For Japan to be a Country of Choice. How to live in harmony with foreigners

For Japan to be a Country of Choice. How to live in harmony with foreigners

In order to achieve further economic growth, Japan will need about four times as many foreign workers in 2040 as in 2020. On the occasion of World Population Day on July 11, we will trace the pages of this report.

In 2040, the number of foreign workers in Japan will be 420,000 short of demand JICA Sadako Ogata Institute for Peace and Development released in March a “Report on Survey and Research on Initiatives for Realizing a Society Coexisting with Foreign Residents in 2030/40,” which presents two main findings of the study.

The first is a simulation of the future acceptance of foreign nationals. Based on forecasts of demographic and industrial structural changes and labor markets in Japan and in countries that send out foreign workers, we estimated the number of foreign nationals to be accepted in Japan as of 2030 and 2040, among other things. The other is a study and analysis of how to coexist with foreigners in future regions in line with changes in industry and society, based on the current situation surrounding foreigners in Japan and the projected results of the number of people to be accepted in Japan.

The results of these studies have revealed the following figures for Japan in 2040: “There will be a shortage of 420,000 foreign workers relative to demand,” and “In nine prefectures, the ratio of foreign workers to the working-age population will exceed 10 percent.

While there have been individual analyses of domestic labor demand and international labor force, this is believed to be the first survey and study to present such comprehensive and specific figures.

The report contains a variety of figures, but the main message of the report is that this is a good opportunity to start discussions about accepting foreigners based on concrete figures,” said Hitoshi Fujika, senior research fellow at JICA’s Sadako Ogata Institute for Peace and Development. The report is a very important document.

There are diverse opinions about accepting foreign workers. Some are heard to say, “Couldn’t the Japanese alone achieve growth?” However, the results of this study, taking into account the social advancement of women and the elderly in Japan, show with tangible data that it is essential for Japan, whose working-age population continues to decline, to create a society in which Japanese and foreigners work together to achieve growth as a nation.

We really didn’t want to use the word ‘foreigners’ in our research report,” said Senior Researcher Fujika. “We didn’t want to use the word ‘foreigners’ in the report because it would make a clear distinction from the Japanese. We need to recognize that foreigners are not relative to each other, but that we are all working together to create a society.

Cultivation of Key Personnel to Bridge the Gap between Foreigners and Japanese Residents is Important The research report also indicates issues such as the lack of a well established support system for local governments that accept foreign workers. One approach to solving these issues is to “nurture key persons” for both foreigners and Japanese who support a multicultural society.

The initiative in Oizumi-machi, Gunma Prefecture, where many foreign workers have settled for long periods of time, is a distinctive example. Cultural interpreters” who serve as bridges between foreign residents and Japanese residents and a team of foreign volunteers serve as key persons to support the effective communication of information and various types of support. In the future, it is expected that foreign residents will actively participate in the local community and become leaders in the community.

JICA concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with Gunma Prefecture last December, and will continue to work together in new areas such as multicultural coexistence and co-creation.

© Source JICA

Read More