The Japanese Connection by Naomi
It is common knowledge both in the Philippines and Japan that from the 80s onwards, the Land of the Rising Sun has been home to thousands of transgender Filipinas… Recruited as singers and dancers, these Filipino transwomen go to Japan on entertainer visa and work in the so-called “water trades” (mizu shobai), in bars, restaurants, and sex joints along with other Filipina japayuki (Literally Japan-bound; a slang term for Filipina entertainers in Japan).
Many of them were displaced when in 2005 under the pressure of the United States, the Japanese government launched a campaign against human trafficking. The policy was used as an excuse to get rid of foreign nationals working in nightclubs. Categorized as “trafficked humans”, many of them were laid off and had no other choice but to go back home. Others chose to stay in Japan illegally and risk being deported or worse imprisoned or fined for overstaying.
Because Japan has no comprehensive immigration policy to speak of as pointed out by Nobue Sensei, many migrant workers including transwomen end up powerless in the face of clean-up jobs like the 2005 policy against human trafficking. Many of the transwomen working in the water trades also end up, more often than not, being recruited by clubs and bars that are in fact fronts for organized crime groups in Japan like the Yakuza.
In the last 20 years, I know for a fact that nothing has been done by the Philippine government to protect the rights of Pinay transwomen working in Japan as entertainers. Meanwhile, I have insider information that once again Japanese recruiters are back in the Philippines looking for transgender showgirls. I hope that my Pinay transsisters this time around will start looking out for themselves and not agree to working conditions that will dehumanize them. I also hope that they will start standing up for themselves and demand legitimate recognition as Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who contribute to our foreign-remittance-dependent economy including all the rights and privileges that come with such recognition. I also hope that collectively they will work together to shatter the “bad girl” reputation of the japayuki and raise the status and improve the image of all Filipina women in Japan.
Read the full article and more from Pau’s excellent blog by clicking here>>> Pinay TG
