Nederlandse Vereniging in West Japan: Meeting for the Promotion of an Integrated Society

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• Announcements • Meeting for the Promotion of an Integrated Society

Twice a year, I represent the Netherlands Society in West Japan at the Meeting for the Promotion of an Integrated Society. These meetings, attended by Hyogo Governor Ido and other prefectural government officials, are organized by Hyogo Prefectural Government to better support the needs of the foreign community in Hyogo.

Hereby a brief report of the first meeting of this calendar year.

Date: Thursday, March 6, 2008
Venue: Hyogo house, Kobe
Organizations Represented:

Kobe University
Kansai Brazil Community
Kobe Overseas Chinese Association
The Indian Chamber of Commerce in Japan
Hyogo Prefecture Head Office of the Korean Residents Union in Japan
Hyogo Prefecture Headquarters of the General Association of Koreans
Netherlands Society in West Japan
Hyogo Latin Community
NGO Vietnam in Kobe
The Association of Foreign Schools in Hyogo Prefecture
NGO Network for Foreigner’s Assistance KOBE
NPO Takatori Community Center
Kobe International Center for Cooperation & Communication
Hyogo International Association
Hyogo Prefectural Government
Hyogo International Affairs Bureau
Hyogo Board of Education

1. The meeting opened with a welcome word by Governor Toshizo Ido and Mr. Akiyuki Hamagami, Director of the International Affairs Bureau, International Policy Division.

2. During a previous meeting it was agreed that observers are now allowed to attend the meetings. Those who wish to observe need to fill out an application on the day of the meeting at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Observers shall not publicly express support or dissent, nor take photographs, video or audio recordings.

3. Mr. Akiyuki Hamagami, described the many programs that have been established to create a “safe and secure environment for non-Japan residents.” These include:

NGO Support – Support for activities to assist non-Japanese Residents and the establishment of a shared office for NGO’s.

Advisory Services – Including meetings to promote the advisory service network and seminars, among others.

Information Service – Creation of a Multilingual Living Guide on the internet, pamphlets, distribution of information via FM CO-CO-LO and others.

Medical & Emergency Services – Training seminars for medical interpreters and distribution of information on medical institutions.

Japanese Language Education – Language classes, dispatch of language education advisors, training seminars and courses for volunteers, creation of a Japanese language education network, etc. Additional information here.

Education – Educational support programs for non-Japanese students, dispatch of advisors for non-Japanese students, seminars for support advisors, support for native language classes offered by non-Japanese communities, management of multicultural children’s center, etc.

4. The number of registered foreign nationals in Hyogo stood at 101,294 as of the end of December 2007. A decrease of 397 since December 2006. A breakdown was given of the various nationalities. Especially eye-catching was the great decrease of Koreans (many are dying of old age and the younger generations are taking Japanese nationality) and the increase of Chinese, Vietnamese and Brazilians. South and North Korea together with China make up 77.8% of the entire registered population.

5. During the discussion session a large number of issues were discussed in quite a lot of detail. A brief summary of the main issues:

International School – Mr. Bao YueChu suggested that opening a Vietnamese or Dutch school would be a way to attract more foreign companies to the region.

Education – At a previous meeting the need for buses to take foreign children to community schools was addressed. The Hyogo Government has started a special bus program and this is working well according to representatives of the affected communities.

Ms. Roxana Ajipe Oshiro and Ms. Marina Matsubara described the educational problems that children in the Latin and Brazilian community encounter. Many of these children attend Japanese schools, but can not be not supported by their parents because they have not mastered Japanese.

The result is that children can’t keep up because in the Japanese school system the students continue on to the next grade regardless of their level. Ms. Ajipe Oshiro gave the example of 12 year old child who was unable to continue on to high-school because his kanji level was at the 4th grade of elementary school.

Ms. Akiko hosokawa explained that the Hyogo Board of Education last year started researching this and other educational problems.

Several programs now exist, other members explained, but they are insufficient. The Brazilian community’s ability to assist the education of their children for example is close to breaking point.

Governor Ido suggested that it might be a good idea to create a special school. Hyogo Prefectural Government will look into this issue. Several other suggestions came up as well.

Discrimination – Mr. Satish Kumar Khandelwal described a recent event where an Indian citizen encountered discriminatory treatment at a hospital. This was eventually solved to the satisfaction of everybody, but he wondered if it was an exceptional case.

Governor Ido said that it may occur more often and that the prefectural government is aware of discriminatory practices in the real estate sector. They are addressing this problem and encouraged all members to bring this cases up when they occur.

Medical – Many foreign residents appear not to be insured or have language problems when visiting doctors and hospitals. Several courses of action were discussed.

Fingerprinting Law – Kjeld Duits described the anger and fear over the new fingerprinting law among long time residents. Many members concurred. Governor Ido was not aware that long-term residents also need to have their fingerprints and photos taken each time they return home to Japan, while the US program does not require that.

The Governor mentioned that the Japanese Ministry of Justice is very bad at protecting human rights. He promised he will take this issue up with the ministry, but added that he can’t promise whether they will listen.

6. Closing and thanks

6 March 2008 - Kjeld Duits

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