SEIHA English Academy? No, thanks!

by Rudolph
(CANADA)

In the 90s, I was contracted to work for Seiha as a teacher. I met with this man here: http://www.seiha.com/company/index.html. Because the school did not need a full-time teacher, and I wanted sponsorship, we conspired to draw up one contract for Japanese Immigration and another for actual use.

Well, after the immigration process had started, Seiha realised that it was in a strong position to bully me. One SEIHA employee from Kyushu called me twice. Both times she wanted to know if I had kept a copy of the phony contract. Uh-oh! That sounded bad.

This woman, a Filipina from Kyushu, came to see me in order to change the terms of our real contract. Naturally, those new terms favoured Seiha ridiculously! The working hours went up and the pay rate went down. Way down!

Luckily, I had become suspicious. I knew enough to get the phony contract in my hands. I had to beg Kobe Immigration for the copy of the contract, but I got it. That is not an easy thing to do, but I used a little social engineering on them.

Anyhow, when the Filipina finally met me, she described the new slave terms. I then showed her the copy that we had submitted to immigration. Well, since I was in a position to make a big stink with the authorities, her facial expression changed considerably. Her mouth opened wide and I could smell her pre-screwjob supper!

It is always an unforgettable "Kodak moment" when you know you hold all the aces and the bad guy gets screwed! I STILL ratted them out to immigration even though I incriminated myself at the same time. Kobe immigration was not amused, but I have since worked in Japan so it wasn't bad for me. Justice was served!

I hold Seiha in the lowest esteem. I can see a company changing some policies but I cannot see Seiha changing its DNA. Is it better now? Maybe it is much better! But- hey!- I have been wrong before. I cannot be sure what SEIHA rocket scientist hatched that plan. Maybe she/he is long gone and the company is all right now. Still, that is my Seiha story... and it will always be worth a good laugh.