| Inagawa Motoko (IMO) - A Terrible Talent Agency |
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| Monday, 16 November 2009 17:06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Most
foreigners interested in working in Japan's entertainment industry have
heard or will hear of the agency known as Inagawa Motoko (aka IMO).
It's one of the largest, if not the
largest talent agency
specializing solely in foreign talent. But this does not mean
it's respectable or professionally managed. In fact, the reality
is quite the opposite. In writing this I hope to expose this sham of an agency for what it really is--a den of common thieves. Furthermore, it is my wish that others sharing my plight may join my crusade to spread the word about these con artists. Ultimately, my goal is total shutdown of their unethical business practices--which equates to their entire business model. If nothing else, I want the public made aware before more unsuspecting foreigners are taken advantage of and exploited. After getting laid off from my IT job, I decided to sign up at IMO hoping to at least make some money while searching for a new IT job. Since my schedule was quite free, I was available for just about any jobs they offered me. My very first job was for a Japanese TV show. At that shoot I met some other foreigners working in the entertainment industry. I told them I was new to IMO, and that this was my first job. After I said that, a friendly fellow American pulled me aside and told me to be very careful with IMO. I asked why. He then asked me, "When did they tell you that you'd be paid?" I replied, "2 months after the job." "Ha! Ha!" he shot back. "More like 6 months, and you have to bitch and whine to get it." At other jobs the IMO sentiment was exactly the same. Lines like "IMO sucks," "IMO never pays," "IMO owes me money" constantly reverberated amongst the foreign talent. At one job I was promised the money in cash that same day. When I got to the front of the line, they told me I'd be paid via bank transfer the next morning. I checked my bank account, and no money. They lied to my face. How IMO's Scam Works * Unsuspecting foreigners (you) interested in Japan's show business are invariably referred to IMO as the best bet for entry into the industry. The agency successfully banks on the massive supply of ignorant foreigners seduced by the allure of show biz. * You sign up at IMO. They take some information and a few photos of you. They ask you how free your schedule is. This is key for them because they need people with free and open schedules. They tell you that you'll be paid 2 months after a job, and you need a Mitsui Sumitomo bank account. Suspiciously, they won't ask for your bank account information. In fact, you'll have to give that to them multiple times via phone, email, and in person. * If you have a free and open schedule, then you'll start getting phone calls asking if you're free this day and that day. * If you fit what they're looking for, then you'll get the "job" and be asked to show up at such-and-such a train station. They won't provide any other details about the job like what it pays, how long you'll be working, etc. Ask them quickly before they hang up. Additionally, nothing is ever provided in writing--no contracts, receipts, nothing. * You do the "job," and you'll meet other foreigners who will invariably complain about IMO. They'll tell you the same things I'm writing here. * Your free labor is exploited as much as possible as you wait the 2 months after your first job. Hopefully for them, you will have done several jobs before realizing the money is not paid after 2 months. It is transferred 5-6 months later, if at all. IMO has successfully conned free labor out of you and pocketed your salary as 100% profit. In other words, they lied to your face and stole your money. What Happens If You Complain The obvious thing to do is complain that you haven't received your money. Here's how the con artists deal with you: * "We'll check into it and call you back." Another lie. They won't call you back. * "The accounting guy is not here right now." Is there really an accounting guy? * "Please call back tomorrow." You call back tomorrow and a different guy is there telling you to call back tomorrow. Round and round you go. * "Are you registered with us?" Ah...yeah...you've been calling me and offering me jobs! * "What's your name and phone number?" Don't play dumb...you obviously already have my phone number! * "We have another job for you." Evidently, the several con artists they have working there don't communicate with each other. You have to tell each and every one individually that you want your money. Complaining this way doesn't get you very far. The only thing they'll pay you is excuses. How To Get Paid I finally got paid by simply writing them an email that said, "If I don't receive my money by Friday, I will go to the Labor Department (労働基準監督署) on Monday." I was paid the same day I wrote the email. That works! They obviously don't want the Labor Department involved. If you still don't get paid (highly unlikely), I recommend complaining to the Labor Department. Here is the one you need to contact: http://www.roudoukyoku.go.jp/shisetsu/kantoku/k-map-03.html Avoid IMO Not surprisingly, they stopped calling me and offering me jobs after they paid me. I guess they don't like paying people for work! Please save yourself a lot of time and trouble by avoiding Inagawa Motoko Talent Agency.
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Comments (35)
Anton
said:
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... Yes, I know. I have also have this kind of trouble. For more then a year they have not done pay me even I called many times. Always they say Wait or We pay next week but money never come. |
David
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... There's a good chance you'll get paid if you threaten to go to the Labor Department. If they still don't pay you, then the Labor Department can open a case and investigate. |
David
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... It's funny you ask that because I'm currently writing an article about that very topic. Please stay tuned... In the meantime, if anyone else knows of good ones, please feel free to post them here. |
tys
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... The reason why this continues to happen with IMO is because people DON'T complain to the Labor Department. The threat of doing so is obviously effective, but it doesn't help to make the situation better if the authorities never catch wind of what's going on. IMO does this to both the new faces and the veterans on their books. And it has been going on for years. As soon as IMO (or any employer for that matter) misses the date that they said they would pay you (often one to two months after the job date), you can do your small part to police business practices by filing a complaint. Whether or not you notify IMO that you filed a complaint is up to you. Keep in mind that telling them that you already filed a complaint may further delay any payment reaching your bank account. |
David
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... That's an excellent point. I agree that it would be in everyone's best interest to complain first to the Labor Department. That way they catch wind of IMO's corrupt business practices. Threatening to complain may get you paid, but doesn't prevent future cases. I wrote this article hoping to prevent people from signing up with IMO in the first place. They'll be forced to change or shut down if all of us leave in droves. |
josef
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... hi, i am studying acting alongside my my Japanese studies and plan on working as an actor in Japan. i was told of imo by a Japanese friend. reading this entry as well as the commentaries, i probably better avoid this agency. but could anyone tell me better alternatives? would it still be worth going through the non-payments in order to get known in Japan? regards josef |
David
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... Please don't put yourself through that! Please look at this: http://www.davidpavlina.com/ja...s-in-tokyo |
Ash
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... Hello. I did some work for Fuji TV about 3 months ago for "IMO" and was told I would get paid in 2 months. I thought this strange as they did not even have a bank account of mine, so I made a MUFG bank account like they asked me to, and was told that I needed to make some other bank account. I then asked if they could transfer the money to this one that I had already made and they said yes. So I called them up today and they said that I would be getting paid on Friday. If I the money is not in the account on the end of that day, I will be calling back next day to "explain" to them that I will be calling the labour department on Monday. I am very annoyed with this agency and will not be doing any more work for them EVER again, as after doing doing the work they needed, I can see that "foreigners" are not well represented in the Japanese media. Has anyone else ever noticed on how we are always made out to be be: "Sneaky", "evil", "stupid", "ignorant" and always to blame for drugs? Due to being represented like this in the Japanese media, comics and anime I am no longer interested in doing ANY work for Japanese media, EVER AGAIN!! I also urge for anyone interested in doing ANY work for Japanese media to not bother, as you will be made out to be, some sort of "evil, sneaky" "gaijin" |
David
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... Well said, and thank you for sharing. What's the first thing any Japanese celebrity says when arrested for drug possession? "I bought them from a gaijin!" |
R. Zane
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... Ash: Speaking as a fellow "victim" (?) of IMO, I'm curious: what of your experience correlated with Japanese views on foreigners in the mainstream media? |
Ash
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... Hello R. Zane. I have been here in Japan for around 3 and a half years. I still can't speak Japanese due to not getting any help and top that off with a learning difficulty. So when I watch Japanese television I may not know EXACTLY what's being said, but I can still get the feeling. I find that people from outside of Japan are seen as, what I can only describe as, clowns, or "funny looking people who can do the very same things that Japanese people can do" Look at this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...j809GEaVLE Here is an example of what I'm talking about. So to me, we are seen as clowns who were sent down to earth, to entertain the Japanese. That's how I see it. |
R. Zane
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... I'd imagine a man on a giant unicycle would be amusing regardless of ethnicity. What work did you do with IMO that supported your feelings? |
Ash
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... Just remember that I was using that clip as one example. It's not the work I did with IMO, but just whenever you look at the way we are portrayed in general. In manga, anime, television programs and the like. The work I did for IMO was some drama for Fuji TV called fumouchitai episode 18, and on the night it played me and my wife recorded it. I was an extra for some kind of party scene that was set in New York and can I not be seen lol But shortly after that scene, the Japanese are looking to do some kind of business with some people from America. So the Japanese guys come into the room and say something about something about their culture being different from "western countries" or something along those lines. I can not remember exactly if that is what was mentioned, I would have to watch it again to tell you, but the feeling I got from it was that Japanese culture is some how "special' or "unique" from other countries. |
David
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... I was at that shoot! I remember some foreigners were acting as waiters and waitresses, and people were treating them as real waiters and waitresses. "Get me more grape juice!" |
Ash
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... AHHH god! You were there as well???? I remember people were specifically told NOT to drink or eat the food! AHAHAHAHAHAA! |
R. Zane
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... This is the one I went to as well, actually. Anyone else remember the guy who was snoring mid-shoot? |
David
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... Some people were paid that day. I wasn't. I was paid after threatening to complain to the Labor Department 2 months later. That job was one of the 2 I did for IMO. |
Ash
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... Sorry guys was away from computer and about to take a bath now. I haven't done any work for Zenith and I'm not gonna either. People are getting robbed for the amount of work you have to do. Do any of you remember the guy on the bus asking everyone to stop asking how much they are going to get and what time it will end?? Did you all get that?? I mean, it's like applying for a job where you don't know what you're getting and how many hours you're gonna work. And I tell you something else. What did you think of that guy going around shouting the whole time? I seriously wanted to punch that guy in the frigging face. Had a horrible, horrible attitude as well. Remember those Russian ladies as well?? One of them thought I was Russian LOL Said I looked Russian so she asked me in Russian if anyone was sitting on the seat beside me. By the way. Did any of you guys see your selves in the drama at all? |
R. Zane
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... I wasn't really sure which episode it was going to be on, and even then, I didn't really feel the need to watch. I wasn't on any bus. I just went to Makuhari Messe by train and walked with the lot. As for the shouting guy, I think that's the guy who "greets" people at IMO. |
Ash
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... Well I suppose it was my first time ever appearing on television, so I just wondered if I was actually going to be seen or not. The guy going around shouting was the guy with the glasses and beard at the place it was being shot at. He called everyone into the hall and started speaking in Japanese dividing the different groups of people for the different scenes. |
David
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... I didn't bother watching that drama because the camera was 10 miles away from me during the filming. As for Zenith, I've only done 1 job for them so far. But it was great--done in under 2 hours and better paid than an all-day IMO job. Oh, and I actually GOT the money 1 month after the job as promised. |
R. Zane
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... Color me interested, then. Thanks for the heads-ups. Ash, if you wind up not getting your money, would you want to join me towards the labor department later this month? :p |
Ash
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... Hi here R.Zane. I have just checked my bank account and the frigging money is not there! Do you mean to call into labor department or just phone them up? I'm tired of these people messing me around! I'm very annoyed! Just by the way. Whenever you guys call IMO, do you get the older Japanese guy picking up the phone? The one who likes to call us "gaijin"? Whenever I was getting the meeting area and directions from that guy, he says that I should see other "gaijin" around that area. Can you frigging believe this guy?? Sorry. I have to try and get it all out some way..... |
R. Zane
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... At some point (maybe the 16th? I'm full with work until then), my girlfriend and I will likely be visiting the branch in Mita mentioned by Mr. Pavlina (nice shirt, btw). I don't remember who we got the last time we called, although Mr. Khan eventually picked up the phone. As for the "gaijin" thing, despite it being pretty obvious that we'd see a bunch of foreigners for the shoot, maybe he figured it'd be the best way of explaining where to meet? |
Ash
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... I live in Narita, so it's gonna cost me to get there. I'm just gonna call IMO right now and "explain" to them that the money is not in my account. Stay tuned lol |
Ash
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... I just called them. And he said that he would ask the accountant, so I said to him, "can you ask him now?" and he gave the same bullshit of "Oh, he's not here right now, he's gone for today" so I says "It's funny because every time I seem to call he's not there". So I can hear the nervousness in his voice and I couldn't hold my self any longer so I just busted out with "I'm tell you something right now; if my money is not in my account on Monday, I'm going to the labour department" Then he says "Ohkay" Then I chimed right in and repeated "If it's NOT there on monday, I'm going STRAIGHT to the labour department" Then he says "Ohkay" I then clicked the phone shut without saying goodbye, as my patience is no longer with me. I think I'm gonna buy a punch bag..... |
David
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... Do you have their email address? BTW, I created a group on my community site if you'd like to continue the discussion in a forum format: http://www.mondaiji.com/en/gro...tors+Guild I'd also love your feedback about my community site, or if you want to reach me: http://www.mondaiji.com/en/contact I'm hoping to use my community site for purposes like these. |
Ash
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... Their e-mail address is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I must of sent them 10 e-mails but they never replied back, so if you're gonna send them an e-mail you probably wont get a reply. But at least you have it any way. |
R. Zane
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... In a strange twist of fate, I have just recently been paid after pressuring IMO as suggested. ... I still want to go to the Labor Department, but I'm not sure if I should. |
David
said:
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... Victims of IMO unite! You could go to the LD if you can document that they paid you much later than promised (e.g. 5 months after the job). |
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