As part of our ongoing "Families Together!" campaign, we are sharing the voices of undocumented residents.
This time we have J, a high school student with Filipino nationality.
Both his parents and J are currently residing in Japan as irregular residents without a resident status.
"My Feelings"
My nationality is Filipino. I was born in Japan.
When I was in the fourth grade of elementary school, I learned that my father had been arrested by the immigration bureau. At the time, I didn't really understand why he had been arrested. However, I learned that he had been arrested for overstaying his visa, and he was arrested by the immigration bureau for a year and two months. Life without my father was very difficult and painful.
However, my parents and I will not give up until we receive special permission to stay. Because we love Japan. Because we want to live here forever. So my parents have asked the immigration bureau many times. And they have been told harsh things many times. But we have a strong desire to stay in Japan, so we have not given up. We will continue to ask the immigration bureau.
My current problem is that I don't have health insurance. I like soccer, and I'm also a member of the soccer club. I get injured playing soccer, but I don't have insurance, and even if I want to go to the hospital, it costs more than everyone else, and I don't want to bother my family, so I hide my injuries. And I can't play soccer as freely as I want. I really need insurance.
My family and I have been through a lot of hardships. However, we will continue to work hard together as a family, not giving up, so that we can live in peace in this Japan that we love, and so that we can receive special permission to stay.