I am interested in foreign residents in Japan because when I examined the city offices’ website, I found the field of foreigners to realize the multicultural society, that is why, I want to know them. There are some problems for foreigners such as refugees, technical intern trainees and so on.
As for refugees, in Japan, the system is very strict and the population of refugees is few. Recently, the discussion for refugees is more active because of Ukraine invasion and the governments should look over its institution.
Also, in foreigner workers and technical intern trainees, there are a lot of problems, for example the low salary, too long working hours, power and sexual harassment. When I worked food factory for one day only, I was surprised at the number of foreign women and severe working. Many foreigners are given discriminatory treatment and the supports for them have a shortage. I would like to know their situation concretely and the working conditions.
Many foreigners have various problems which contain an issue I do not know. I want to discover such problem and learn it. Now, I know the outline of refugees and foreign workers, so, I want to decide the specific concepts while checking.
I learnt the walls of Japanese are problem for foreigners in Japan by knowing voices and stories, and discussing. In discussing with Shiori, she said that her co-worker from China was discriminated by customers. I was surprised by the truth that there is currently the discrimination against foreigners in Japan. I expect that the elderly especially discriminates against them and I want to know the Japanese consciousness of foreign residents. According to NHK放送文化研究所, the proportion of approving the increasing foreigners is high at 70% and, the older the age, the more disapproved of increasing them. Youngers lives in global society, that is why discrimination against foreigners is fewer.
Also, from 出入国管理庁, there are some problems for foreigners; the studying Japanese, the measure of disaster, medical care and so on. Regarding studying Japanese, the highest cause is that the expense of Japanese classroom and language school is expensive for foreigners. I want to know the kinds of the supports of Japanese. 「やさしい日本語」 is one of the supports and, I understood the meanings. In Hachioji city, there is support group, kokohana, which lecures to offices, local government, Japanese students and foreigners. A lot of Japanese do not know the activity such support groups. It is important for not only foreigners but also Japanese to know the existence of supports and extend the opportunity of interact foreigners and Japanese.
・What kind of Japanese and foreign interaction is taking place?
・What can we do to realize multicultural conviviality?
References
・NHK 放送文化研究所 https://www.nhk.or.jp/bunken/research/yoron/pdf/20200801_5.pdf
・出入国管理庁「令和２年度 在留外国人に対する基礎調査報告書」https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001342229.pdf
I learnt that the walls of Japanese are very serious problem for foreign residents and different kinds of supports. In discussion, Jain said that it is difficult for foreigners to understand the structure of national pensions and tax, and some overseas students who can not understand Japanese very much go to other city for being taught by staff who can talk in other language. The local government should need excellent staffs who are able to know other language. Also, I want focus what the best way is to teach Japanese to foreigners.
One of the supports is “やさしい日本語” which started when Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in January 17, 1995. Many foreigners did not know the important information because they were not the mastery of language perfectly1). To disseminate information such as disaster, to foreigners, “やさしい日本語” is the role of communication tool with foreign residents. I did not know that until I looked it up. According to 令和元年度「国語に関する世論調査」の結果の概要2), The percentage of knowing “やさしい日本語” was about 29.6 % and, those of not were at approximately 68.1 %. By age group, 60s the highest rate, and the younger they were, the less they know, that is why, It is important for Japanese to know “やさしい日本語” in order to overcoming the walls of Japanese.
References
1) 出入国在留管理庁、文化庁「在留支援のためのやさしい日本語ガイドライン」
https://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/kokugo_nihongo/kyoiku/pdf/92484001_01.pdf
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2）文化庁「令和元年度『国語に関する世論調査』の結果の概要」
https://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/pdf/92531901_01.pdf
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As for Research note 3, I learnt やさしい日本語 to know the best way how we communicate with foreign residents in Japan. I found that many Japanese did not understand it by studying the survey of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. I focused on two activities of “やさしい日本語”.
First, Seven-Eleven uses it in order to train foreign staffs which is called “おもてなしtraining”. The proportion of foreign workers is about 10% in Seven-Eleven, and certainly, I often meet foreign staffs in Tokyo. The one of the contents of training is how to and why the staff bow to customers. Seven-Eleven teaches foreigners not only the way but also Japanese culture, and their policy is the realization of workplace where everyone can flourish in Multicultural society.
Next, Konohana supports foreigners so as to connect foreigners and Japanese. They open the meeting for talking with Japanese and cooking class. Also, they introduce volunteer class to study Japanese and schools for foreigners. They create a space for Japanese and foreign-rooted parents and children to interact in “やさしい日本語” and open various workshops for not only foreigners but also Japanese children.
References
1) 東京都多文化共生ポータルサイト 「『やさしい日本語』活用事例」 https://tabunka.tokyo-tsunagari.or.jp/pdf/yasanichi/18_sej.pdf
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I learnt that disability and child poverty from Jain and Chisaki. According to the presentation by Jain, she made the figure to make us think about inclusive society, and because the figure was presented twice, once at the beginning and once at the end, so I was easy to understand what the inclusive society means. Also, there are many graphs and pictures which is easy to know for me. I learnt that there is law about working for disabilities, but it is difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises to obey it because of less profits than major companies. Even if a major company employ them, their tasks are odd jobs. The environment which is easy to work for disabilities is imperfect.
As for the presentation by Chisaki, I understood the structure of poverty children. Especially, children poverty is the hard problem because even if it is a problem for us, it is difficult for children to notice problems because it is a normal environment for them. And youngers is apt to dislike the support atmosphere as they are concerned about what others think of one's surroundings. I knew that it is important for them to make room.
In my discussion, the reason why many Japanese especially youngers do not know “やさしい日本語” is that they take it for granted that they speak English to foreigners. Of course, speaking English is very important, but it is the need for them to know “やさしい日本語”.
I learnt education for people with foreign roots and disabilities from Yuka. Both students do not been understood by teachers and other students, which lead to not enough education and problems. Toshi said that whether students are positive or negative was depended on teachers.
If all teachers were good teachers for foreigners and disabilities, the bias against them might be improved, however this situation is very difficult. I need a place for them in schools which is that everyone drops in even if they do not have somewhat problems. Also, the government should be more supports for school systems to set up barrier-free systems in school.
I studied the work environment for disabilities from Toshi. His presentation was used the graph effectively, and I could imagine the change of environment in the future. Recently, there is policy for disabilities to work easily, but this policy is not working well. Some companies should change the resent so as not to limit their possibilities.
Other presentations used many shows and pictures, and I understood easily. I can know which materials are easy to research and compare, and it is important to research the history of problems. In the 2nd semester, I have not decided the theme to study yet, and I wonder whether to study in depth what you have researched in the first semester or tackle new issues such as poverty and gender gap.