The Struggles of Keeping a Job in Japan.

According to an article from the New York Times, Maria Fransiska is a 26-year old nurse struggling to keep her job as a nurse in a hospital just outside of Tokyo. Initially, she signed onto the hospital's work force for three years, but in order to lengthen her stay there, she must pass an extremely difficult test that "only 3 out of 600 nurses brought here from Indonesia and the Philippines since 2007 have passed." As of now, she is doing the best she can to master the Japanese language and ready herself for the exam that will determine her income, and ultimately, her future. However, even Yukiyoshi Shintani, the chairman of the Aoikai Group, admits that the exam "is to make sure that foreigners will fail." Despite all odds, I pray that Fransiska becomes the fourth person to pass this test.
But the major concern and question is: what's going on with Japan's view on immigration? Currently, Japan is facing what is seen as a somewhat dangerous labor shortage and yet that still does not stop the country from welcoming immigrants who are looking, and more importantly willing, to work. Unfortunately, foreign workers and graduate students in Japan are actually encouraged by the government to return home, where there they all understand the tragic truth that they will earn significantly less than what they are able to make in Japan. Sadly, only "tiny interest groups" are protected against these unfair requests to leave. Those not a part of these groups, have much reason to be worried. For example, Tan Soon Keong is a 26-year old, talented student who has incredible work experience and an overall impressive background. However, even the 26-year old may be considered to be too old to land the job that he is applying for, and the fact that he is a foreigner makes it all the more difficult for him.
Furthermore, in 2008, only 0.085% (11,000 out of 130,000) of the foreign students who attended Japan's "universities and technical colleges" were able to find jobs (according to Mainichi Communications). I can only hope that those who were unsuccessful were able to find another way to earn a living for themselves.
In America, it is the older generations - those in their 50s and 60s, and maybe even 40s - who have a difficult time with finding, and keeping, means of employment. Yet no matter where you are, having a job and keeping that job will always remain a struggle. In regards to Japan's situation, it seems that despite the fact that an increased number of immigrants will most likely hep Japan's slow economic growth, Japan remains unwilling to completely embrace and carry out this solution. Not only is Japan hurting themselves by not taking in skilled workers, but they are also hurting those who are in desperate need of making a living for themselves and bettering their futures.    
So what is stopping Japan? What can help change Japan's mind? And what will it take for them to realize that these workers will be only beneficial to them, rather than detrimental?