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  • Also there is a "Bust-a-illegal-gaijin"-hotlin­e in Japan. What is wrong with that, is that many people abuse it against legal gaijins and then the Immigration people might or might not come visit you in very rough manner (prepared for a fight). I'd just call a police if I saw a mob of Japanese men behind my door though :3

  • What a dull immigration story!

  • So many people exaggerate their negative experiences here in Japan to unbelievable extents. It's terrible. I agree that the Japanese Immigration System is corrupt and a scam. But, aren't they all? Instead of being a cooperative integrated international record keeping service of humanitarians as it was originally intended for the benefit of mankind as it advanced into the modern age of global transportation systems. In the years to come, I hope it does so. One Earth, no boundaries. Peace & Love.

  • transsexuals and elephants?.....now that's interesting.

  • thanks for the information on visas and the interesting story!

  • these days you don´t have to leave the country anymore to change your visa status.

  • yeah, this is a very common practice now with westerners. (Asians been doing it for a while).

    Companys will even help cheat the red tape for you now;If you get their vouch before u head over...Coarse you ever get caught working ur going to get deported and """banned""" from Japan for life lol, I also recommend the Korea thing. (80% of the people in the know do this). Things were easier back in the day b4 Schwarzenegger got the Ambassador in trouble. Canadians have much better options now then us

  • Love your videos, keep em coming

  • Victor, you're not an apologist; you're a rationalist. No, I don't believe the guy - as a 'journalist' it sounds like he mashed up a bunch of stories. I find the posts on the fg link are rather tame compared to anything that touches the Dokdo/Takeshima/Senkaku/Diayo/­Kurils debacles. I've seen reruns of Fantasy Island too. Cheers

  • 'BOSS THE PLANE' AHH!!! Now I feel old. thanks.

  • He's a Canadian.... What do you expect?

  • You're one funny dude, love the videos. I live in Kyoto City. Can you do a vlog about having children in Japan or something like?

  • @Gimmeaflakeman GODDAMMIT! ("The Big Lebowski" Walter voice)

    Why can`t you just do this:

    /watch?v=kv1AKWSzDS8&feature=f­vsr

  • @nishtabre

    You'd like me to make videos against a green screen that repeat other people's info? Or you want me to get a tan. I tell you what, YOU make a video and send it to your friends. This issue is important, but it's so insane that I'm not going to join the bandwagon and rail against something that is never going to pass.

  • @Gimmeaflakeman

    hahaha, Sir, I love your spirit!

    Seriously tho, me and my friends already have an ANTI-ACTA CAMPAIGN CHANNEL!

    Just please, please, do a research on the treaty, read the news, you`ll see why we`re fighting it all over the place!

  • I've not read all the comments so this may have been said already, but just so you know the reentry visa/stamp is being discontinued as of July I believe. Currently it is still 3,000 for a single, and 6,000 yen for a multiple.

    @TheBleachAmv I dont think that would effect your chances of getting onto the JET programme, but do remember you need a degree to come and teach English in Japan (Japanese Law, I believe). They would probably be interested to see how you found the experience.

  • ah, well it too late for me... I just got internet again... when will you be having another silly prize vid thing? ^^?

    Thanks much for the vid, that was quite interesting! ;)

  • @MANNY100123

    Check the next vid!

  • Also what's Japan's stance on being self employed (e.g legally signing up a brand or organisation name and setting it base in Japan post your departure)

  • @TheBleachAmv

    I was on a self-sponsored visa. I know others who've done it too. FIRST you need to get a visa that allows you to work, then prove that you can support yourself and show where your income is coming from. Then apply. It wasn't that hard. I've met rich guys who've come here to do work too and they've set up shop. Basically the rule in most countries is that if you've got enough investment $ you can set up shop.

  • I'm 16 and this is my biggest worry. Especially the private company's involvement in this as it gives a 'black water'/yakuza feel (an exaggeration I'm sure). While I do feel for the guy I think that if he was caught he may not have been very sly at keeping his social goings on a secret. I plan to go on a gap year and teach free lance English to somehow support me (I'll be broke immediately). Will this effect my post Uni chance at doing for instance the JET program?

  • I was allowed a one time, reentry pass that I was able to get at the airport. They said that they allow it only once per person though...kinda like as an emergency pass. (I didn't know either...)

  • @starletshay

    Cool. I'm sure a lot of that is subjective. You look very presentable, so... and you speak Japanese so... you know?

  • DONT DISS THE CANADIANS! EH LOL

  • My wife and I got tickets to visit her family in March, about 2grand each so just over $4000 for both of us. Tokyo and Mie, and will swing through Kyoto and such. I keep telling my wife I might not want to leave and come back to the states hehe.

  • If I hop over to Japan from Korea, how much (in $ or Y) do you think I'd need to get started? Also, do you think Tokyo is so much more expensive that I should avoid it, or will the (probably) higher wages one would earn there even things out?

    This is my 14th month in Korea but I'm pretty bored by things culturally. It IS, however, very easy to save money and practically throw it away in Korea. In Japan I imagine finances are a headache.

  • @tomsega

    I would come over with $3,000 and I would check out Tokyo before deciding where you want to live.

  • $6000? First class or did tickets go up that much?? Last time I looked round trip was like $1000 for one person? Really interesting though, thanks. Did you use priceline? lol

  • This was actually an interesting vlog. I've been in a somewhat similar situation to the guy you talk about in the video, and I really just felt bad about having overstayed instead of being angry with the authorities. I hope he doesn't get a life ban though, because that would be harsh and would be a sort of a psychological scar for him.

  • 104?? O.O

  • im 104???

  • I put a comment just because you told me to, HAIL BIKUTA SENSEI!

  • am I comment 104? Hahaha :) Yay!

  • I just heard a story of a friend who wanted to go (from Germany) to Canada for a working holiday year thing, and he nearly couldn't go because some permission was missing and no one told him about that (he had a stop in NY, and you need some kind of permission to be able to go there even though it's just because your plane is having a stop there). At least it somehow worked out for him :)

    BTW, will you shoot as at the end of every video from now on? :D

  • @TheNimop

    Shooting at the end of every video...? Hmmmmm..... good idea!

  • 6000 yen plane ticket!? Yes please!

  • The immigration system is screwed up in some sense, but the Gajin Gulag story is a bit suspcious. It boils down to violation of his visa status and being upset he was caught. And the analogy with the 311 Tsunami was down right idiotic.

  • Now this is very informative, thank you!!

  • Hey GFM: when can we see GImmeaflakeMAN, GimmeaflakeDOGGIE and GimmeaflakeWOMAN all together on your videos? 

  • Hi, what are we going to do about SOPA and PIPA? Please, sign the petition, ppl! Stay human!

  • Commented. Rated. Licked. ♥

  • Fantasy_Fuh-reak-ing_Island!

    I'm 24, but I have an old soul. ;P

  • Do i win?

  • well when I come to Japan, I already know it will be for looong. So I would wanna have a working visa right away, obviously, its very hard to get a job, completely over internet and phone. also dont want to become an english teacher.

    so I hope the new residency management system will make things easier.

    I don't even wanna pay a trip to korea just for the damn visa, thats ridiculous.

  • @AlchemicTempest

    Apparently you don't have to leave the country anymore.

  • Hi Victor, I was just wondering what major you had when you were at NYU?? :D

  • "Gulag", sound like a hungarian soup, which, by the way, is delicious.

    Do not forget the fotos, caramba!!

  • Great video, as always. It would be interesting to hear your opinion on the guy stating that the reason for his deportation was for his critical coverage of fukushima (though I have a hard time believing this).

  • I accidentally overstayed my visa a few years ago and was arrested on the way to the Tokyo immigration centre.

    The cops really patted themselves on the back for catching the equivalent of a serial rapist...

    Luckily, after an hour of interrogation, the paperwork I had on me convinced them ---I had to sign a form stating I was going straight to the immigration centre (duh) and they put me in a cab.

    One of the cops told me had I not been an English teacher, it would not have been so easy...

  • @theBeatoffs

    Pretty amazing story!

  • Thank you for the video. Thumbs up.

  • $5900?? Really? Were you traveling first class? That doesn't make any sense, I've traveled to every continent and have never payed anything near that price, not even half.

  • @yasashii89

    Not first class, but yeah, insanely expensive!

  • Transsexuals and elephants?

  • Wow if i got deported from Japan I would be embarrassed and saddened.. Japan is my favorite country, I love visiting it, and I hope to live there someday, instead of a 1-2 week vacation. Thanks for the info though I will be sure to have everything I need now lol. :)

  • DEE plane DEE plane all well guess I'm an old fart lol... as surreal it may seem :)

  • Follow the rules or pay the price...

  • @mah0aga awww he tries his best, don't say that

  • Damn, those are some expensive tickets. Oh and nice visual effects :D just don't go crazy lol.

  • You apparently believe in the reliability of the press to be honest.....you must learn the truth now!

    Fudging is a common press way of getting headlines then not admitting to a outright lie.

  • Do you have a gas heater running?

  • @valcan321

    Good ear. Despite that, the room was still cold.

  • @Gimmeabreakman Is it just hard to keep the rooms warm or something? Always wondered about that figured most japanese would use central heating and air. BUT i guess maybe not i know the yankees here mostly dont use AC that much.......down here in the south its kind of a must for most lol.

  • What's the prize?

  • re-enter visa...

    I´m taking a note of this little thing...

  • I love your videos! They are always entertaining and interesting, and I always learn stuff. ^^

  • why not at least throw up a video telling the others subscribers to sub here as you're making all your vids here. there are probably people missing out who wanna see you..

  • @InnocenceExperience

    Not going to throw up a video JUST to say that...but yeah, next time I make a video on that channel, I should remind them of this channel. 

  • okay i looked, its 32,000 vs 46,000 but still...

  • Victor, don't you have another channel with like twice as many subscribers? yet you make all your videos on this channel.

  • I'm told to leave a comment and suddenly I've got nothing to say

  • gotta love this man! funny, with a lot of substance... Victor they should hire you to host the Golden Globes... love ya.

  • There are real and serious reports about mistreatment of detained people by immigration officials in Japan, so I don't find that part too hard to believe. Of course it's possible that he has exaggerated things, but in general reports about human rights violations of non-citizens aren't just pure fantasy. I suppose the real question is why was he on the computer watch list in the first place.

  • My only personal experiences with Japanese immigration officials have been as a tourist and they were nothing but possible. But it's my understanding that if you don't follow the rules then you might get some nasty treatment. So I suppose the morale of the story is that if you travel or live in Japan don't try to abuse to system or go around the rules, because it can have severe consequences.

  • * not possible, positive

  • "All Comments (248)" lol obviously not

  • am i the 104th commenter? lol

  • That's cute Victor: you went to a school and got a job like that. Bully for you!

    I went there looking for a job, and what happened? The conversation went something like this: "Are you American?", "No", "Sorry".

  • @chillchillpill next time say yes? dont hate the player, hate the game ^^

    U can get a job there especially if u have a degree and do ur research

  • @Auron710: true - and sell yourself and have a tolerance for instability and for being a bit of a social outcast that comes with being a teacher in Japan, if you're not careful!

  • @chillchillpill well im of the opinion that u shudnt move to a country if ur gonna moan about stuff like that lol, then its not for u. And well social outcast is a bit far, u will never be another race but why would u want to? ^^ So ofc its gonna be different to being in your home country. imo as long as u know what your doing and have it planned instead of randomly showing up, it should go well assuming u wanna be a teacher.

  • @Auron710: I agree, but I think everyone learns that the hard way. When you're first there, Japan is a wonderful place, but then comes a phase of it just starting to piss you off, but finally after that you accept it. Getting used to living in Japan is a bit like going through stages of grief! Yes - I did want to be a teacher - I loved it, but the profession didn't luv me: very unstable and badly paid no matter how serious and professional I was about it.

  • @chillchillpill

    I went to a school that preferred Brits, so yeah, it happens? What is your nationality? Did you end up getting a job? What's your whole story?

  • @Gimmeabreakman: Aussie: bottom of the pile. I got a job in Morioka, but then after the contract expired I tried to find a job in Tokyo, where that happened, so I came home again. I then did more study, then went back as a JET, then corporate training, but got wiped out by the GFC. Now I'm back here again to do my MBA, and in the immortal words of The Arnie, "I'll be back!" in the Big Daikon...

  • my round trip tickets to japan from canada was about $1500.

  • @takenouchinex

    Not at Xmas time, I'm betting.

  • @Gimmeabreakman Hm, no. Not AT xmas time. Right before. Hehe. December 11th. :3 The woman I was purchasing from was like "Holy crap, this is cheap...and this is AFTER taxes? man..." Hehe.

  • i recently heard about this and i thought it was stupid - i was always told that just because someone else gets away with something doesnt mean you will - if its wrong, and you know it, just dont do it...especially in japan. I live in japan and i wont even touch a drop of alcohol and drive, i always makes sure i get a multiple reentry permit every year when i renew my visa just incase... in japan you just dont take risks!

  • Dont you know media people lie...

  • @GeneralAquarius

    Very well aware.

  • @Gimmeabreakman Sir

    In Okinawa back in 1992 one could jump on Continental Air Micronesia and fly to Guam (I think it was around 3man 5sen Yen or $275 round trip). Go to the Consulate-General of Japan in Agana or HAGATNA to get your visa paper work done. Have a great time at the beach and more for a couple of days then get you visa then head back to Japan, all in about three days. And you had about three days were you could put your Japanese skills to real use :) . Thanks for the video.

  • Coño

  • dork lol :)

  • Hi from MN!

  • Holy Shit, 3000$ dollars a ticket?! I hope that was round trip and first class.

    North American journalism has gone downhill the past twenty years. It's loaded with one sided biased hit pieces. Journalistic integrity means very little when your trying to sell views. It's not like the old days during and before Walter Cronkite era.

  • Something else doesn't add up. How would he have manage to exit Japan to cover Kim Jong Ill's death if his visa had expired? All persons departing are of course checked to ensure they haven't overstayed their welcome. Because they would have imprisoned him then and there, made him pay a fine and then deported him.

    In my case though, because of the nature of my job as an airline pilot with ANA, they granted me Permanent Residence in 2007.

  • "How am i supposed to know that? i dont know anything!!!! hahahahaha"

  • いつまででも日本に住んでほしいけど、you don't want Japanese citizenship.

    Are you planning to go back to America later in your life? Love your videos, hope you'll stay there for a long time.ヴィデオを見るたびに面白いのでいつも笑ってしまいま­す。

  • :|

  • WHO GOT THE 104TH COMMENT?! DX i want it Q~Q hahah^^

  • flake man seems to be a cool dude id want to hang with him if i were in nipon

  • I really dont get all these immigration rules, theyre exhaustible XD

  • I'm sure you can't just pop over to Korea every few months and come back on a tourist visa anymore as us Brits can only visit upto 6 months in 1 year otherwise you'd be refused entry. Think it's less for Americans. I think that guy is talking rubbish anyway about his ordeal, they probably just kicked him out and then apologised lol

  • visas sound confusing

  • So what would be interesting with taking pictures of transexuals? You wouldn't even be able to spot one ;)

  • @iCharceus

    You've obviously never been to an Indian wedding. Google it.

  • 6000 Yen, yes please I take two!

  • @lordmetroid Work for an airline, then that will be the price, in First Class.

  • Commenting, not sure why but... lol

  • Interesting stuff.. i am too poor to move anywhere nmm i should start looking for a job.

  • Interesting stuff :) Especially for people (like me) who are interested in working in japan! I will try to do that work and travel thing but I lack any good financial support for that currently.

  • How long can someone stay in Japan on a tourist visa? Do you have to put on the visa how long you plan on staying?

  • @WildFlower7w7 It differs from country to country. Google it. I cannot tell your nationality from your user name!

  • @WildFlower7w7 Depending on each country as to whether you need to obtain a travel permit in advance, but upon entry, you'd just present the Immigration Officer with a completed Embarkation/Dis-Embarkation Card which asks how long you'll be in Japan, where you're staying, how much money you have on you and typical Bio information. You also have to be photographed and fingerprinted. If the computer system says you're not a threat, you may enter.

  • @WildFlower7w7 But most countries are either 3 or 6 months. There are exceptions however.

  • I win!

  • Question. So I visited one of your links below the video hoping to gain a bit of more information on this however I was unsuccesful.... Anyway. My question is How long can a tourist stay in japan? ( for example - 3 weeks? 6 weeks? 4 days?)

  • @Kuroobi5 It differs from country to country. Google it. I cannot tell your nationality from your user name!

  • @Kuroobi5 3 months

  • no way am i gonna LICK the video!

  • comment!

  • you seem like you're on crack in every damn video you ever uploaded

  • @mah0aga

    Then stop hanging around with people who do crack. (Because that metaphor is from the 80s!)

  • ZE PLANE!

  • So people still go to Korea and then come back and Japan just overlooks it?

  • Your videos are always so interesting and informative.

  • Ah geez! Great video ^^

  • I mean, my week trip to tokyo cost me around £800 in total which i think is about £300 each way and 200 for accommodation.

  • 6000 dollars for a flight? that seems a bit out to me. was it not 600?

  • @tremault

    2 people. $5,900 US dollars.

  • @Gimmeaflakeman wow that's really expensive!! that's £1900 each. even each way it is £950 each. so that is three times the amount. well it was 5 yrs ago actually. and this was the christmas period. but still... wow.

  • @tremault

    I go back every year or 2 years at most and this was the most I ever paid....

  • @Gimmeaflakeman i hope that was round trip tickets victor

  • @Gimmeaflakeman That's still nearly $3k a person. That can't be for plain ol' Economy... right?

  • @yangj08

    It's the tiiiiime of the seeeeaaaaason!

  • @tremault It's called first class :)~

  • cool pig

    besides that (ha ha ^^'), thanx, very informative!

  • Nice Dr. Superman!

    I think something is off with that guys story :P I agree about the visa maybe being expired

  • *not the 141st comment*... *sulk*

  • @Dakuroz

    All my videos on this channel -- from now on -- will have a random prize for a random number so I'm sure you'll get lucky one day!

  • *goes to view how many coments* *over 104* FUUUUUUUUUUUUU---

  • instant comment

  • I don't want to lick this video... I might like it though...

  • ありがとう

  • "If you're really young you won't understand that." Now THAT offends me and I had to look it up right away (hey, the little guy from Forbidden Zone!).

  • 10:48 "Licking" the video?

  • mooo, sounds pish.

  • CRAP this is the 181th comment already -__- im too late

  • @Hanfkrokette

    Try next time!

  • This is a rather interesting story. I'm going to read up on it when i get the chance. Thanks victor

  • you are awesome :)

  • I'm sorry but it annoys me to know that You have people subscribed to you just to dislike every new video you make.. WTF is up with that?

  • @Nooklet

    Jealous little bitches, pardon my French.

  • I miss the prizes @~@!!

  • actually its possible to change your visa from temp to working without leaving the country ;)

  • @strati5phere

    Good! It's about time!

  • Transexuals & Elephants what lol...taxi's or taksi's are still really cheap in Bali...The Plane - The Plane, I loved that show hahahaha....Hmmm that dodgy comparison is in really poor taste....yeah, nahhh, my BS detector has a high reading, typical sensationalistic exaggerated twisted untruth.

  • So... I didn't have to leave the country to get my visa switched >.> I wonder if the immigration office here pulled some shadiness!?

  • @panditty

    Apparently they FINALLY changed that rule! Good for you! But wait, aren't you Canadian?

  • @Gimmeaflakeman I certainly am! Are there different rules for Canadians!? ARE THEY ON A HUNT FOR CANADIANS!?

  • hmmm

    

  • yeah and when applying for the re-entry permit, you have to tell them where and when your going. Which the first time I didn't know for sure yet, I just wanted to get it done so that I didn't have to worry about it later, and when I told them I wasn't sure yet, they wouldn't do it. Grant it i was trying to tell them in my shitty japanese, but, they said i had to write where I was going. So basically I just made it up, I got the stamp, and all was good.

  • cerl

    

  • Just stay on YouTube Victor! :) Nice effect at the end!

  • @Sugartalker

    Hey, A!

  • nice effect at the end dare.