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View all search resultsJapan draws Indonesian workers amid #KaburAjaDulu trend
Japan’s labor demand and high-quality public services are fueling a wave of Indonesians seeking work, stability, and a fresh start far from domestic frustrations.
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Indonesian women dressed in Japanese kimono style clothes pose under artificial cherry blossoms during the Japanese Summer Festival at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a cultural park, in Jakarta on July 7, 2024. (AFP/Yasuyoshi Chiba)
D
isillusioned by what she sees as the government’s failure to address long-standing issues such as air pollution and chronic traffic congestion, Arya Kinanti has set her sights on starting a new life in Japan, a country she believes offers better access to clean air and reliable public transport.
The 33-year-old resident of South Tangerang said she and her husband have been taking Japanese-language courses and sitting proficiency tests, key requirements for those seeking to work in the country.
“I feel that as a citizen in Japan, you’re less likely to be disappointed by the government. Taxes and living costs are indeed high, but they return to society through decent public facilities, such as efficient public transport, equitable education and free or affordable healthcare,” Kinanti told The Jakarta Post recently.
Her resolve strengthened after seeing friends move to Japan through study programs or self-funded pathways. Kinanti now hopes to secure a scholarship that would eventually allow her to work as a researcher or at a think tank.
“My husband has honestly said he wouldn’t mind taking informal jobs, such as delivering newspapers or working in a restaurant. But ideally, he hopes to work in Japan’s music industry, even if it’s just at a record store,” she added.
Read also: Japan seeks Indonesia’s help to solve labor crisis
Growing exodus sentiment
