Speaker
Ms. Nobuko Fukuhara
Associate Commissioner, Immigration Services Agency
Seminars
Social Innovation Program
Public Symposium
"Inclusive Society with Foreign Residents in Local Communities: The Roles of Local Governments, NPOs, Corporations, and Residents"
Organizer: Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF)
Co-organizer: The Tokyo Foundation
Supported by: Immigration Services Agency of Japan
Co-organizer: The Tokyo Foundation
Supported by: Immigration Services Agency of Japan
In an era of accelerating cross-border human mobility, Japan is significantly impacted by these new global flows of people. While fluctuations in the number of foreign residents are influenced by policies, legal frameworks, and labor demand across industries, the country faces an intensifying labor shortage driven by an unrelenting decline in the birthrate. At the same time, the number of foreign residents engaged in the workforce continues to grow—this is the current reality of Japanese society.
How can our local communities engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and foster truly inclusive society? What is required for us to connect and interact with them as fellow residents sharing the same community?
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) has published the "Handbook for an Inclusive Society with Foreign Residents: Basic Approaches to Acceptance and Good Practices". We created this resource to serve as a practical guide for local government officials and community supporters striving to achieve coexistence in municipalities experiencing a rapid influx of foreign residents, as well as in communities that may feel uncertain about welcoming them. To mark the publication of this handbook, we are hosting a symposium to explore the respective roles of central and local governments, NPOs, corporations, and residents, drawing insights from pioneering case studies across various regions. We warmly invite you to join us.
How can our local communities engage with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and foster truly inclusive society? What is required for us to connect and interact with them as fellow residents sharing the same community?
The Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) has published the "Handbook for an Inclusive Society with Foreign Residents: Basic Approaches to Acceptance and Good Practices". We created this resource to serve as a practical guide for local government officials and community supporters striving to achieve coexistence in municipalities experiencing a rapid influx of foreign residents, as well as in communities that may feel uncertain about welcoming them. To mark the publication of this handbook, we are hosting a symposium to explore the respective roles of central and local governments, NPOs, corporations, and residents, drawing insights from pioneering case studies across various regions. We warmly invite you to join us.
Registration
This seminar will be held online only.
If you wish to participate, please register from this page by 12:00 on Friday, July 10 (JST).
Once your registration is complete, we will provide the access link in the registration confirmation email.
*When registering, please make sure to enter your email address correctly.
*After registration, you will receive a temporary registration confirmation email. Please click the registration completion link in the email within 24 hours to finalize your registration.
*If you do not receive the email, please check your spam or junk mail folder.
*The information you provide will be used for future invitations to seminars and lectures hosted or supported by SPF.
If you wish to participate, please register from this page by 12:00 on Friday, July 10 (JST).
Once your registration is complete, we will provide the access link in the registration confirmation email.
*When registering, please make sure to enter your email address correctly.
*After registration, you will receive a temporary registration confirmation email. Please click the registration completion link in the email within 24 hours to finalize your registration.
*If you do not receive the email, please check your spam or junk mail folder.
*The information you provide will be used for future invitations to seminars and lectures hosted or supported by SPF.
- Contact
- Social Innovation Program, West Asia and Islam Unit
E-mail: social-innovation@spf.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-5157-5280
Media Inquiries:
Public Relations Division
E-mail: spfpr@spf.or.jp
Tel: +81-3-5157-5395
*For members of the media who plan to record video, please contact PR in advance.
Description
| 9:00-9:30 JST | Registration |
| 9:30-9:40 JST | Opening Remarks Dr. Atsushi Sunami, President, Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) |
| 9:40-10:40 JST | Part I: Speeches 1. "ISA’s Efforts for Promoting a Society of Well-Ordered and Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals" (Ms. Nobuko Fukuhara, Associate Commissioner, Immigration Services Agency) 2. "The Future of Local Communities in a Population-Declining Society" (Mr. Masashi Kawai, Senior Policy Officer, The Tokyo Foundation/ President, The Research Institute of Countermeasures for Population Decline) 3. "Current Status and Challenges of Coexistence with Foreign Nationals in Japan" (Dr. Junichi Akashi, Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba) 4. Report: Introduction of the "Handbook for an Inclusive Society with Foreign Residents: Basic Approaches to Acceptance and Good Practices" (Ms. Masako Iwashina, Program Officer, Sasakawa Peace Foundation) Q&A Session |
| 10:40-11:00 JST | Break |
| 11:00-12:00 JST | Part II: Panel Discussion "The Roles and Future Challenges of the Central Government, Local Governments, Corporations, and NPOs from a Local Perspective" Central Government: Ms. Natsuko Kuroda, Director, International Affairs Office, Local Administration Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Local Government: Mr. Shigeki Tokunaga, Mayor of Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture NPO: Ms. Rumiko Onaka, Multicultural Network fuふ！ Okinawa Corporation: Mr. Keisuke Uemura, General Manager, Human Resources Development Division, Sakurajyuji Group Ethnic Community: Mr. Ibrokhimjon Abdujabborov, Uzbekistan Community/ Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Moderator: Dr. Junichi Akashi, Professor, University of Tsukuba |
| 12:00-12:10 JST | Closing Remarks Dr. Mieko Nakabayashi, President, The Tokyo Foundation |
*The event program and speakers are subject to change.
Speakers
Speaker
Ms. Natsuko Kuroda
Director, International Affairs Office, Local Administration Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
Speaker
Dr. Junichi Akashi
Professor, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba
Speaker
Mr. Masashi Kawai
Senior Policy Officer, The Tokyo Foundation/ President, The Research Institute of Countermeasures for Population Decline
Speaker
Mr. Shigeki Tokunaga
Mayor of Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture
Speaker
Ms. Masako Iwashina
Program Officer, Social Innovation Program, West Asia and Islam Unit, Sasakawa Peace Foundation
Speaker
Ms. Rumiko Onaka
Multicultural Network fuふ！ Okinawa
Speaker
Mr. Keisuke Uemura
General Manager, Human Resources Development Division, Sakurajyuji Group
Speaker
Mr. Ibrokhimjon Abdujabborov
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies