A Call to Action from the JET Programme

I’m pissed. I just went through a number of different words in my mind – angry, frustrated, disappointed – all of which are applicable, but I’m also just pissed.

Coronavirus was first detected in Japan in mid January. Until the Olympics were called off, few cases were reported and it was nearly impossible to be tested. As soon as it was decided that the Olympics would be postponed, articles began reporting that cases were “rampant.” Coincidence? I think not. Abe desperately wanted the Olympics to go on as planned and knew a high number of cases would be a deterrent in that happening. Since then things have only become more serious with cases growing everyday across the nation. 

That being said, I am currently sitting at my desk at work. Let’s all take a moment to remember I am a teacher. School has just been postponed for another month until May 6th, meaning I’m coming into work to sit at a desk close to other people in a room with horrible ventilation, and there is literally no reason for me to be here. 

I have been pushing for my school to allow me to work from home, but they are saying since the Board of Education has not approved it, I need to keep coming into work. I’ve made it abundantly clear to them that even though they’re telling me no, I’m not going to stop trying and will bring them more information everyday until they allow it. 

You may be sitting there thinking to yourself, “why is the program you’re on not helping you?” Believe me, I’m asking the exact same thing. I am sending regular emails to the U.S. Embassy, the JET Programme, CLAIR, the Nashville consulate, which hired me, and AJET. The unfortunate setup with the JET Programme is that you are essentially hired by a consulate through JET, but as soon as you arrive in Japan you are placed with a Contracting Organization, or C.O., who becomes your boss from there on out. Anyone who would be helpful in this situation essentially wipes their hands clean of us as their responsibility the moment we arrive in Japan. My school and the Board of Education are the only entities above me and they clearly have no intention of allowing me to work from home. 

As I keep saying in my emails to all of these different organizations that could potentially be helping us: these are unprecedented times. Though it is not standard for them to step in and interfere with the school or board of education presiding over each JET, it is also not standard for a global pandemic to be sweeping the globe. I am terrified to go into school each morning yet am being given no option by my school and have no one to turn to in order to back me up on my safety concerns. 

And then there’s the Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, who has made it abundantly clear that he believes no action is the best action. His state of emergency is reportedly only applying to seven out of forty three prefectures. I’m sorry, but what about the other thirty six, Mr. Abe? In my prefecture, cases have been steadily increasing every day, and yet we are not on that list. My neighboring prefecture is reporting a growth rate which is equivalent to that of Osaka. They’re not on the list. Abe is also claiming that even in a state of emergency, lock downs will not be seen in Japan. 

So here I sit at my desk, furiously typing away, internally shouting, screaming, for someone, anyone, to help us. I feel as though I’m part of a “lost population,” watching from the sidelines as all study abroad programs, Peace Corps volunteers, Fulbright Scholars, and other teaching abroad programs shut down. The JET community has received four emails total, essentially telling us to gargle water and wash our hands. So if the JET Program is more than a figment of my imagination (honestly questioning myself at this point), I beg of you to please help those of us working here in Japan. Our safety is at risk and nothing is being done. 

*These are merely my opinions. I have read a lot of articles, but am by no means an expert and may have gotten some details wrong.*