Health and Safety
General Safety
Medical Resources and Links
Disaster Preparedness
Emergency and Evacuation Resources
Emergency Supplies Checklist
Getting in Contact
Disaster Preparedness Handbook
Social Health Insurance
JET Accident Insurance
Mental Health
Sexual Health
Medication
Alcohol Abuse
Immigration
Status of Residence "Visa" (All 3rd Year JETs)
Travelling Abroad
Residence Administrative Procedures
Leaving JET Immigration Procedures
Important Documents
Money
Japanese Taxes
Home Country Taxes
Teaching Resources
Lesson Plans
Video Resources
Online Teaching Journals
Studying Japanese
Japanese Class
Self-Study
Category:
Kana
Kanji
Vocabulary
Grammar
Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
JLPT Prep
Resource Type:
Applications/Programs
Books
Websites
Leaving JETs
Important Documents
Immigration - Status of Residence "VISA"
Return Airfare
Moving Checklist
Shipping and Forwarding Services
Selling/Disposing Your Belongings
Sending Luggage to the Airport
Pension Refund
Procedure A
Procedure B
Working After JET
Reverse Culture Shock
JET AA
Useful Links
General Safety
Medical Resources and Links
Disaster Preparedness
Emergency and Evacuation Resources
Emergency Supplies Checklist
Getting in Contact
Disaster Preparedness Handbook
Social Health Insurance
JET Accident Insurance
Mental Health
Sexual Health
Medication
Alcohol Abuse
Immigration
Status of Residence "Visa" (All 3rd Year JETs)
Travelling Abroad
Residence Administrative Procedures
Leaving JET Immigration Procedures
Important Documents
Money
Japanese Taxes
Home Country Taxes
Teaching Resources
Lesson Plans
Video Resources
Online Teaching Journals
Studying Japanese
Japanese Class
Self-Study
Category:
Kana
Kanji
Vocabulary
Grammar
Listening
Reading
Writing
Speaking
JLPT Prep
Resource Type:
Applications/Programs
Books
Websites
Leaving JETs
Important Documents
Immigration - Status of Residence "VISA"
Return Airfare
Moving Checklist
Shipping and Forwarding Services
Selling/Disposing Your Belongings
Sending Luggage to the Airport
Pension Refund
Procedure A
Procedure B
Working After JET
Reverse Culture Shock
JET AA
Useful Links
General Safety
Although Japan is perceived as a safe country, and in many ways it is, JETs are occasionally the victims of crimes. JETs have been victims of theft, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Please take the same precautions in Japan that you would take in your home country. Take notice of local kobans (police boxes), and consider the possibility that your wallet or purse could be stolen—don’t carry excessive amounts of cash, make copies of cards, and put your phone in a pocket instead of your purse. Because most JETs stand out, certain crimes, like stalking and harassment, do occur. For instance, some JETs have had creepy phone calls. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you experience something similar.
Because no one is safe from harassment, both men and women should take some basic precautions to avoid uncomfortable situations as well as make preparations for dealing with a possible confrontation.
Some general tips are:
1. Bear in mind that you can become a target for harassment in Japan if you look and/or act differently than Japanese people.
2. Japanese people are not accustomed to seeing bare midriffs and shoulders, so if you expose these body parts be aware that you may receive unwanted attention.
3. If you are sexually harassed in public, a good word to say loudly is “chikan,“ which means “pervert.” This will hopefully bring others to your aid and make the harasser embarrassed.
4. If you are harassed in the workplace, be assertive. Make sure that the individual understands that you do not like the behavior.
5. If you feel like you cannot confront the person yourself, confide in your supervisor, your PA, or somebody else you trust. Your supervisor has the responsibility to respond to the situation as quickly as possible.
6. Do not feel obligated to talk to someone who approaches you if they make you feel uncomfortable.
7. Some Japanese people may be very excited to meet you and want to invite you to their home or ask you to help them with their English. It is best to meet someone in a safe, public place at first. Do not go to the home of someone you don’t know very well.
Especially for women, there is a danger of being assaulted on trains or while walking home at night. Some of the most beautiful places can be dangerous at night; remain especially alert if you are inclined to go for midnight walks by yourself. Riding a bicycle is a safer way to go out. If you have to walk home late at night, try to walk with a group of friends. Otherwise, consider a taxi; it is worth the money to stay safe. When walking alone at night, walk at a quick pace and pay attention to your surroundings. If you are leaving school when it is dark and don’t feel safe, ask your supervisor or a friend at school to give you a lift home or walk you to the train station.
The attitude of the police towards sexual harassment may be difficult to understand. Police sometimes regard approaches by Japanese men to foreign women, with whom they are unacquainted, as a harmless attempt to ask for a date or a genuine concern for the woman’s safety. If you have been harassed or assaulted, please bear in mind that there are resources to support you, especially your PA.
Domestic Violence
There are resources for anyone suffering from domestic violence in Japan. There is a daily consultation service in Japanese offered by Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto YWCA-APT provides phone counseling in a variety of languages on many topics including domestic violence. There are government facilities where you can stay temporarily, if necessary, and it is possible to get a restraining order or an order for your abuser to leave your place of residence. Your PA can help find you assistance.
Resources:
Because no one is safe from harassment, both men and women should take some basic precautions to avoid uncomfortable situations as well as make preparations for dealing with a possible confrontation.
Some general tips are:
1. Bear in mind that you can become a target for harassment in Japan if you look and/or act differently than Japanese people.
2. Japanese people are not accustomed to seeing bare midriffs and shoulders, so if you expose these body parts be aware that you may receive unwanted attention.
3. If you are sexually harassed in public, a good word to say loudly is “chikan,“ which means “pervert.” This will hopefully bring others to your aid and make the harasser embarrassed.
4. If you are harassed in the workplace, be assertive. Make sure that the individual understands that you do not like the behavior.
5. If you feel like you cannot confront the person yourself, confide in your supervisor, your PA, or somebody else you trust. Your supervisor has the responsibility to respond to the situation as quickly as possible.
6. Do not feel obligated to talk to someone who approaches you if they make you feel uncomfortable.
7. Some Japanese people may be very excited to meet you and want to invite you to their home or ask you to help them with their English. It is best to meet someone in a safe, public place at first. Do not go to the home of someone you don’t know very well.
Especially for women, there is a danger of being assaulted on trains or while walking home at night. Some of the most beautiful places can be dangerous at night; remain especially alert if you are inclined to go for midnight walks by yourself. Riding a bicycle is a safer way to go out. If you have to walk home late at night, try to walk with a group of friends. Otherwise, consider a taxi; it is worth the money to stay safe. When walking alone at night, walk at a quick pace and pay attention to your surroundings. If you are leaving school when it is dark and don’t feel safe, ask your supervisor or a friend at school to give you a lift home or walk you to the train station.
The attitude of the police towards sexual harassment may be difficult to understand. Police sometimes regard approaches by Japanese men to foreign women, with whom they are unacquainted, as a harmless attempt to ask for a date or a genuine concern for the woman’s safety. If you have been harassed or assaulted, please bear in mind that there are resources to support you, especially your PA.
Domestic Violence
There are resources for anyone suffering from domestic violence in Japan. There is a daily consultation service in Japanese offered by Kyoto Prefecture and Kyoto YWCA-APT provides phone counseling in a variety of languages on many topics including domestic violence. There are government facilities where you can stay temporarily, if necessary, and it is possible to get a restraining order or an order for your abuser to leave your place of residence. Your PA can help find you assistance.
Resources: