A Canadian Firefighter in Japan
A Japanese TV news report introduces Rene Saint-Laurent, the first foreigner ever to become a volunteer firefighter in Minami Aso, Kumamoto prefecture:
Saint-Laurent has lived in Japan for nine years and works as a registered massage therapist. He used to be a member of a volunteer rescue team back in Canada, and based on that experience he was asked if he was interested in joining the local fire brigade.
He joined the volunteer fire brigade because he wanted to feel like a member of the Minami Aso community. According to his wife, Rene has always said that he feels he can never become Japanese, but through his participation in the fire brigade, he’s becoming like a real Minami Aso-ite. His fellow firefighters tell the reporter that they are impressed with Rene’s seriousness and dedication.
Kirk Masden, who uploaded this clip to YouTube, has pointed out a previous case in which a foreigner was not allowed to become a member of a volunteer fire brigade:
Actually, this is an issue of some national as well as local significance. In
other regions of Japan, foreigners who have attempted to join volunteer
firefighting departments have run up against legal barrier. The following Wall
Street Journal article explains how ‘a Japanese law that bans foreigners from
all municipal positions that “exercise administrative authority”‘ prevented
Richard Curtis from helping to put out fires in Kanazawa Japan:http://tomcoyner.com/Richard%20Curtis%20Has%20Learned%20His%20Services.html
- Akihabara News – Gadgetry from Japan (Subscribe)
- Dannychoo.com – Your portal to Japan (Subscribe)
