Japan Tour 2007

NSW Community Leaders and Specialists Tour 2007

The challenge for Japan is how to maintain economic growth by increasing population levels through migration, while retaining its traditions and culture and managing social cohesion and community harmony.

This is one of the observations made by a delegation that recently toured Japan at the invitation of the Japan Foundation to discuss issues relevant to multiculturalism in both a Japanese and Australian context.

The purpose of the visit was to promote multicultural coexistence and mutual understanding among different cultures, exchange information and ideas, establish networks with community leaders, youth, academics, non-government organizations and government officials.

The main interests of the host organizations (local government, Ministries, academic institutions, and non-government organizations) were:

• The policy and activity of the Community Relations Commission and NSW Government
• Policy and measures to support settlement and promote participation of immigrants
• Policy and measures to promote access to public services such as education, health care and employment
• Collaboration and cooperation between national and local governments, non-government organizations and local communities.

The delegation visited Tokyo, Sendai, Nagoya and Kyoto between 18-31 January 2007. During that period it presented public symposiums in Tokyo and Nagoya and participated in discussion groups in Sendai . It met with numerous agencies and organizations both government and non-government and visited schools and NGO’s. A home stay in Sendai, organised sightseeing, and extensive unescorted nightly walks through back streets to talk with local people, visit markets and eat at small noodle bars, increased the delegates’ understanding and appreciation of Japanese people and culture.

Soon after arrival the delegation was briefed on Multicultural Policy in Japan by the Deputy Director of International Affairs Division for Local Authorities, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication. The themes highlighted in the briefing included:

• A decreasing population due to low birth rates and an ageing population
• A rapid increase in immigration since 1989 driven by economic factors ie. a booming economy and a shortage of unskilled and semi-skilled labour for manufacturing industries for the export market
• Immigrants being mainly sourced through Korea , Brazil and increasingly China
• Skills shortages also being noticed and addressed eg. MOU with the Philippines Government regarding the recruitment of Pilipino nurses
• Multiculturalism was put on the official agenda in 2006 and the role of local government is critical.

Similar themes were repeated wherever the delegation went and there was a consistency in the issues discussed throughout the tour. These can be grouped into the following broad but overlapping areas:

1. The status of migrants; their visa conditions, rights, access to services and obligations
2. Settlement issues; language, housing, education, health, working conditions, poverty, crime, media, community relations and community harmony
3. Service delivery; appropriate, accessible, affordable and relevant
4. Community engagement, participation, and capacity building
5. Governance; leadership, planning, coordination and funding.

The delegation considered the symposiums to be highly successful. There was a broad range of people in the audience and it was clear that migration is a key issue that many Japanese people have considered at great length. Questions presented to the delegation were well thought out and included concerns about relations between different communities, language acquisition and the ability of non-Japanese students and residents to integrate into Japanese culture.

In Sendai the exchange of ideas with small groups from various organisations afforded the delegation the opportunity to respond to the specific questions and experiences of the many different interest groups who were represented.

In Tokyo , Sendai and Nagoya the interest was such that time ran out on each occasion. More time to discuss the policies and allay some of the fears regarding migrants would have been helpful in being able to further discuss, elaborate on and respond to the issues raised.

The delegation observed that analysis and planning evidenced at the prefecture level is of a high calibre. Local government is both initiating and responding. The International Centres are well organised; the activities, library, translated material and all associated resources are of a high standard, easy to navigate and welcoming for non-Japanese. Teachers and staff at schools and NGOs are professional, enthusiastic, motivated and displayed genuine concern for the students, families and the community in which they operate.

Of concern to the delegation was the non-compulsory school attendance of non-Japanese students, the progression of non-Japanese students through the education system, and their acquisition of the Japanese language. An ability to use the common language is fundamental to participation, education, employment and social cohesion. This, left unchanged, together with prejudice and the capacity of parents to provide adequate guidance and supervision, may lead to anti-social activities, criminal activities, and divisiveness.

How well Japan manages the challenge before it will in part be due to how it welcomes those who migrate to work and live there. If people are encouraged to permanently settle in Japan , then there is an increased likelihood of them developing a sense of commitment to the future wellbeing of Japan . With the right encouragement and support, future generations will be able to more actively participate in aspects of Japanese society because, having a stake in Japan, they can achieve their hopes and dreams for themselves, and their aspirations for their children, embedded in the Japanese social fabric.

The delegation expresses its gratitude and appreciation to The Japan Foundation and to all those agencies, organisations and individuals that it came into contact with in Japan .

The members of the delegation were; Stepan Kerkyasharian AM, Chairman of the Community Relations Commission(CRC) and President of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board; Richard Acheson, Director Community Relations (CRC); Jihad Dib, Deputy Principal, Punchbowl Boys High School; Violet Roumeliotis, Manager, Canterbury-Bankstown Migrant Resource Centre.

Originally published in The Japan Foundation Newsletter March 2007