(Tokyo, January 4, 2008)
“Yes, I have something to consult you. It’s about my husband’s loan. They want me to pay it, but I don’t think I should.”
“Can you tell me more about this loan. What was it for?”
“They said my husband bought a car. But I don’t know about that. I have not even seen my husband for several months now. They know that.”
“Who are asking you to pay? Did they say why you should pay?”
“They said I signed a contract. I may have signed but they didn’t tell me it was a loan for half a million yen. They are asking me to pay so many things. Like my niece’s spouse visa. They are asking me to pay two hundred thousand yen for their lawyer. I already paid them one hundred thousand yen. But they want more.”
“Who are they?”
“My husband works for them. They fixed my marriage, you know, ‘imitation’ marriage. They control everyone. My husband, Mother, the attorney. I got my visa from that attorney too because Mother told me to get his services. Because they control Mother, you know. So now, my niece too has to go through that lawyer. I only agreed because Mother has been so kind to me since I was little. Actually, Mother is so afraid of them that she offered to get the car instead. She said she will pay the loan instead. But I don’t want her to pay, you know.”
“Where is the car now?”
“I don’t know.”
“Have you even seen that car?”
“That’s the thing, you know. I don’t even know if my husband even drives that car. And if he does, then it is his debt, not mine.”
“If your mother pays for the car, shouldn’t that solve your problem? It will become hers; the car as well.”
“Yeah, but Mother keeps paying them for my supposed debts. So I have become indebted to Mother more and more, you know, debts of gratitude. She took care of me, you know, since I was little so I call her Mother.”
“I see. She’s not your real mother. How did you meet her?”
“She brought me to Japan to work in her bar. She’s very kind to me. When I decided last year to go back to the Philippines, she did not prevent me from doing so. But she pleaded me to send her a relative to replace me in the bar. That’s why I brought my niece to her.”
“How old is your niece?”
“Well, she’s young alright, but of all my nieces she’s the most excited to come to Japan.”
“Does she know what kind of life awaited her in Japan?”
“Well, yes. But the truth is I’m now a little bit afraid for my niece than I have been for myself. Because they haven’t given her her visa yet. And now they don’t want us to live in the same apartment. They are keeping us apart.”
“What kind of visa does she have now?”
“Tourist.”
“I think your niece can inquire personally from Immigration if they have approved her application for spouse visa. Why don’t you accompany her to Immigration?”
“That’s the thing, you know. Her tourist visa is expiring and they haven’t given her her spouse visa yet. And if they found out that I have been taking her to Immigration, they will get mad. They might keep us further apart.”
“I see. How about inquiring by telephone? I’m just thinking maybe you don’t really need to pay the lawyer all that money if the visa has already been released.”
“Don’t you think so too? I mean, they are overcharging!”
“You know the spouse visa is processed by Immigration. Actually you don’t need to have a lawyer to have it processed. But if it is true that your niece applied through a lawyer, she can also ask the lawyer. She can ask why he is charging two hundred thousand yen more.”
“Actually, we never talk to the attorney directly, just to his staff who stays at Mother’s place too.”
“You have never met this so-called lawyer? What’s his name?”
“Well, I’ve seen him once before when I was introduced to him, when I was getting my own visa. But not since. I only know he is called Y----.”
“He must have at least given you his business card. Do you still have it?”
“I’m not sure. I will try to look for it.”
“Where does he hold office? Maybe we can check if he is really a lawyer or at least an immigration specialist.”
“His office is in K-----shi, K------ken.”
“OK. Let’s do this. Look for his business card and make inquiries with Immigration about your niece’s visa. We will check if Y--- is really a lawyer. If he is, then its a grave matter. It is clear that this lawyer is working for a criminal syndicate. Then, call us back again.” The call has taken about an hour now and its time to cut it to allow for time for reflection. “You have been very courageous for calling us and telling your story. I can see that you have had enough of this syndicate. You shouldn’t pay those debts that they are making you pay. If Mother wants to pay for the car, you shouldn’t feel indebted. Now, regarding your niece, let’s first check if her visa application has been approved already. When will her tourist visa expire?”
The caller says a certain date.
“Alright. Call me again when you get any information from Immigration and if you find the business card.”
We said our goodbyes and hung up. Only later did I realize that the date she mentioned was the very date of her call.
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