to have the impression to be heard in such a situation. That’s why I think people have to talk about it, to make sure that Japan hears about our situation” she explained.
As months pass by, students are getting more and more concerned about when they can finally be able to enter Japan. “It's very worrying, considering that I can’t even experience the university life that I have expected and paid for,” said the Indonesian student. Questions such as, “Why can’t we go?”, “Why won’t they let us in?”, and so many more, constantly occupy and cloud their minds.
As of now, there has been no news as to when Japan is going to reopen its borders for education and business purposes. But as soon as they do, students who have been waiting to enter Japan are ready and committed to following all the regulations and health protocols from the Japanese government. “When we come to Japan, we’re going to quarantine and take all the precautions to not endanger anybody’s health, and our own health at the same time,” clarified Desty. At this point, it seems like these students would do just about anything to be able to experience university life directly in Japan. “Hopefully, Omicron will not affect Japan that badly, and the Japanese government will be confident enough to open the borders in the near future," said the student, optimistically.
Indeed, hope is what keeps these students going. Because frankly, it might be the only thing they can hold on to right now.
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Photo captions:
Photo 1: Vice President Hiroshi Yoneyama (retrieved from APU website)
Photo 2: Illustration of online setting (retrieved from https://creativecommons.org)
Photo 3: Isabeau Gast, APU student taking classes from France (courtesy of Gast)