Zengeiren, the group organization made by traders inviting overseas entertainers to Japan, was founded in 1996. It has currently ten chapter offices nationwide and holds about 400 trader members. It is the number one overseas artist traders association known also overseas. Since its foundation, Zengeiren has been tackling the various problems for making the industry healthier, promoting self-restraint on business, and improving the environment around the overseas artists currently working in Japan.

In fall 1995, the Immigration Control Bureau issued the draft for altering the criteria for screening overseas artist applicants. Based on the investigation they held, the Bureau presented the draft to Liberal Democratic Party’s small committee on legal affairs that they basically want to forbid the overseas artists from working at bars and cabarets; and reducing the term the artists can stay in Japan to 30 days. Our industry protested against the proposal and conveyed our idea to many statesmen including the committee director Ota Seiichi, then Transport Minister Koga Seiichi. Then the statesmen advised us to set up one organized group who would petition to the politics. Therefore Zengeiren was founded on December 10, 1995.

Currently Zengeiren is playing a key role to unite and guide the overseas artist business industry while promoting welfare activity for overseas artists and patrolling the clubs to guide them the self-restraint. In 2004, the U.S. Department of State designated Japan as one of the watch countries of human trafficking, but we, together with Rengokai - United Organization of Overseas Artist Agencies, upper association above Zengeiren - are now making effort for removing the misunderstandings imposed on us that we are trafficking Filipino overseas artists.