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March 2017

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Contents

Introduction

１ Revision Objective

２ Relation to Other Initiatives

３ Method

４ Time Frame

Chapter 1. Present Situation and Issues

１ Statistical Analysis of Present Situation

２ Observations from the Four Questionnaires

３ Analysis and Evaluation of Plan to-date

４ Main Issues

Chapter 2. Approaching the Takaoka City

Multicultural Implementation Plan

１ Fundamental Concept

２ Fundamental Objective

３ Fundamental Policies

４ Categorical Listing of Major Policies

Document １ Takaoka City Multicultural Implementation Plan Schedule

Document ２ Takaoka City Multicultural Symbiosis Promotion Committee

Document ３ Takaoka City Multicultural Symbiosis Promotions

Document ４ Multicultural Implementation Plan Terminologies

Statistical Data Regarding International Citizens in Takaoka and

Aggregate Results of Questionnaires in alignment with Plan Revision

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Introduction

１ Revision Objective

The Takaoka City Multicultural Plan was first formulated in March 2012 and

was born from the idea that a city which is comfortable to live in is one where all

members of the community are made to feel welcome. Since then, Takaoka City

has been making efforts to develop a suitable living environ in which foreigners

are able to reside as members of the community, living in peace of mind and

harmony.

Five years have passed since the formulation of The Takaoka City Multicultural

Plan, and during this time there has been a noted shift in human migration on a

global scale, along with an increase in the use of information technology, and

growing international relations between countries. Takaoka has also seen effects

from the National Inbound Tourism Policy and the opening of the Hokuriku

Shinkansen, with strengthening of international ties in a variety of fields,

including a noticeable increase in the number of tourists and visitors to the area,

and developments in regard to economic exchanges with overseas markets.

Furthermore, the amount of people with international roots is also increasing

year by year, with many foreigners studying and living in Takaoka. Along with

the high population rates of Brazilians, Chinese, and Filipinos, there is also a

growing diversity in regard to the increasing population of residents originating

from Vietnam, Pakistan, and India.

In following with this increasingly globalized Takaoka, a revision will be carried

out based upon the objective of “realizing a symbiotic community open to the

world, in which all residents mutually respect each other’s cultures, accepting

differences and working together as a community” as decided upon at the time

of the formulation of the 2012 Implementation Plan.

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２ Relation to Other Initiatives

The Takaoka City Multicultural Implementation Plan Revised Edition is a

publication which documents the fundamental concepts, systematical policies,

and objectives of initiatives in relation to multicultural symbiosis in Takaoka City,

for the purpose of “the promotion of a multicultural community” as published in

the basic initiatives as part of the Takaoka City Comprehensive Plan (from 2017

fiscal year to 2021 fiscal year). This plan envisions Takaoka as “a Creative City

enveloped in bountiful nature, history, and culture where people connect with

one another”.

Furthermore, this plan shall be consistent with National and Prefecture policies

such as the Regional Multicultural Coexistence Promotions Plan (2006),

Measures for Foreign Residents of Japanese Descent (2014), Toyama Prefecture

Multicultural Coexistence Plan (Revised Edition, 2012) and will carried out in

cooperation with other relevant policies.

３ Method

Upon the revision of the Implementation Plan, survey organizers sort the

consul of the Takaoka Multicultural Symbiosis Promotion Committee; a

committee consisting of those actively involved within the field of Multicultural

Promotion, academics, and those of experience. The survey was carried out in

following with the expertise of the members of this committee. Aside from

conducting a questionnaire to ascertain the present condition of international

residents, a circumstantial investigation was also carried in relation to groups

and organizations which provide opportunities to interactive and exchange with

international residents.

Furthermore, the Multicultural Symbiosis Promotion Committee, comprised of

affiliated section chiefs and the Multicultural Symbiosis Liaison Committee, was

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established within City Hall. This enabled information to be easily shared

between different departments, as survey conductors worked in co-operation

with the Takaoka Multicultural Symbiosis Promotion Committee.

Moreover, the survey conductors strived to produce a revised Implementation

Plan which would reflect the real opinions and current condition of the citizens of

Takaoka City by accepting public comments via submissions through the

internet.

４ Initiative Time Frame

The time period for the Implementation Plan is set at a target of five years

from the year 2017 fiscal year until 2021 fiscal year. During that time, suitable

adjustments will be carried out in order to meet any alterations in the situation of

international residents.

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Chapter 1 Present Situation and Issues

１ Statistical Analysis of Present Situation

（１） Transition in Numbers

Despite the fall in number of foreign residents after the recession due to the

collapse of the Lehman Brothers (2008), the population of international

residents is steadily increasing, after reaching its lowest reading in 2013

(Graph 1).

As shown in Table 1, the number of residents originating from Vietnam and

other Southeast Asian countries has been increasing in recent years.

Furthermore, it is clear that the nationalities of international residents living in

Takaoka City are becoming increasingly diverse.

Graph 1 Comparative Graph of the Population of Takaoka City (Japanese/Foreigner) Pop.

Proportion of

Foreign Residents

Foreign Residents

Japanese Residents

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year total

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2008 3,296 1 6 6 8 1,857 10 803 1 1 16 18 1 3 1 2 113 4 1 4

2009 2,948 3 5 7 4 1,597 8 728 2 1 19 16 2 1 111 4 1

2010 2,851 2 8 5 9 1,459 2 9 725 1 1 20 19 1 101 4 1

2011 2,876 1 4 5 13 1,392 7 714 2 1 23 12 1 1 1 107 6 1

2012 2,668 1 4 14 18 1,128 4 720 6 1 1 1 23 10 1 1 2 104 7 1

2013 2,527 1 2 10 17 1,000 1 2 728 16 1 1 26 5 1 1 1 2 4 104 7

2014 2,533 6 10 15 960 1 3 3 737 22 1 31 10 1 1 2 3 106 6

2015 2,645 6 11 18 958 1 3 4 726 23 1 1 1 37 20 1 1 1 4 102 4

2016 2,877 5 12 19 1,007 7 4 716 24 1 1 37 47 1 1 1 2 5 103 3

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2008 1 1 3 4 60 10 3 267 1 9 31 1 1 6 6 28 8

2009 1 1 4 4 57 10 3 271 1 10 24 2 1 1 7 6 28 8

2010 1 1 4 3 59 11 4 305 1 10 27 1 2 7 6 31 11

2011 1 2 4 1 54 21 11 351 9 40 1 2 7 6 38 37

2012 2 2 5 2 49 12 14 337 10 49 1 1 6 7 1 33 83 7

2013 3 1 4 2 38 10 15 284 10 49 1 3 8 9 1 30 127 2

2014 2 3 4 1 44 5 13 266 1 1 10 38 1 1 3 9 9 26 176 2

2015 2 1 4 51 6 15 312 1 2 10 36 1 1 3 7 1 8 25 233 3

2016 7 4 4 1 43 7 10 375 1 2 10 38 1 1 4 7 1 8 3 23 331

Table１：Transition of Foreign Population (Separated by Nationality)

Source： International Population Registry as categorized by Nationality and Area of Residence (Takaoka)

Toyama Prefectural Government International Department (Data Annually Collected)

／

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（２） Comparative Ratio of Native Languages

60% of the international population of Takaoka City is made up of residents

originally from Brazil or China. The population of foreign citizens from these two

countries has long since been relatively high in Takaoka City. Residents of Filipino

nationality represent 13% of the international population, and 12% are of

Vietnamese nationality.

Considering that around ten years ago (December 2006) Brazilian and Chinese

residents made up approximately 80% of the international population, it fair to

say that the distribution ratio is now shifting towards a more diverse

international population.

（３） Age Composition

Graph 2 shows the population pyramid of both the Japanese and international

residents, comparing the age compositions of the two communities respectively.

The graph depicting residents of Japanese nationality reflects a trend commonly

seen across the Japanese archipelago, with a distinctive peak in population due

to many births as seen with the Baby Boom Generation, along with another peak

in population around the forties mark, as a result of the Second Baby Boom

Generation.

Though a skewed ratio can be seen in population in regard to young men, and

women in the upper age bracket, there does not appear to be any huge

difference in population when looking at the age composition of the international

Class. Total Brazil China Philippines Pakistan India USA Vietnam North/South

Korea

Russia Indonesia Sample

Number

Native Language Portuguese Simplified

Chinese

English

Tagalog

English

Urdu

English

Hindi

English Vietnamese Hangul Russian Indonesian

Total 2,853 1,020 695 358 46 40 24 332 101 36 45 2,697

Ratio 1 100.00 35.75 24.36 12.55 1.61 1.40 0.84 11.64 3.54 1.26 1.58 94.53

Ratio 2 100.00 35.75 24.36 16.40 ※1 11.64 3.54 1.26 1.58 -

Table２ Comparative Ratio of International Population by Native Language

Source：Takaoka City Resident Registry（September 2016）

Each respective language is treated as the mother tongue of respondents

※１ English is classed as a native language for countries where English is an classed as an

official language

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population as a whole.

A peak in the male international population can be seen for residents in their

twenties. This is thought to be as a result of many individuals emigrating from

countries, such as Vietnam and China as specialist trainee interns. Though the

length of stay for specialist trainee internships ranges from six months to one

year, it is expected that this demographic is to remain at a fixed level, given the

high number of the individuals from the same demographic (age, nationality,

visa) coming into and out of Takaoka.

Conversely, the international female population is widely distributed between

the ages of twenty and forty-nine.

A far greater number of women in their mid-to-upper thirties can be seen in

comparison to men from the same age bracket. It is thought that the difference

in these population figures is because there are many number women of

※Baby Boom Generation…Those born between 1947-1949 in Japan

※Second Baby Boom Generation…Those born between 1971-1941 in Japan

Source: Takaoka City Resident Registry (December 2015)

↑

Age

↓

← Population →

←Baby Boom Generation

←Second Baby Boom Generation

Graph 2 Comparative Population Graphs of Japanese/Foreigners

Female Female

Male Male

Japanese Foreigners

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overseas nationalities residing in Takaoka with their spouses; including spouses

of both foreign and Japanese nationality. While the number of international

residents in their teens may appear to be very low, it could be that there are a

number of minors of Japanese nationality with mothers originating from

overseas. It is, therefore, fair to say that there may be a greater need of

assistance in regard to childrearing and education than what is suggested by the

data, when extrapolated on the basis of nationality alone.

When looking at the two graphs respectively, it also becomes clear that most

of the international population living within Takaoka is of an age younger than

that of the Baby Boom Generation. Though there is a tendency to assume the

international population is solely comprised of those aged from infants to work

laborers, it is expected that there will be a growing need for policies and

assistance in relation to elderly care in years to come.

This graph was based upon 2015 year-end population figures. At the time this

data was collected, the population ratio of international residents was recorded

at 1.51. However, when comparing the population of those aged 70 and under,

the ratio of international residents born since 1945 was calculated at 1.87,

according to the same year-end figures. This number rises to as high as 2.61

when calculating the population ratio for those born since the year 1970. It is

therefore necessary to consider effective support systems and methods to

enable mutual understanding in regard to specific age demographics, rather

than simply comparing general population figures as a whole.

Table 3 shows the comparison of international residents along a five year age

bracket compared against the national average, based upon figures from the

2015 Start-of-Year Population Consensus. By looking at this table, it becomes

apparent that foreign residents aged below 50 years old are significantly higher

than the national average. Furthermore, it is also important to note that the ratio

for international residents in their twenties is considerable higher than the

national average.

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Due to the fact there are large numbers of international families residing in

Takaoka City, it is fair to assume that these residents intend of living in Takaoka

for an extended period. This could also mean that children raised in Takaoka will

also go onto raise the next generation here, leading to a further increase of

residents with international heritage.

Source：Ministry of International Affairs 2015 International Resident Registry 1st January 2015

（４） Regional Specific Demographics

Table 4 shows the fluctuations of areas in

Takaoka with foreign population figures above

the general municipal ratio from 2013 to 2015.

Furthermore, in Table 5 regions with a high

household ratio were extrapolated and the the

number of international households was

compared against the population ratio.

By looking at the figures from Table 4, it

becomes apparent which areas have a

comparatively large international population.

The area with the highest population ratio can

be seen surpassing the 3% mark. A slight

variation can be seen between the figures

during this two year time frame.

Table 5 shows the areas which produce a

figure higher than ‘1’ when the percentage of

international households is subtracted by the

Table３ Takaoka International Resident Population Compared Against National Average

市区町村

名総数

0～4

歳5～9

10～

14

15～

19

20～

24

25～

29

30～

34

35～

39

40～

44

45～

49

50～

54

55～

59

60～

64

65～

69

70～

74

75～

79

80～

84

85～

89

90～

94

95～

99

100歳

以上

全国平均 1.61 1.36 1.06 0.91 1.39 3.96 4.16 3.30 2.36 1.91 1.93 1.66 1.20 0.78 0.56 0.47 0.42 0.32 0.29 0.32 0.27 0.23

高岡市 1.44 1.77 1.48 1.37 1.69 4.21 4.80 3.28 2.50 2.04 2.00 1.31 0.70 0.35 0.17 0.10 0.10 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.00 0.00

Area Total

0～4

Nat Aver.

Takaoka

100＋

Table ４ Regional International Population Influx （Areas with International Population

over Municipal Average.）

Source：Takaoka City Resident Registry

(Data collected annually)

Year

District 2013 (a) 2015(b)

Influx

(b)-(a)

Makino 3.01 3.11 0.11

Seibi 2.19 2.46 0.27

Nomura 2.38 2.35 △0.03

Higashi Goi 2.02 2.32 0.30

Kuniyoshi 2.08 2.20 0.13

Saijo 1.93 2.02 0.09

Jozuka 1.84 1.96 0.13

Hiramai 1.66 1.84 0.19

Toide 1.42 1.66 0.24

Shimozeki 1.38 1.52 0.14

District Household %

(a)

Population %

(b)

Difference

(a)-(b)

Kuniyoshi 5.44 2.2 3.24

Higashi Goi 4.78 2.32 2.46

Akamaru 2.42 1.02 1.4

Saijo 3.32 2.02 1.3

Toide 2.95 1.66 1.29

Sano 2.64 1.37 1.27

Fukuda 2.1 0.98 1.12

Table５ International Household Percentage Subtracted by Population Percentage

(Areas with figures higher than 1)

Source：Takaoka City Resident Registry

(2015 Year-end Statistics)

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Takaoka City

(旧)

Fig 1 Location of Kuniyoshi and Makino

population ratio. It is interested to note that many industrial parks and

commercial districts relating to metalworking can be found in these areas, so it

may be possible that many of the employees from these companies live in

dormitories within close proximity to their place of work.

Among these seven different areas, Akamaru stood out as having a higher

female population ratio, as opposed to the other six areas which have a higher

male population ratio.

（５） Differences in Regional Demographics－Makino & Kuniyoshi－

【Makino District】

The Makino District is found on the eastern

bank of the Sho River, with the

outer-circumference of the area being

surrounded by Imizu City. Though an industrial

park can be found in the eastern-most area,

next to Toyama

Shin-Minato Port, large scale construction in

farm areas has resulted in a rapid increase in

population, with international house-buyers aged in

their mid-to-late thirties being a particularly

predominant demographic. An increasing infant population is a trend

characteristically seen in this area. (Graph 3)

Furthermore, foreign residents of varying ages can be found residing in this

area. Though the female population is ten percent higher than the male

※Regarding the International Household Percentage & Population Percentage Comparison

The term “International Household Percentage” refers to the percentage of the total population of households

which are exclusively made up of foreign residents. District population/Number of household members= Number of

households, foreign population/number of household members= number of foreign households, foreign population

percentage = foreign household percentage. However, it is worthy to mention that households where international

residents are married to a Japanese National are not included in this percentage. In the case that all family members

are foreigners, the foreign population is greater than or equal to the number of foreign households. The average

number of family members according to the 2015 Takaoka City Resident Registry was 2.6. It is considered that those

below this average consist of nuclear households made up of only couples, or single households.

また、夫婦を仮定した場合男女比は 1:1 となるため、いずれかの性別に偏りがある場合には、同属性の単身者が多いと予想

される。

Kuniyoshi Makino

Fukuoka

former

Town

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Source：Source：Takaoka City Resident Registry

(2015 Year-end Statistics)

※There was a great difference between the foreign ratios at each of the following elementary schools

compared to others found in the city – Seibi 5.14, Makino 4.69, Nomura 4.65 as of 1st May 2016.

The general ratio for elementary schools on the whole was 1.37, and junior high schools 0.94. The combined

ratio for both elementary and junior high school was 1.22.

population, the age of the male population is not weighted towards those aged in

their twenties, as opposed to the trend seen with the general international

population. It is therefore presumed that many international residents are living

in this area with their families.

On average, there is one international resident for every thirty two Japanese

National residents. However, when looking at the statistics of students aged

between 7 and 12, this ratio lowers to one international resident to every twenty

second Japanese National. It is therefore fair to say that students of foreign

nationality are present in every class. Moreover, when considering those children

of Japanese nationality with mothers from overseas, it is assumed that there will

be an average of 1-2+ children with international heritage found in each class

within the Makino District.

【Kuniyoshi District】

The farming area of Kuniyoshi is located on the western bank of the Oyabe

River, with many industrial parks found in the local vicinity. Aside from this, many

manufacturing industries can be found on the opposite side of the river within

Graph 3 Makino (left) and Kuniyoshi (right) Age Comparative Foreign Resident Population Graph

↑

Age

↓

← Population →

← Foreign Resident Ratio →

Female

Male Female

Male

- 13 -

the areas of Saijo and Goi. Assuming that many employees work at these

neighboring manufacturing facilities, it marks Kuniyoshi as an area of great

convenience in regard to commuting to and from work.

Looking back at the decline of the Japanese population, despite there being

little difference between the population of elementary school children of Makino

District thirty years ago, the child population of Kuniyoshi has now fallen by a

third.

Given the relatively low general population, the international population ratio

can often dramatically increase, even with the presence of just one extra foreign

resident. Males in their twenties and thirties are particularly predominant in this

area, with the gender ratio of men being almost three times that of women at

60:18. It is therefore supposed that many of these men are living by themselves.

Furthermore, there are almost no international children registered as living in

this area.

In the case of the Kuniyoshi District, the comprehensive population is relatively

low, with those aged over 65 years exceeding 32.6%, which may lead to issues

in regard to local efforts within the community. Though it may be the case that

international residents can be pocketed together, living in employee dormitories

etc., it may be necessary to consider the potential for actively utilizing these

human resources as members of the community, in regard to activities such as

regional hazard preparedness, snow removal, etc.

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２ Observations from the Four Questionnaires

In following with the revision of the Multicultural Implementation Plan, two

separate questionnaires, focusing on four different target groups, were held

between the months of August and September in 2016.

International Residents Questionnaire（1）International Residents aged over 18

Regional and Lifestyle Questionnaire （2）Residents’ Associations

(Life in the Community）

（3） Nurseries & Schools

（Children and Childcare）

（4）Refuge Shelters Management/

Administrative Personnel

（Protocol in the Event of Disaster）

These questionnaires were conducted in order to ascertain general trends,

specific needs, and occurring issues in relation to international residents.

Furthermore, the three fields listed above were considered as settings which

most frequently deal with foreigners. The answers from the Regional and

Lifestyle Questionnaire were used as a reference, while analyzing results from

the International Residents Questionnaire.

（１） International Residents Questionnaire

International residents over the age of 18 were the target group for this

questionnaire.（2,395 people as of 1.7.2016）

Upon organizing composition ratios for the main ten nationalities and other

remaining countries residing in Takaoka, questionnaires were sent via post to

half of all eligible candidates (1,203 people). Moreover, numerous efforts were

carried out in order to gain as many respondents as possible, including placing

questionnaires at the Foreign Consultation Desk on the first floor of Takaoka City

Hall, and distributing questionnaires through elementary and junior high

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schools.

The questionnaire itself was prepared in four different languages, including

Easy Japanese, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, and English. The questionnaire

was also uploaded onto the city homepage to allow residents who speak

languages other than those listed above, to complete the survey, with the

assistance of translational software.

Survey questions were organized into separate sections within which the

respondents were asked about the following seven matters; ➀ Background

Information, ② Reason for living in Takaoka, ③ Thoughts regarding Takaoka

④ Communication ⑤ Lifestyle ⑥ Future Plans ⑦ Five Year Comparison.

The final number of respondents was 210, 8.8% of all eligible residents.

① Background Information

The distribution of

respondents was relatively

similar to that of the general

distribution ratio in regards to

nationality. The questionnaire

received many responses from

those of Brazilian, Chinese, and

Filipino nationality. However,

there were also a high number of Vietnamese respondents due to the fact that

many of the questionnaires were completed by students studying Japanese at

the Toyama Business School facility.

Article 1 ① Gender and Nationality of Respondents (n=211)

Male

Female

Others

Unknown

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Furthermore, this is also the reason why the number of respondents under the

age of 25 mainly consists of Vietnamese residents.

The majority of respondents answered that they started living in Japan by

their thirties, with around 52% of this figure stating that they had already moved

to Japan in their twenties. Furthermore, 6.2% of respondents reported that they

started living in Japan by the age of 15.

Brazilians account for the nationality which has the longest total length of

residency in Takaoka, with the average period of residency coming to fourteen

years.

6.2% of respondents started to

live in Japan from an early age.

Article ⑤ Age Respondents Began Living in Japan (n=195)

Article 1 ② Population Distribution based upon Population, Age, and Nationality (n=200)

Brazil

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65% of respondents are involved

in employment in some form or

another. Approximately 29% of

respondents answered that they are

regular employees; statistically

higher than those who answered

they were involved in part-time or

dispatch work.

Employees seemingly came from a

variety of industrial fields.

Around 58% answered that they were involved in the manufacturing industry.

Figures showed that the

majority of international

residents live with their

families. Only twenty

respondents answered that

they were single and living

by themselves. Moreover,

among those who answered

that they had a spouse or

partner, 27% responded

that their spouse/partner is Japanese. Those living with friends were mainly

international students.

② Reason for Coming to Takaoka

Though 53 respondents answered

that their reason for coming to Takaoka

was because of good job prospects,

there were many who responded that

they came to Takaoka because family

lived in the city, or because they

※“At Home Work” includes homemakers, care-givers, and those without occupation etc.

Article 1 ⑭ Residential Cohabitants of Respondents Multiple answers allowed

Article 2 Reasons for Coming to Takaoka Multiple answers allowed

27% of respondents stated that their spouses/partners are Japanese. Foreigners

Japanese

1 Job Opportunities

2 Family Live Here

3 Friend/s Live Here

4 Married a Local

5 Agreeable Climate

6 Convenient Lifestyle

7 Safe Place to Live

8 Other

Article 1 ⑫ Employment Status of Respondents (n=206)

Regular Employees

Temporary Staff

Part-time Staff

Managers (Employees)

Managers (No Employees)

Job Seekers

Students

At Home Work

Others

Spouse/ Partner

Child/ren Parent/s Grandparent/s Friend/s Colleague/s Single Others

- 18 -

married an individual whom originated from Takaoka.

Another common response was received from Vietnamese international

students who reside in rental housing as designated by their educational

facilities.

③ Impression of Life in Takaoka

During this section of the questionnaire, respondents were asked to give

answers to questions on a five point scale. Many respondents stated that their

impression of Takaoka was above average, with numerous respondents stating

that they felt that the city is a comparatively easy place to live.

※The number of respondents stating they have yet to experience Childrearing is becoming fewer.

Though the majority of respondents rated Takaoka as above average, there

were many that desired improvements in regard to the acquisition of

information and improved assistance when choosing a residence to live.

Article 3 Respondents’ Impression of Takaoka

1 Climate

2 Food/Culture

3 Ease of Administrative Procedures

4 Matters relating to Pregnancy & Childcare

5 Working Environment

6 Housing Situation

7 Procurement of Information

8 Shopping

9 At Times of Ill Health

Convenient/Good

Generally Convenient/Good

So-so

Slightly Inconvenient/Bad

Inconvenient/Bad

- 19 -

④ Communication

When asked about Japanese language ability, respondents mentioned that

they were most proficient in spoken Japanese. Reading was stated as the second

skill foreigners were most proficient in comprehending. Written Japanese proved

to be the most difficult for survey participants, with those originating from

non-Chinese speaking countries saying that Chinese characters proved to be a

particularly difficultly which often impeded comprehension. Furthermore, while

there may be many residents who face no difficultly in regard to daily

conversation, there is a possibility that these same individuals may not be able to

understand written explanatory leaflets and/or are unable to complete written

documentation. The trend suggests that consideration must be made to find

better methods of tackling the issue of handling and collecting written

documentation.

There are many cases when international residents can run into

communicational difficulties and/or not gain the necessary information they

require when it comes to more formal settings, like setting up bank accounts,

real estate contracts, and/or completing administrative procedures etc., in

which written documentation is an essential component.

Article 4-B Times of Informational and/or Communicational Impediments

A Administrative Procedures

B Everyday Shopping

C Eating Out

D Times of Ill Health

E Times of Ill Health

F Using Public Transport

G Opening Bank Accounts/

Real Estate Contracts

H Times of Severe

Weather

I When Faced with a

Problem

Always

Frequently

Usually

Rarely

Sometimes

Rarely

Generally

- 20 -

Furthermore, there were many international students who stated that they

faced language difficulties in times of ill-health, bad weather, and/or in instances

they faced in their daily lives. It may be fair to say that problems which

international students face differ from those of long-term residents, who have

established a strong foundation in Takaoka. This lack of a strong foundation may

be the reason behind the trend of international students feeling a stronger sense

of communicational difficulties. Considering the needs of international students

could also prove useful in regard to ensuring necessary provisions for

tourists/visitors who have no experience living in Takaoka.

There was a strong indication among the international community of a desire

to study the Japanese language. Almost 90% of respondents stated that they

wish to engage in Japanese studies; a statistic which is over 10% higher than the

result from the previous questionnaire.

Those who responded that further study of Japanese was not necessary were

residents who have someone within the home who can understand Japanese, or

international students already involved in Japanese language based learning.

Moreover, half of respondents that answered they didn’t require further

Japanese studies were residents with a Japanese National present in the family,

or special permanent residents who speak Japanese as their mother language.

The remaining respondents answered that Japanese studies are not necessary

because they can understand Japanese to an adequate extent. Only two

respondents※ answered that they share no interest in learning Japanese,

despite not being able to understand the language personally.

※These respondents answered that that they have “no desire to study Japanese” and that they “cannot

understand another language aside from their native tongue”.

Including Native Speakers

Article 4-D② Is there a Japanese Speaker in Present in your Household?

- 21 -

Japanese proved to be the top

answer among respondents

when asked what language

they can understand aside from

their mother tongue, with 78

individuals stating that they

gain information in their daily

lives through the medium of

Japanese television and/or

radio. It is thought that there

are many international

residents whom can

communicate and gain information if easy-to-understand Japanese phraseology

and lexis is used.

Aside from this, there were many respondents who stated they can

understand English as a second language. The next language which followed

was Spanish, which gained many responses mainly those originating from Brazil

or USA.

There was much diversity in regard to the nationalities of respondents who

answered that they can understand English. These respondents were not only

limited to those from countries within Europe, the Philippines, and India, where

English is used as an official language, but others including those from

South-American countries like Brazil, as well as those from Asian countries like

China, Korea, Mongolia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

⑤ Regarding Lifestyle

In this section, respondents were asked about specific examples regarding

various aspects of their everyday life. Firstly, there were many respondents who

explained linguistic difficulties as the root of many problems in relation to times

of ill-health. In the case of hospitals, many issues included being unable to

Article 4-F Language Spoken by Respondents as Non-Natives

Respondents

Native Speakers

※Data has been organized as mentioned below: Estimated native speakers (first/share language of home country) are omitted from

Number of estimated native speakers are included within the Native Speakers category.

Cf) In regard to English, those of Indian Nationality are included as Respondents.

the Respondents category.

Those of USA Nationality were included within the Native Speakers category.

- 22 -

complete medical questionnaires, the inability to effectively explain symptoms,

and difficultly in comprehending medical examination explanations, as well as

not being able to communicate with workers at the pharmacist.

Though similar issues arose in relation to work-place troubles, with many

respondents stating that they have difficulty communicating with their Japanese

co-workers, most respondents answered that their biggest problem was being

unable to procure job offers which they were eligible to apply for.

It is important to note that it is not the case that job offers are limited because

of a nationality issue. It proves to be the level of comprehension of the Japanese

language which appears to be the issue. Those working in a Japanese

environment must be able to comprehend Japanese at a level which does not

compromise health and safety measures within industrial work places.

There is also an issue of being unable to apply for positions due to a lack of

suitable means of getting to and from work, despite meeting the criteria of the

job. It is of high probability that these issues result in many international

Article 5-B Work related Troubles Multiple Answers Allowed

A Communication Barrier between Japanese Colleagues

B Treated Differently to Japanese Colleagues

E Unemployment due to Ethnic Reasons

C Worries of Being Dismissed

D Limited Job Opportunities

F Workplace Discrimination due to Ethnic Reasons

G Making Errs at Work due to Breakdowns

in Communication

Rarely

Sometimes

Usually

Frequently

Always

- 23 -

residents stating that there are very few job prospects in which they are able to

apply. （Information provided by Hello Work Commercial Employment Department）

In relation to waste disposal, most respondents answered that they know that

they have to separate their garbage and are aware of the designated collection

days.

Excluding international students, the number of respondents who answered

that they were aware and adhere to the rules regarding waste separation was

89.4%. Those who answered that they were aware of the designated days and

dispose of their garbage accordingly was even higher at 93%.

In consideration of the data received

from questionnaire respondents, it is fair

to say that information regarding waste

disposal is widely-known within the

international community. Furthermore,

most respondents answered that they

were able to correctly separate their

waste by consulting the necessary

disposal pamphlet.

In relation to Residents’ Associations,

around 80% of respondents stated that

they were aware of these organizations.

However, according to the results of the

survey, it seems there are many

Article 5-C ① Regarding Refuse Separation (n=201) Article 5-C ① Regarding Refuse Collection Days

(n=199)

Reference for Separating Waste?

Article 5-C ③ Is the Refuse Guide a Useful

when (n=185)

Article 5-D Regarding Residents’ Associations (n=199)

Do Not Know

Not Exactly Sure

Know But Do Not Abide

Know and Abide Rules

Know and Abide Rules

Know But Do Not Abide

Not Exactly Sure

Do Not Know

Do Not Know

Know (Non-member)

Know (Member)

- 24 -

international residents living in apartment buildings, who are not affiliated with

the Residents’ Associations. “Being too busy” was the top answer given for those

not being involved with Residents’ Associations, despite being aware of presence

of the organization. A total of 26 respondents gave this reason for not taking part

in the activities of Residents’ Associations.

Earthquakes/tsunamis proved to be the biggest concern that respondents

gave regarding natural disasters, followed by heavy snow in second place. Those

who answered heavy snow being a cause for concern were residents originating

from countries with comparatively warmer climates like the Philippines, who

may not be used to such conditions.

There was also a strong trend in regard to international students expressing

concerns about natural disasters. It could be fair to surmise that these anxieties

stem from a sense of helplessness by being separated from their families and

living in a different country.

Natural disasters, not only involve people living in the area, but also those who

find themselves in the region by chance through work or tourism. It is therefore

necessary to take steps to reduce greater anxiety and stress for those foreigners

Article 5-G ① Worries Relating to Natural Disasters

Respondents

Heavy Rain

& Flooding

Typhoons Heavy Snow Earthquakes/

Tsunami

Wild Animals Other

- 25 -

who are in the area for a limited time, as well as for the international community

residing in Takaoka.

The biggest issue concerning child-rearing was stated as being unable to read

information/correspondence passed on from the school. This issue can also be

interpreted as a underlying foundational problem in relation to Japanese

Language comprehension.

Moreover, 96.3% of respondents

said that they want their children to

undergo education in Japan

(including those children already

receiving education). This is an

increase from the percentage of

parents who stated they wanted

their children to undergo Japanese

school at the time of the previous

survey (94%).

Respondents desiring a higher

level of education in Japan for their

children increased, with around

87% of participants stating that

they want their children to undergo

education at technical colleges, as

well as junior colleges,

undergraduate studies and above.

This percentage is a noticeable

increase from the 71% result in the previous survey.

It is fair to say that these two results represent the parents’ desires to reside

on a long-term basis in Japan and have their children undertake the same

education as their Japanese counterparts.

Article 5-I ③ Desired Level of Education for Children in Japan

Article 5-I ② Do You Desire your Children to Receive

Education an Education in Japan

Yes

Unsure

No

Elementary School

Junior High School

Senior High School

Specialized/Vocational School

Junior College/University and Above

- 26 -

⑥ Regarding the Future

Around 67% of respondents say they will live, or, hope to keep living in

Takaoka in the future. Reasons stated for wishing to live in Takaoka included, the

safety of Takaoka given the relatively low risk of natural disasters. Takaoka was

also described as having delicious food, along with being described as an area

full of charm. Furthermore, there were many respondents who answered that

Takaoka is a convenient and nice place to live.

Furthermore, there is a clear trend which suggests that those who have not

resided in Japan or Takaoka City for too long believe it necessary to for people

from their own country to be living in the area if they were to continue living here

in the future. However, this does not seem to be something that individuals who

have long resided in Japan and/or Takaoka take into consideration when

deciding on a place to live.

There were many respondents who gave examples of desired support systems

which could help sway their decision to extend their length of residency in

Takaoka. These included, information regarding natural disasters and

evacuation support, opportunities for adults to study Japanese, and more

support for job seekers.

Article 6-B ③ Reasons for Wishing to Live in Takaoka

A Agreeable Climate

B Good Natural Environs

C Few Natural Disasters

D Delicious Cuisine

E Convenient Lifestyle

Live Here

H Can Gain Information Without Understanding Japanese

I Availablility of Foreign Consultancy Desk

M Ease of Finding Employment

N Good Working Conditions

L Consultants at Educational Facilities

K Interpreters at Medical Institutes

G Other Residents from Native Country

F Friendly Locals

Strongly Agree

Agree

Impartial

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

- 27 -

As stated previously on page 22-23, being able to understand the Japanese

language can be one effective method to help improve job prospects, so more

focus should be paid toward the subject of natural disasters and relating

preventative measures, as well as Japanese learning opportunities for adults.

Furthermore, in regard to the provision of information, there is also an

increasing number of people who stated that they desire documents to be

written in easy-to-understand Japapanese with the addition of furigana, as well

as desiring more information provided in their native language.

⑦ Five Year Comparison

Participants who have lived in Takaoka for over five years were also asked to

give their opinion about how Takaoka has changed within that time frame.

Though there were many who stated that Takaoka had improved in relation to

the procurement of information at public facilities, it is thought that there is a

much needed improvement to be made in relation to moving into/buying a

property, and hospital medical examinations.

Article 6-C Helpful Resources to Improve Life in Takaoka

A Information in Native Language

B Information in English (When Native Language is not available)

C Easy Japanese/Addition of Furigana

D Japanese Cultural Learning Opportunities

E Consultancy Opportunities to discuss Life in Japan

F Translation and Interpretation Services at Public Facilities

G Opportunities to Socialize with other Foreigners

H Opportunities to Socialize with Japanese

I Japanese Learning Opportunities for Adults

J Employment Support

K Information regarding Natural Disasters and Refuge Support

L Learning Opportunities to Study Japanese

Culture and History

Absolutely Necessary Useful if Available Not So Necessary Not Required

- 28 -

Results from the International Residents’ Questionnaire were mostly favorable,

with many of the municipal initiatives being well-received, and Takaoka being

thought of as a good place to live.

However, there is a possibility that many of the respondents who have a

favorable opinion of Takaoka or those who did not have access to a questionnaire

in their native language, may understand Japanese and/or English to a relatively

high level, and so rarely feel struggles in their everyday lives.

It is therefore fair to say that further measures for the improvement of quality

of life in Takaoka must still be made in the future.

（２） Residents’ Association Questionnaire（Regional Living）

The questionnaire addressed to Residents’ Associations was carried out via the

Takaoka City Residents’ Association Union from August to September. Though

there are 614 Residents’ Associations within Takaoka City, one sixth of these

organizations were selected as a sample from each area, resulting in 106

Residents’ Associations being selected as focus groups. A total of 74 Residents’

Associations completed the survey.

65% of Residents’ Associations answered that there are foreign residents

living within the jurisdiction of their authority. Regarding the amount of

Article 7 Five Year Comparision

A Information Procurement regarding Public Facilities

B Convenience of Shopping/Eating Out

C Information Procurement regarding Public Transport

D Ease of Moving into Public Housing

E Ease of Moving into/ Purchasing Private Housing

F Ease of Receiving Medical Health Checks G Information Procurement Regarding

Educational/Childcare Facilities

H Comprehension of Road/Information Signs

slightly improved

Dramatically Improved

Slightly Improved

No Change

Gotten Slightly Worse

Gotten Worse

- 29 -

Trouble Yes

I think so

I do not

think so

No Communication

Yes 1 7

I think so 10 9 2

I do not think so 1 4 23 1

No 1 2 7

Residents’ Association Questionnaire Item 3

Interaction and Trouble between Japanese Nationals

and International Community

international resident-only households involved with the Residents’ Associations

activities, around half of respondents answered that all/almost all non-Japanese

households are enrolled in their organization. Around 10% of respondents

answered that those living in shared residencies were not eligible for

membership. 22.6% of Residents’ Associations answered that none of the

non-Japanese households were registered with their organization, and 12.9%

stated that they had not invited nor offered an explanation regarding Residents’

Association participation to international families.

The main response received was that non-Japanese families do not tend to

participate in any community activities, events, nor hold group leader roles. In

spite of this, however, there were some Residents’ Associations that stated that

international households mostly/partly helped out with regional clean-up

activities.

Within the International Residents Questionnaire, there were numerous

responses from respondents who stated that one of the benefits of joining the

Residents’ Association was being able to help out with regional clean-up

activities. Participation in these

particular activities may represent

a strong consciousness of

religious volunteering and also of

the Brazilian love for cleanliness.

Furthermore, one of the main

reasons behind such high

participation rates may be

because there is no requirement

to be able to communicate in Japanese

during these types of events.

51.5% of respondents stated that they do not usually interact with the

international community.

- 30 -

67.6% of respondents answered that they had faced no troubles with

international residents. It could be assumed that the reason for this result is

because if there is no point of contact between the Japanese nationals and

international community, then no trouble will occur.

However, given that all of the Residents’ Associations answered that they do

interact with the international community and have no/think no issues have

arisen, as shown above, it is likely that the root of troubles and issues arising

between international residents and Japanese nationals may be due to

communicational reasons.

The biggest issue in relation to trouble with the international community

occurred in regard to the separation of garbage, followed by nighttime noise.

Many suggestions were received in relation to dealing with these problems.

Clear and easy to understand explanations were believed to be more effective

than strict warnings. There were also many respondents who stated that the

number of issues with international residents, along with the consciousness that

these troubles occur because of a resident’s nationality, has decreased. This

shows a developed consciousness and understanding that problems do not arise

simply because of someone’s nationality.

Foreign Participation in Natural Disaster Drills

Residents’ Association Article 7

1 Most Participate

2 Few Participate

3 None Participate

4 Do not Inform Foreign Residents

5 Do not Know

- 31 -

Though it may appear that there are many Residents’ Associations that claim

that international residents do not participate in disaster preparedness activities,

in light of the rise in concern regarding natural disasters, there those who stated

that Residents’ Associations should take more action to encourage participation,

and appeals should be made to employers for the sake of those living within

company dormitories.

Regarding international exchange with the international community, close to

60% of Residents’ Associations answered that they think it would be a good idea

to interact with foreign residents, and that they would like to be involved in

international exchange, if the necessary support and information were available.

It could be that this large number represents the positive attitude that the

Residents’ Associations have in relation to cultural exchange with international

residents, as well as representing an understanding of the importance of these

interactions.

It is therefore necessary to combine communication support with regional

exchange promotion efforts and multicultural symbiosis development, while

increasing awareness of the school visit system and exchange activities

subsidiary programs.

（３） Questionnaire to Nurseries and Schools（Affiliated with Childcare）

This questionnaire was conducted from August to September, with nurseries,

elementary schools, and junior high schools within Takaoka City being eligible for

participation. Seeking answers from facilities with children of international

heritage, a total of 56 educational institutions responded to the questionnaire.

In relation to the question regarding whether the international child/ren is/are

able to communicate in Japanese at an age appropriate level, 23 facilities stated

that there were some children with communicational difficulties (23 facilities),

and one facility that answered that almost all children had communicational

difficulties.

- 32 -

The most popular methods for dealing with communicational difficulties was

said to be through body language, and/or through the intermingling of singular

vocabulary from a foreign language. Respondents stated that many nursery

school workers and/or teacher take it upon themselves to deal with the situation

appropriately. On the other hand, there were many responses that claimed they

enlist the help of assistant teachers who can understand foreign languages. It is

from this result that the necessity of foreign consultants becomes extremely

clear.

Issues with children of foreign heritage included, taking a long time to

establish communication and being unable to perfectly understand one another.

It is quite clear that there is a strong relation between issues and communication

difficulties within educational settings. There is a great demand for human

resources who are able to interpret and/or foreign teaching staff.

Despite the majority of respondents stating that relations between Japanese

and international children were amicable, there were five educational institutes

which answered that there had been issues stemming from racial standpoint.

While some respondents answered that they deal with this type of issue by

warning both children and if necessary, trying to bridge the gap between the

children in question through careful explanation, there were very few responses

that stated that this topic had been integrated into lesson plans. It is therefore

Issues between Teachers and Children of Foreign Heritage

Multiple Answers Allowed

For Nurseries/School Article 1-D

1 Takes a Long Time to Communicate

2 Neglect the Needs of the Other Children

3 Treated Differently by Other Children

4 Cannot Establish Perfect Mutual Communication

5 Issues in relation to Religion

6 Issues in relation to Food/ School Dinners

7 Other

- 33 -

conceivable that there may be a necessity to provide teaching in relation to

internationalism and multicultural symbiosis at an age appropriate level.

Supplementary reading material was a top example given by respondents as a

helpful resource to use to aid with teaching this topic.

Finally, the questionnaire also included questions in relation to the relationship

between the educational facility and the parents/guardians of the child/children.

Speaking clearly and simply was the most popular answer given when asked

what measures facilities take when communicating with these particular parents

and guardians. This was followed by ensuring to provide documents which

include Ruby above Chinese characters and/or in Romanized lettering, as well as

explaining written materials orally.

Explanations by showing physical objects/drawing pictures, along with trying

to assist in developing relations with other guardians from the same country,

and foreigner-only parent/guardian meetings were other methods stated by

respondents for accommodating international families at certain nursery

schools.

Furthermore, there were many

responses which stated that

recognizing the international

families as regular child and

parents was most effective. Many

educational facilities stated that

they noticed a change in relations

by making an effort to greet

families in Japanese. Aside from

this, other responses included

being patient when building

relationships and trust, and forgetting about the nationality of the families and

treating them in an equal manner to others.

(Multiple Answers Allowed)

Article 5-I ① Issues relating to Childcare

1 Cannot Comprehend Documents relating to Pregnancy/Childbirth

childcare

2 No one to Consult with relating to

3 Child cannot adapt to School Life

4 Cannot Read Letters from School

5 Cannot Communicate with Parents/Guardians

6 Other

- 34 -

As seen in the results from the International Residents’ Questionnaire, there

are many foreign parents who wish their children to continue into further

education in Japan (See page 25). One of the biggest issues in regard to child

rearing which arose was not being able to read correspondence received from

the school, with many of these families wishing their children to head into

further education stressing the importance of better communication. Along with

aiming to enrich international support staff, there is a demand to utilize ingenuity

in facilities without these human resources, by sharing measures which proved

effective among various schools, along with starting initiatives which enable

facilities to learn the necessary know-how in relation to multicultural symbiosis.

Furthermore, providing a space in which international residents could study

basic Japanese in regard to childrearing and schools could help to ensure better

learning environments for children.

・ Consolidation of an educational environ which promotes multicultural

understanding among all of its pupils, by providing multicultural understanding

areas, along with signs written in Japanese with Ruby above Chinese characters

and translations into the mother tongue of the international students.

・Encouraging collaborations with school education and PTA activities, along with the

strengthening of guardians relations through the hosting of foreign

parent/guardian meetings.

・ Utilizing regional human resources by establishing opportunities to learn about

multiculturalism in schools etc., led by Multicultural Symbiosis Promotions

Trainee and international residents.

・ Establishing individual /small group lessons corresponding to each child.

Furthermore, set up side-by-side learning for children struggling with topics

covered in the classroom.

※Multicultural Symbiosis Promotions Trainee…Trainees accepted by Toyama Prefecture deployed for the

purpose of offering educational support to children from Brazilian families.

Educational Initiatives

- 35 -

（４）Refuge Shelters Management/Administrative Personnel Questionnaire

（Protocol in the Event of Disaster）

A questionnaire was sent out to 199 personnel/managers of refuge areas and

149 public and private facility managers. The survey was carried out during the

month of September, receiving responses from 247 individuals.

Respondents were given details regarding the current status of foreigners in

Takaoka City and were asked to complete answers considering the different

nationalities which live in the city/visiting tourists.

【Provided Information】

① Total International Population

3,000 international residents living within the city limits.

② Multinational Knowledge Brazilian (36％ ), Chinese (27％ ), Filipino

(12％), Vietnam (9％), Korean (4％), Pakistani (2％) etc.※１

③ Child Population

Approximately 12% are under the age of 15, within which 5% are

pre-school age.

④ Non-Residential Information

In recent years there has been an increase of overseas visitors, mainly

originating from China and Taiwan.

Among the respondents there were many who expressed a worry about the

Japanese competency of foreigners seeking refuge, stemming from

communication issues including not being able to comprehend instructions

and/or being unable to understand what the foreigner is saying. Furthermore,

there were also those who responded that foreigners require specialized support,

given that their lifestyle and customs differ from those of Japanese residents.

There were respondents that stated facilities should be prepared in which people

※１ The percentage provided was the percentage of nationalities as per the time of creation of the

survey.

- 36 -

of certain religious beliefs can carry out their worship and religious acts freely.

These answers suggest that, to some extent, facility managers understand the

presence of foreigners with different culture and beliefs to themselves.

Personnel and managers answered that it would be helpful to have

multilingual signs within their facilities, along with a list of useful phrases in

different languages to refer to. It is considered that key phrases should be

prepared as a way to gain, not only general information regarding name,

nationality, etc., but also example phrases which can be used to gauge whether

the person is in pain or injured, or if they are missing families members/friends,

so that the appropriate support can be provided to all.

Judging from the amount of respondents who consider language to be an

issue, it is fair to say that there are many who may try to overcome this issue

through the use of translation software and apps. However, translation software

can be unreliable and is not currently at a level which can be trusted to

effectively deal with language barriers. This is especially the case when

translating from Japanese into a foreign language.

It is therefore necessary to transmit reliable information as quickly as

possible in order to help alleviate any worries and concerns which may occur

from group living with many Japanese and problems which may arise in regard

to language and differences in religion and culture. In order to help facilitate

this strategy, the cooperation of international residents who can speak

Japanese to some extent is just as important, as the help of Japanese who can

speak English and other foreign languages. Further consideration must be

taken in regard to multilingual support in the event of disaster. Preparation for

support may include readying a list of volunteers who would be willing to help

- 37 -

out during the time of a disaster. Preparatory disaster drills should also be

carried out in parallel with language efforts.

It is necessary to consider the importance of nurturing consciousness of

overcoming a natural disaster by people coming together to help one another,

regardless of race or nationality, as well as striving to enrich the knowledge of all

the members of staff at these facilities.

- 38 -

３ Analysis and Evaluation of Plan to-date

The results of policies and initiatives fulfilled in alignment with the previous

plan, along with topics to be considered in the future have been summarized

below.

（1） Communication Support

There are instances when necessary procedures cannot be completed, and/or

international residents cannot communicate efficiently with other people in the

community due to a lack of sufficient understanding of the Japanese language.

In an effort to improve this situation, there has been considerable progress in

regard to providing multilingual correspondence from City Hall, as well ensuring

to distribute foreign language versions of the monthly publication, “Shimin to

Shisei.” Though translational software has been installed on the homepage, the

generated translations have a tendency of being unreliable. It is therefore

necessary, from here on out, to use easy to understand Japanese phraseology so

that international residents can comprehend the content of the homepage.

Moreover, there is a foreign consultancy desk set up within City Hall available

in Chinese and Portuguese. Consultants can also be used as interpreters if

necessary at various service counters within the building.

（2）Livelihood Support

There have been considerable developments in the provision of multilingual

information in relation to Maternity Health Record Books, Medical Health

Examinations, vaccinations, pregnancy and childbirth, and childrearing.

Furthermore, various efforts are being made toward improving communication

with international parents and guardians, with many handouts and documents

being provided in multilingual format, which have been stored onto an

easy-to-use database.

On an employment level, aside from redundancy levels stemming from the

bankruptcy of the Lehman Brothers dramatically reducing and employment

rates of those from Japanese decent becoming more stable, there has also been

an increase in the employment of technical interns from Vietnam and other

- 39 -

Southeast Asian countries. In the event of receiving a consultation regarding

employment from an international resident, along with striving to connect

foreigners with the Labor Standards Supervision Office and Hello Work, there

have also been efforts to provide information by distributing pamphlets aimed at

business looking to hire international talent.

This information is now available online, along with distributing flood and

earthquake hazard maps in numerous languages. Though international

residents from Brazil, North America, and Europe, who are yet to experience

earthquakes and/or typhoons, are more prone to injury and troubles caused by

natural disasters that occur in Japan, it proves difficult for these residents to

imagine the situation they might find themselves in the event of the unexpected.

It is therefore necessary to take the appropriate initiatives to raise individual

understanding regarding disaster prevention, along with providing more

detailed information about natural calamities, so as to help reduce anxieties.

（3）Development of a Multicultural Symbiotic Society

There appears to be many international residents living in happiness and

general piece of mind. However, given that there are still very few international

residents actively involved in regional planning, there is a demand for initiatives

which aid communication between both Japanese and international residents,

through foreign participation in Residents’ Associations and regional events.

（4）Adjustment of the Structure of Multicultural Symbiosis

Along with the developments of shared information through organizations within

the government office, there have also been considerable efforts carried out in

order to cultivate multicultural understanding and international awareness of the

employees in the City Hall through the hosting of training sessions relating to

multicultural symbiosis. The percentage of international residents in Takaoka

City is continuing to grow year by year, and the number of long-term residents is

dramatically increasing. It is therefore considered that departments which

previously did not provide support for foreigners in the past, will now have to

consider how to provide for the international community in the near-future.

- 40 -

４ Main Issues

In line with the revision of the Multicultural Implementation Plan, issues of

particular importance have been written below in consideration of the analysis

and success of the previous plan, along with statistical data and questionnaire

responses.

（1） Creating Opportunities to Study the Japanese Language

There is an exceptionally high level of international residents who desire

opportunities to study the Japanese language. These opportunities are directly

connected to improved results in relation to hazard prevention, employment

support, a variety of situations within everyday life, the sharing of information,

and communication skills.

（2） Rearing Healthy and Independent Children

There are many international families residing with many children in Takaoka

City. Furthermore, there is a growing desire for parents to have their children

to receive a Japanese education. There may be many cases in which students

attending school might faces some form of problems, anxieties, and worries

when they come into contact with a culture which is different to the their cultural

roots. This is particularly the case regarding Japanese language as difficult

words and subtle nuances may prove troublesome, causing a gap in

communication and potential hindering the learning process. Clear and easy to

understand teaching and follow-up is necessary to combat this problem.

There is also a need to teach Japanese children the importance to understand

and respect the cultures and values of those different to their own. The

cultivation of open minded children, respectful of other cultures, will see an

increase in international thinking developed understanding of diversity in a

multitude of situations.

- 41 -

(3) Protecting Oneself in the Event of Disaster

Though it is often said that Toyama is a prefecture of relatively few natural

disasters, there has been a growing necessity in provisions against large-scale

earthquakes, typhoons, and flooding caused by Guerrilla rain, in recent years. It

is therefore required that everyone carries out the necessary preparations, so

that even international residents receive important information and materials,

along with readying them to be able to accordingly to protect themselves, in the

event of a disaster.

(4) Regional Planning

It is clear from the results of the International Residents’ Questionnaire that

there are many foreigners who desire opportunities to study Japanese, learn

about Japanese history and culture, and events where it is possible to interact

with Japanese locals. Similarly, there were lots of responses from the Residents’

Association Questionnaire that stated a desire for more opportunities to

communicate and interact with the international community. The number of

Residents’ Associations signifying a need for these types of interactions is the

highest on record.

Many international residents in Takaoka City hold visa permits which allow for

long-term residency in Japan. Close to 70 percent of survey respondents stated

that they plan to/wish to live in Takaoka in the future. For many of the long-term

international residents, Takaoka is not considered to be a place of temporary

living.

There is a demand for initiatives which will enable international residents to be

actively involved with community planning within the towns they live, in order to

improve the regional as a whole, and to provide an opportunity to interact with

their Japanese neighbors.

- 42 -

Chapter 2 Approaching the Takaoka City Multicultural Implementation Plan

１ Fundamental Concept

“Coming together, to create and support a community,

where everyone can live as one.”

The number of international residents within the limits of the city is growing

year-by-year. Many new issues are arising given the increase of long-term

international residents. Also, it is recognized that International residents can

play an important role in the support of the local economy and community.

Great efforts are required to ensure the mutual respect and understanding of

all cultural differences, so that all residents are able to live in peace and

harmony.

２ Fundamental Objective

The further development of a community in which international residents can

live happily was also as objective stated within the 2017 Takaoka City

Comprehensive Plan Fundamental Concept. Cultural roots and values must be

mutually respected for all residents to be able to lead a life which is agreeable

with their individuality. The contents of the Takaoka Multicultural

Implementation Plan aims for the development of a community in which

differences are recognized and respected, and in which all residents can live

healthy and happily.

Ⅰ Development of residents who recognize, respect, and understand cultural

and ethnic differences, and other identities

Ⅱ Development of a community in which both Japanese and foreigners can

live together as residents of Takaoka

Ⅲ Development of structural planning that all residents can take part in for

the betterment of the community.

- 43 -

３ Fundamental Policies

Multicultural Symbiosis Promotions

Cooperation of Local Groups & Residents

National・Prefectural Organizations

Enrichment of City Hall Systems

Development of a Multicultural Community

Awareness

Event Planning and Engagement

Cultural Exchange Planning

General issues

Housing・Community

Child Bearing・Education

Medical・Health・Welfare

Tax・Insurance

Labor・Employment

Disaster Preparedness

Livelihood Support

Provision of Administrative・Living

Information

Enrichment of Consultation System

Japanese Language Opportunities

Mutual Communication Opportunities

Communication Support

Com

ing to

geth

er, to

cre

ate

and s

upport a

com

munity, w

here

every

one c

an liv

e a

s one

Ⅲ Development of

structural planning that all

residents can take part in for

the betterment of the

community.

Ⅱ Development of a

community in which both

Japanese and foreigners can

live together as residents of

Takaoka

Ⅰ Development of residents

who recognize, respect, and

understand cultural and ethnic

differences, and other

identities

- 44 -

４ Categorical Listing of Major Policies (★ marks new initiatives.)

(1) Communication Support

Cultural exchange opportunities and the removal of language barriers is

required in order to help cultivate mutual understanding in relation to culture,

personal values, and customs. Along with offering a wide range of cultural

exchange events, progress will be made in relation to the provision of the

important documents in multilingual formats and opportunities for international

residents to study the Japanese language.

These initiatives shall be put in place in hopes of assisting information reaching

international residents who struggle to understand Japanese, as well as

increasing the number of people able to obtain information by themselves, and

the development of residential cultural exchange.

① Provision of Administrative ・Living Information

Development of

Documents/Distributed

Materials in Multilingual

Format

・Development of public information, including

“Shimin to Shisei”, in multilingual format.

・Publication of Japanese-English bilingual

newsletter, “Kakehashi”

★Provision of Information

in Easy Japanese

・Developments to be made to ensure the

homepage and procedural guidelines in Easy

Japanese

Provision of Information

Necessary for Everyday

Life

・Development of maps, public facility/tourist signs

in multilingual format

Provision of Information,

Use of Social Media

・Enhance the English Facebook Page

② Enrichment of Consultation System

Enrichment of Foreigner

Consultation Desk

・Provision of necessary information and knowledge

along with improving user-convenience

Expansion of International

Consultants

・Working towards the enrichment of international

consultants and multilingual support

- 45 -

③Japanese Language Opportunities

★Introductory Japanese

Opportunities

・Providing learning opportunities for those who

have just arrived in Japan/ those who have not

yet had the chance to study Japanese.

★Japanese Classes to Help

with Daily Life

・Providing opportunities for foreigners to learn

fundamental Japanese while deepening

knowledge regarding rules and procedures in

Japan through pre-determined weekly topics

★Training of Japanese

Teaching Volunteers

・Japanese Teaching Staff training in relation to

increased language study opportunities for

foreigners.

★Establishment of an

International Exchange

Salon

・Establishing an environ for residents of different

cultural backgrounds who can speak and

understand Japanese to interact with members

of the community, while engaging in

conversation in Japanese.

★④ Provision of Mutual Communication Opportunities

★International Events ・Hosting events which allow multicultural residents

to participate in mutual exchanges.

★Japanese Culture

Classes for Foreigners

・Providing opportunities for foreigners to learn

about Japanese culture using traditions and

cuisine

(2) Livelihood Support

In relation to daily life, international residents have the same rights and

responsibilities as Japanese residents. Support will be provided to help all

residents of the community to live in equality and peace of mind.

There are many occasions when questions and troubles can arise because of

differences in rules and customs, for those who have just arrived in Japan and/or

for those who have recently moved from a different area of Japan to Takaoka.

Furthermore, there are also instances when problems relating to life in Takaoka

can appear, even for those who have resided in Takaoka on a long-term basis.

- 46 -

Along with offering information in multilingual format, Takaoka will also aim to

develop a community which is easier for all residents to live in by offering

explanations and resolving problems through necessary policies, through the

cooperation of lifestyle counselling staff and foreign consultants.

★① General Issues

Information relating to

Necessary Procedures

Concerning Life in Japan (My

Number/Residency Cards)

・Developing residency information in multilingual

format, to assist with easier comprehension of

necessary information

★Renewal of Living Guide ・Summarizing necessary residential information

and distributing translated documents to

residents who have recently moved into the area

Enrichment of Foreigner

Consultation Desk

・Provision of necessary information and knowledge

along with improving user-convenience

★Establishing a system which improves

user-convenience and protects privacy.

★Japanese Classes to help

with Daily Life

・Providing opportunities for foreigners to learn

fundamental Japanese while deepening

knowledge regarding rules and procedures in

Japan through pre-determined weekly topics

③ Housing・Community

Public Housing Support ・Enriching multilingual support in relation to

moving into/out of municipal public housing

Information regarding

Residents’ Associations

and Participation

・Developing information regarding Residents’

Associations

・Providing support and advice to aid

communication with international residents in

relation to Residents’ Association

Provision of Information

regarding Living

information and Garbage

Disposal

・Ensuring to provide materials in multilingual

format to new residents to ensure rules and

customs of Takaoka are understood

- 47 -

★Japanese Classes to help

with Daily Life

・Providing opportunities for foreigners to learn

fundamental Japanese while deepening

knowledge regarding rules and procedures in

Japan through pre-determined weekly topics

④ Childrearing・Education

Providing Attentive

Teaching to Children and

Students in Cooperation

with Foreign Consultants

・Striving towards enriching the distribution of

Foreign Consultants and procuring multilingual

staff members

・Providing general assistance to parents and

guardians by regularly contacting parents and

hosting consultancy meetings when required.

This assistance shall be provided alongside aid in

relation to the child’s studies and Japanese

language.

Enrichment of Japanese

and native language

education

・Holding Japanese/native language retention

classes to contribute with the child’s studies

Addressing

Non-Attendance

・Necessary action to be taken so that those not

attending school are able to gain education.

Enrichment of Children’s

Cultural Classes

・Providing learning support to international

children, while also being a environ to promote

cultural learning through mutual exchange.

★Japanese Classes to help

with Daily Life

・Providing opportunities for foreigners to learn

fundamental Japanese while deepening

knowledge regarding rules and procedures in

Japan through pre-determined weekly topics

⑤ Medical・Health・Welfare

Multilingual Information at

Municipal Hospitals

・Introduction of multilingual materials to ensure

smooth medical examinations and appropriate

medical treatment

- 48 -

Deployment of

Interpreters to Municipal

Hospitals

・Providing medical examinations in both English

and Portuguese

Improved Understanding

of Welfare and Medical

Systems

・Development of explanatory documents in

multilingual format

・Working in cooperation with consultancy staff to

explain systematic and cultural differences

Promotion of

Comprehension Regarding

Child Welfare

・Explaining the various systems and respective

benefits to those who have not undertaken

Pre-natal Health Checks, Infancy Health Checks,

and/or those who have not received

preventative inoculations

★Providing explanation sheets and application

forms regarding Child Welfare in multilingual

format

★Providing multilingual support in order to clearly

explain the necessary information regarding

Child Health Checks.

★⑤Tax・Insurance

Enrichment of

Explanations regarding Tax

and Insurance Systems

・Enriching explanations through the use of

interpreters and multilingual information

Providing Support to

International Students in

relation to National Health

and Insurance Tax

・Providing support to international students in

relation to National Health and Insurance Tax

Promotion My Number

Card Obtainment and Tax

Guidance

・Providing information notifications to those who

are require to declare one’s income and

promoting knowledge in regard to the

obtainment of My Number cards.

- 49 -

⑥ Labor・Employment

Employment Support ・Providing employment information in

collaboration with Hello Work. Furthermore,

introducing foreigners to the Hello Work

Interpreting Consultants, if necessary

Provision of Information

regarding Labor

Consultation

・Working in cooperation with the Labor Standards

Inspection Office to provide information in

relation to labor consultancy corners with

interpreting services

⑦Disaster Preparedness

★Increasing Participation

in Disaster Preparedness

Drills

・As well as international residents, ensuring to let

enterprises, Residents’ Associations, regional

disaster preparedness organizations to get

foreigners participating in disaster preparedness

drills

★Hosting disaster preparedness drills with

appropriate interpreters

★Investigative Research

into the Evacuative

Behavior of Non-native

Japanese speakers

・There are many foreigners (travelers and

residents) who find difficulty in comprehending

refuge instructions, if this information is only

provided in Japanese. Investigative research to

be held into the provision of information to

foreigners during times of calamity.

・Looking into improving the safety of those who

cannot understand Japanese, by predicting the

refuge routes of areas with many tourists, areas

with many foreign workers, and areas with many

foreign residents.

・Considering there is a possibility that phone and

Internet service may go down during times of

disaster, an investigation will be conducted in

relation to support provided through volunteer

disaster prevention organizations and disaster

management systems

- 50 -

Multilingual Support in

relation to Disaster

Preparedness and

Calamities

・Providing refuge information through multilingual

disaster preparedness maps and flood hazard

maps

★Looking into methods providing information in

multilingual format

★Establishing a multilingual support center at

times of disaster and carrying out disaster

preparedness practices

★Investigating the refuge behaviors and lifestyle

patterns of foreigners at times of disaster, and

look into setting up a multilingual refuge point

★Raising Disaster

Preparedness

Awareness

・Unlike Japanese nationals who have been

accustomed to earthquakes and blizzards from a

young age, there are many international

residents who find it difficult to imagine what to

expect during times of natural disaster. As a

result, opportunities will be provided to explain

and deepen understanding in regard to what

may happen in times of disaster, along with

disaster preparedness sessions.

★Natural Disaster

Volunteer Registry

・Aims to start a volunteer registry of individuals

who are able to act as interpreters at multilingual

support centers, refuge points, and at medical

facilities during times of natural disaster.

(3)Development of a Multicultural Community

The idea behind multicultural symbiosis is not Japanese nationals doing

something for the sake of the international community. Furthermore,

multicultural symbiosis is not a case of considering “what should Japanese

people teach foreigners”, nor what “foreigners should ask”. Multicultural

symbiosis requires both parties to mutually recognize cultural differences. It is

therefore important to gain understanding from the international community in

relation to societal rules developed within Japanese culture, through careful

- 51 -

explanations. It is also crucial to inquire about things which seem unclear, and to

gain mutual knowledge regarding the manners and rules within the areas we

live.

The first step for gaining mutual knowledge and increasing international

exchange opportunities, is to gain recognition from both sides that each are

different, while learning from one another, and cooperating together within the

community.

① Raising Awareness

Hosting Multicultural

Understanding Lectures

・Providing opportunities, aimed at a wide

range of residents, in order to learn about

the different cultures which surround us, in

an effort to deepen understanding regarding

multicultural symbiosis, intercultural

exchange and international understanding.

Enrichment of Visiting Lecture

Programs

・Meeting requests by dispatching CIR and

introduction of lecturers involved with

overseas countries, intercultural learning,

and multicultural symbiosis, in order to

provide learning opportunities.

Promotion of International

Education for Children

・Providing learning opportunities and

experienced aimed at children, connected to

international understanding and multicultural

symbiosis, so as to cultivate students with

open minds, free of stereotypes and

prejudice.

International Exchange

Association Program

Enrichment and initiatives

towards participant increase

・Aiming to enrich program/lecture content

hosted by International Exchange

Association to as to contribute towards the

understanding of multicultural symbiosis on

a residential level.

・Striving to improve awareness of respective

programs and lectures, while growing the

number of new participants.

- 52 -

② Event Planning and Engagement

Awareness of Subsided

Programs relating to Cultural

Exchange

・Raising awareness of the Multicultural

Community Programs Subsidiary in order to

make it easier for regions to initiate cultural

exchanges with international residents

Information regarding

Residents’ Associations and

Participation

・Developing information regarding Residents’

Associations

・Providing support and advice to aid

communication with international residents

in relations to Residents’ Associations

★Opportunities to Listen to

the Opinions of Foreigners

・Given that there are many Japanese

communicational difficulties, it may be

difficult for international residents to convey

their opinions in regard to lifestyle directly to

the city itself. Opportunities should be

provided in which foreigners are able to voice

issues and any opinions they may have.

③Promotions of Cultural Exchange

★Establishment of an

International Exchange Salon

・Establishing an environ for residents of

different cultural backgrounds who can

speak and understand Japanese to interact

with members of the community, while

engaging in conversation in Japanese.

・Cultivating a foundation for the strengthening

of intercultural understanding, multicultural

learning, and helping one another through

regional exchanges in which the foreign

community can introduce about their own

country/culture to Japanese residents while

broadening human relations.

International Exchange

Association Program Enrichment

and Initiatives towards

increased Participation

・Striving to increase awareness regarding

multicultural symbiosis on a residential level

by widening knowledge of existing cultural

events and increasing participant numbers.

- 53 -

(4) Reorganization of Multicultural Symbiosis Promotions

Multicultural Symbiosis is related to numerous fields.

Through the lengthening of stay/residency of foreigners, there has been an

increasing demand for support for international residents in relation to areas in

which help has not been provided before. These include support in relation to

pensions, elderly welfare allowance, and property/assets acquisition.

Promotions will be made towards the development of multicultural symbiosis in

following with the policies as written below.

① Cooperation of Local Groups and Residents

Awareness of Subsided

Programs Relating to Cultural

Exchange

・Raising awareness of the Multicultural

Community Programs Subsidiary in order to

make it easier for regions to initiate cultural

exchanges with international residents

Assistance for Support Groups ・Striving to develop better organizations by

cooperation with local support groups

★Discussions regarding the

International Exchange

Association

・The present condition of the International

Exchange Association will be discussed in

regard to the promotion of multicultural

symbiosis

② Cooperation with National・Prefectural Organizations

Mutual Cooperation and

Sharing of information

between National, Prefectural,

and Specialized Organizations

・Cooperating with National and Prefectural

initiatives, while promoting necessary projects

・Procuring information as distributed by

affiliated ministries, government offices, and

specialized enterprises regarding Japanese

Language and disaster preparedness

initiatives.

・Cooperating with Hello Work, the Labor

Standards Inspection Office, and other

specialized civilian enterprises within

Takaoka, sharing information and working

towards providing appropriate support.

- 54 -

★Involvement of International

Students within Exchange

Programs

・Seeking participation of international

exchange students in the planning of

exchange programs, and looking into how to

facilitate easier participation for international

residents

③ Enrichment of City Hall Organizations

★Progress Management by

the Multicultural Symbiosis

Promotions Executive

Committee

・The progress management of the

Multicultural Implementation Plan and policy

promotions shall be carefully investigated by

the Multicultural Symbiosis Promotions

Executive Committee

★Enrichment of Employee

Training

・Providing enriched training in relation to

Multicultural Symbiosis and Easy Japanese,

so as to cultivate employees with open

minds, able to utilize easy comprehendible

Japanese for international residents

Enrichment and Utilization of

Organizations within City Hall

・Working in cooperation with the Multicultural

Symbiosis Promotions Executive Committee

and sharing all necessary information

・Enriching the Multicultural Implementation

Liaison Committee, and collecting

information from non-participating

sections.

- 55 -

Document 1 Takaoka City Multicultural Implementation Plan

Schedule

1st July 2016 Appointment of Delegate Members

8th July 1st Multicultural Symbiosis Promotion Committee Meeting

July-Sept. Questionnaire Period

19th Oct. 2nd Multicultural Symbiosis Promotion Committee Meeting

21st Dec.-17th Jan. Public Comments Period

15th Feb. 2017 3rd Multicultural Symbiosis Promotion Committee Meeting

Document 2 Takaoka City Multicultural Symbiosis

Promotion Committee Members

Chair University of Toyama

Special Adviser to the Chancellor

Dr. Masanori

Hata

Vice Chair Toyama Japan-Brazil Tomo no Kai

Chair

Minoru Kiguchi

Members Toyama Prefecture Bousaisi Society

Chair

Kunio Kosugi

Takaoka City Shonen Ikusei Center Vice

Director

Taeko Inagaki

Alece Takaoka

Representative

Yuka Aoki

Takaoka City Foreign Consultancy Desk

Consultant

Emi Nohara

University of Toyama Faculty of Art and Design

Student

Yosua・A・Ｐ・

Andoko

Takaoka City Residents’ Association Union

Nomura District Chair

Tatsuro Takagi

Takaoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Regional Cooperation Promotion Committee

Vice Chair

Nobuyuki

Takenaka

Adviser Toyama Prefecture International Affairs Section

Chief

Tomohiro

Matsumoto

Takaoka International Exchange Association

Secretary General

Kotaro Tokuda

Tenure：1st July 2016～31st March 2018

- 56 -

Document 3 Takaoka City Multicultural Symbiosis

Promotion Committee Rules and Regulations

30th June 2016

Rule No. 47

(Aim)

Article 1. In alignment with the Takaoka City Affiliated Institutions Act (2005

Takaoka City Act No. 19) Article 4, these Rules and Regulations shall provide

for necessary matters concerning the establishment and management of the

Takaoka City Multicultural Symbiosis Promotion Committee (herein after The

Committee).

(Committee Members)

Article 2. Committee members from the following categories were appointed

by the Mayor.

(1) People of experience and/or academic standing

(2) Affiliates of organizations involved with international relations and/or

Multicultural Symbiosis

(3) Foreigners living and/or working within Takaoka City, or individuals

who have been granted Japanese citizenship through Naturalization

(4) Others deemed necessary as per the judgment of the Mayor

(Tenure)

Article 3 Tenure for committee members shall be two years. Any replacing

committee member shall be appointed for the remainder of the two year

period

2 Committee members may be reappointed

3 After the completion of the committee members’ tenure, such members

must complete their duties until the appointment of successive members.

(Organization)

Article 4 The Committee will be made up of nine committee members.

(Regarding the Chair and Vice Chair)

Article 5 A Chair and Vice Chair shall be positioned within The Committee.

2 The Chair shall be elected by committee members. The Vice Chair shall be

- 57 -

selected as appointed by the Chair.

3 The Chair shall preside over all affairs and represent The Committee.

4 The Vice Chair shall aid The Chair in their duties. In case of accident/absence,

The Vice Chair will preside as Acting Chair.

(Meetings)

Article 6 Meetings shall be held by the summons of The Chair. However, the

first meeting after the appointment of committee members shall be held by

the summons of the Mayor.

2 Meeting proceeds shall be decided by a vote of majority. In the case that a

result remains split evenly on both sides, the final decision shall rest with The

Chair.

(Attendance of Non-Committee Members)

Article 7 At times deemed necessary, The Chair may invite non-committee

members to meetings and listen to their opinions.

(Supplementary Regulations)

Article 8 In addition to what is provided above, The Chair shall determine the

procedures of meetings and other necessary matters regarding the

administration of The Committee, upon consultation with Committee

Members.

Supplementary Provisions

(Effective Date)

1 These rules and regulations shall come into effect from 1st July 2016.

(Special Cases Regarding Tenure)

2 After these rules have been placed into effect, the tenure of originally

commissioned Committee Members shall be until 31st March 2018.

- 58 -

Document 4 Multicultural Implementation Plan Terminologies

International Resident/s

Individuals of non-Japanese nationality, who live in Takaoka City are referred

to as “International residents”.

Foreigners

Individuals of non-Japanese nationality who are visiting for tourism or

business trips, and/or, those of international citizenship living within Takaoka are

referred to as “Foreigners”.

Individuals with International Roots

(Including Children・Infants・Students）

Residents who have multiracial parent/s etc., who have grown up with a

culture outside of that of Japan are referred to “Individuals with International

Roots”. This includes those with Japanese nationality, who may have been raised

overseas, speaking the local language and/or interacting with local culture.

Non-Native Japanese Speakers

The term, “Native”, is used when you naturally learn a language from a young

age. The term, “Non-Native Japanese Speakers”, refers to someone who speaks

Japanese at as a non-native. There are individuals with international roots who

were born and raised in Japan, speaking only Japanese within the household as

their native language. Furthermore, there are also those with Japanese

nationality who have been born overseas and raised with a language, other than

Japanese, as their native tongue. This terminology reflects language, rather

than nationality.

- 59 -

Multicultural (Exchange/Understanding etc.)

The term, “multicultural”, describes cultures which are different to your own.

There are times when this terminology is used for people of the same nationality,

given differences in culture stemming from region, religion, and generations etc.

International Education

The term, “International Education” has been widely used since 2006 by

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, based upon the

ideal, “Education for International Understanding, Cooperation and Peace, and

education about Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms”, as advocated by

UNESCO.

Statistical Data Regarding International Citizens in Takaoka and

Aggregate Results of Questionnaires in alignment with Plan

Revision

All statistical data in alignment with the revision of this plan, along with

questionnaires and aggregate results of said questionnaires, can be found on the

“Hotto Hotto Takaoka” page on the official Takaoka Homepage.

Homepage address

http://www.city.takaoka.toyama.jp/kyodo/tabunkaplankaitei.html

Takaoka City

Multicultural Implementation Plan Revised Edition

Revised March 2017

Takaoka City

Office of Multicultural Affairs

〒933-8601 7-50 Hirokoji, Takaoka City, Toyama Pref.

TEL 0766-20-1236 / FAX 0766-20-1641

E-mail tabunka@city.takaoka.lg.jp