Seminars Social Innovation Program

Symposium on Creating a Multicultural Society with Foreign Communities

Cases from the Philippines, Nepal, and Uzbekistan

Organized by: Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Co-hosts: Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, Embassy of Nepal, Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Along with Japan's declining birthrate, aging population, and labor shortage, the number of foreign residents continues to increase, and by 2024 the total number of foreign residents and foreign workers in Japan exceeded 3.5 million and 2.3 million, respectively. The Japanese government, local governments, international exchange associations, schools, workplaces, and various other organizations including NPOs are supporting the acceptance of foreign residents. SPF also prioritizes "realization of an inclusive society" as one of its key focus areas, and is working to create a symbiotic society that is inclusive of foreign residents and workers.

The Japanese government's "Roadmap for the Realization of a Society of Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals" for the year 2022 states the importance of providing information for foreign nationals living in Japan, including basic Japanese language study. In response to this, SPF, in collaboration with embassies, foreign communities, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, and Japanese NPOs, has been conducting orientation programs for new arrivals to Japan from the Philippines, Nepal, and Uzbekistan since FY 2023.

This symposium will explore the challenges identified through ongoing practices and examine initiatives that support the coexistence of foreign residents in Japan. In the first session, representatives from the embassies of three countries and the Immigration Services Agency of Japan will present their efforts to assist foreign nationals arriving in Japan. Additionally, foreign communities from these three countries will share their experiences in conducting orientation programs for new arrivals. The second part will feature a panel discussion, where we will engage in a dialogue with foreign residents who have firsthand experience of coming to Japan, representatives from foreign communities, the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, and Japanese NPOs. Together, we will discuss the future challenges of providing support to foreigners to promote the coexistence with foreign residents in Japanese society.

We look forward to your participation.

Registration

If you wish to participate, please register through this page by Tuesday, June 17, at 17:00.

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The personal information you provide at the time of registration will be used to inform participants about seminars and lectures organized or supported by the Foundation.

After the closing, attendees are welcome to continue participating in the networking session.

Contact: SPF, Asia and Middle East Unit, Social Innovation Program
E-mail: social-innovation@spf.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-5157-5280

For media inquiries:
E-mail: spfpr@spf.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-5157-5395

Description

14:00-15:00 JST	【Session 1: Practical Report】 Opening Remarks (Mr. Itsu Adachi, Executive Director of SPF)
	Speech: Activities by Each Embassy H.E. Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi, Ambassador of Nepal H.E. Mylene J. Garcia-Albano, Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines H.E. Mukhsinkhuja Abdurakhmonov , Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan(TBC)
	Speech: "Policy and Measures for the Realization of a Society of Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals" (proposed topic) (Ms. Nobuko Fukuhara, Director-General, the Residency Management and Support Department, Immigration Services Agency)
	Foundation Initiatives: SPF's "Building Models towards an Inclusive Society" Project (Ms. Masako Iwashina, Program Officer, Social Innovation Program, SPF)
	Practical Report on Orientation for Newcomers Nepal (Ms. Sakya Mina, NPO Citizen's Network for Global Activities (CINGA)) Uzbekistan (Mr. Jurabek Khasanov) Philippines (1. Mr. Dante Klink Ang II, Chairperson of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and 2. Ms. Bituin Shimada, Kakehashi)
15:00-15:20 JST	Break
15:20-16:30 JST	【Session 2: Panel Discussion】＜Proposed Speakers and Organizations＞ Foreign community leaders (one to two representatives from each of three countries) Ms. Mitsue Numoto, Director, Foreign Residents Policy Planning Office, Immigration Services Agency Ms. Midori Nii, Coordinator, CINGA (Moderator: Mr. Shingo Naganawa, Deputy Director, Social Innovation Program, SPF)
16:30 JST	Closing
16:30-17:30 JST	(A networking session is planned for interested on-site participants.)

*The event program and speakers are subject to change.

Speakers

Profile

His Excellency Dr. Durga Bahadur Subedi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Nepal to Japan, holds master’s degrees from Tribhuvan University and the University of Leeds, and has earned doctoral degrees from Tribhuvan University and Lumbini Buddhist University. He has served in various diplomatic capacities at the Embassy of Nepal in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York, and the Embassy of Nepal in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Subsequently, he was appointed as Ambassador of Nepal to the United Kingdom, concurrently accredited to Ireland and the Republic of Malta. He assumed his current post in August 2022.

In addition to his ambassadorial roles, Dr. Subedi has served as Nepal’s Permanent Representative to several international organizations, including the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Coffee Organization (ICO), the World Energy Council (WEC), and the International Tea Committee (ITC). He is also widely recognized as a distinguished literary figure, having authored more than fifty publications in both English and Nepali.

Profile

Ambassador Mylene J. Garcia-Albano is a seasoned public servant and lawyer with a distinguished career in government.

Appointed in 2022 as the Philippine Ambassador to Japan, she brings with her decades of experience in public service, law, and legislative leadership.

A trailblazer from the start, she ranked 3rd in the 1990 Philippine Bar Examinations and was the first female president of the Ateneo Law School Student Government. She served three consecutive terms as Congresswoman for Davao City's 2nd District, where she held key leadership positions, including Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Her earlier roles span the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Office of Senator Mar Roxas, and various legal and administrative posts.

Ambassador Garcia-Albano holds degrees from The George Washington University and Marymount College in the U.S., and is married to the Governor of Isabela, Rodolfo T. Albano III. They have a son.

Profile

Ambassador Mukhsinkhuja Abdurakhmonov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Japan, studied abroad at California State University, Chico while attending Tashkent State University of Economics. He later completed programs at the Academy of State and Social Construction under the President of Uzbekistan, earned a master’s degree from Otaru University of Commerce, and obtained a doctorate from Hokkaido University.

After working in the private sector and as a postdoctoral researcher at Hokkaido University, he held several key positions including Deputy Governor of Fergana Region, Director of the Investment and Trade Department, and Head of the Foreign Investment Division in the Department of Economic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. Since July 2021, he has been serving as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Japan.

He speaks Russian, Tajik, English, Japanese, and Arabic, and is a father of four children.

Profile

After graduating from the Faculty of Law at Hitotsubashi University, Ms. Nobuko Fukuhara joined the Ministry of Justice. She has consistently been involved in immigration administration, serving as Director of the Policy Planning Division of the Immigration Services Agency, Director of the Haneda Airport Branch Office of the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau, and Director of the Yokohama Branch Office of the same bureau. She has held her current position since July 2023.