ABSTRACT
You are an educator, and when you picked up this Handbook, you expected advice from experienced colleagues about how to ply your craft in Japan. This chapter will be a little different. Think of it as a “teach-in” class by activists. It examines the problems educators experience as workers and presents means at their disposal to confront them. It begins by explaining types of labor contracts, then identifies pressing problems like the so-called “five-year rule,” then examines various grievance resolution mechanisms for dealing with common issues such as harassment. It outlines a number of government offices particularly helpful in clarifying your employment situation. The conclusion explains your rights in Japan—particularly your constitutional right to form a trade union—and urges you to build solidarity with your colleagues.
