Job Discussion Forums

[shmooj]

[Lynn]

[Gordon]

One thing I like about Japan is that they are very proactive when it comes to health checks. The Japanese often detect illnesses early on because of this. I just think the medical info is private, however the Japanese have a different version of what "private" really means.

[scot47]

If you are in Japan you should learn to play by the local rules.

You have left your Homeland and its rules behind you.

[shmooj]

[ryuro]

pppppppppplease shmooj!

Did you read my whole post?

I've been here for well over eight years- far past the "learning how to live in Japan" stage.

I'll go with the flow as much as anyone here who's learned how to manipulate the Japanese rules and protocol- however, this is one area where I simply will not bend- period!

Do I tell my my boss to "shove off' when he tells me about the annual physical- of course not. As I said before, I simply let them schedule and then suddenly become 'busy' on that day. They never bother me again.

This is strictly a very personal thing for me. I'm not saying everyone has to do what I do, but at certain times I think it's perfectly ok to say, "hey, I don't believe in this particular thing you're asking me to do. It's not part of my culture and really makes me uncomfortable."

That's not such a terrible thing. I'm not Japanese, never will be- so one can't be expected to be in lock-step with everything they want/ask of us. No need to start a revolution, but perfectly ok to practice a little personal rebellion once and a while.

Cheers,
ryuro

[JimDunlop2]

[Iwantmyrightsnow]

[TokyoLiz]

I'm actually rather grateful to have a full check-up.

But like some of you, I've experienced a lack of privacy. When I was a JET years ago, I went through the routine check and looked forward to seeing the results. I was shocked when I arrived at work one morning to find my results face up on my desk for all to see. I was really upset and expressed my hurt feelings to my supervisor. All employees' results had been handled the same way - your name, particulars and results face up on the desk.

At my school next week, we've got pee-in-the-cup day. What will we learn? I know I'm in good shape, but it's good to have a thorough check, and considering it's on the house, I'm not going to refuse.

However, I'm going to write a letter to the school nurse in both languages expressing how strongly I feel about utter and total privacy. I have a lot of confidence in my supervisor. If I ask for privacy, I'm sure he'll keep these health check results out from under people's noses. I know my fellow Japanese employees would be offended if others knew their personal business.

[Glenski]

[Glenski]

At my school, they mail the results to your home. Total privacy.

The urine test is for blood sugar (diabetes check), various enzymes (early signs of certain cancer), and general organ workup (like liver). Only your employer knows if it is also used for drugs. Mine never even hinted at that.

[shmooj]

[JimDunlop2]

Glenski: why not give a simple answer? Why not indeed?

I guess it would be much more simple if drug screening through urine samples had not become so commonplace in many areas. Making the first guess that the only test somebody would balk at might be the urine test is knowingly asking a pointed question. You are a very intelligent person, Glenski.... I know you would not ask your question in the manner you had out of ignorance of this fact. Hence, my somewhat pointed answer. But to answer your question, I find stomach X-rays unnecessary and rather repugnant (maybe it's having to swallow quantities of 'goop' that strikes a bad chord with me), and giving a blood sample is disturbing also.

Finally, privacy and disclosure aside, I find it nearly impossible to believe that a public institution would mandate such an examination merely for the health and well-being of its employees, rather than sanctioning them based on these results. My understanding of Japanese students who undergo medical screening is that they may well find themselves in a "special needs" school for those who, otherwise mentally normal, have what's deemed to be a "weak constitution" or an illness that may prevent them from attending a regular school. If this is true, what would be the fate of say, a teacher that didn't measure up to some invisible, arbitrary Japanese code? Dismissal? Enforced medical treatment? I don't know. Maybe you can tell me. All I know is that I trust most Japanese authorities about as far as I can chuck a piano...

Shmooj: in response to your comment, I do not find my faith mutually exclusive from having friends who engage in recreational drug use. However, having said that, I can also say I've found that quite often those who do include drugs in their lifestyle generally hold certain beliefs and values that I would qusetion. I agree that many Christians use drugs, but the real question then becomes: what is thier priority? I'd argue that for those Christians that enjoy drugs, their faith has quite likely taken a back seat to their desires for an experience of changed consciousness that drugs tend to offer. If you are a Christian using drugs regularily, you may want to step back and ask yourself some questions as to why you are doing them and whether God might find what you're doing objectionable. As a Christian, I should try (even though I often fail miserably) to live in such a way that I can be an example or model to someone, rather than a stumbling block or source of justification for doing the wrong thing. Ie. "Look at Jim! He's a strong Christian but he can go to the soapland whenever he wants. Why shouldn't I?" See what I mean?

[G Cthulhu]

[Glenski]

Jim,
Thanks for the pointed response. Clear and succinct.