Introduction: The Importance of Listening to Stakeholders

On July 4, 2026, a significant event took place in Toyama Prefecture. Governor Nitta visited NPO Alesse Takaoka in Takaoka City to engage in direct dialogue with young people who have foreign roots.

This initiative is part of Toyama Prefecture’s effort to establish a “Multicultural Coexistence Ordinance,” which aims to create a society where people of different nationalities can live with peace of mind. This ordinance is expected to be more than a statement of ideals; it is intended to be an effective system that addresses the real challenges faced by foreign residents and their families living in Japan.

In this article, as an administrative scrivener and specialist in visa applications and residence status procedures, I will explain the significance of Toyama Prefecture’s initiative and its implications for foreign residents in Japan and companies employing foreign workers.

What Was Discussed at the Round-Table Discussion?

At the round-table discussion, children with foreign roots openly shared their concerns and thoughts about living in Japan.

One high school student stated, “I wanted to convey my struggles with how to pursue higher education and cultural differences, and I hoped these issues could be improved.” This statement encapsulates many important challenges.

Barriers to Higher Education: Information Gaps and System Complexity

For children with foreign roots, Japan’s educational system can be extremely complex. Particularly regarding higher education, information that is taken for granted in Japanese households often does not reach foreign families.

  • How to choose high schools and universities
  • Understanding entrance examination systems
  • How to utilize scholarship programs
  • How to receive career counseling

Such information is naturally passed from parent to child in families born and raised in Japan. However, when parents themselves are not familiar with Japan’s educational system, children must gather information on their own.

Isolation Due to Cultural Differences

The phrase “cultural differences” encompasses various difficulties in specific situations:

  • Confusion about school events and customs
  • Value differences in friendships
  • Cultural gaps between home and school
  • Identity struggles

Especially for adolescents, the identity issue of “being seen as Japanese but not fully Japanese” can be a serious concern.

What Is the Multicultural Coexistence Ordinance?

The “Multicultural Coexistence Ordinance” that Toyama Prefecture is considering will provide a legal foundation for systematically addressing these challenges at the municipal level.

Purpose and Significance of the Ordinance

The main purpose of the Multicultural Coexistence Ordinance is to create a local community where people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds can recognize each other’s differences and live together with peace of mind.

Specifically, the following elements are typically included:

  1. Clarification of Basic Principles
  • Declaration of the importance of multicultural coexistence
  • Prohibition of discrimination and prejudice
  • Promotion of mutual understanding and respect
  1. Responsibilities of the Administration
  • Provision of information in multiple languages
  • Establishment of consultation services
  • Enhancement of educational support
  • Employment support
  1. Roles of Residents and Companies
  • Acceptance in local communities
  • Environmental improvement for foreign employment in companies
  1. Specific Measures
  • Provision of Japanese language education
  • Life consultation services
  • Educational support for children
  • Support systems during disasters

Why Is the Ordinance Needed Now?

With the increasing number of foreign residents throughout Japan, initiatives at the municipal level are essential.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Justice, the number of foreign residents has been increasing year by year, particularly those working under technical intern training and specified skilled worker status. Additionally, the number of foreign nationals living in Japan long-term as permanent or long-term residents is also on the rise.

In this context, there are region-specific challenges that cannot be fully addressed by national policies alone. By establishing their own ordinances, local governments like Toyama Prefecture can provide detailed support tailored to local circumstances.

Significance for Foreign Residents in Japan

Increased Sense of Security in Daily Life

How will the establishment of the Multicultural Coexistence Ordinance affect the lives of foreign residents?

1. Easier Access to Information

Institutionalizing multilingual information provision will allow foreign residents to obtain information necessary for administrative procedures and daily life in their native languages, reducing disadvantages caused by language barriers.

2. Clarity About Where to Seek Help

The situation where people don’t know where to consult when facing difficulties will be improved. Specialized consultation services will be established to handle various concerns, including visa renewals, children’s education, and labor issues.

3. Measures Against Discrimination and Prejudice

By explicitly prohibiting discrimination in the ordinance, consultation services and remedial measures for unfair treatment will become clear.

4. Improvement of Children’s Educational Environment

Support systems for difficulties in advancing to higher education and school life, as discussed at the round-table meeting, will be strengthened. This includes learning support, career counseling, and Japanese language education to support children’s growth.

Impact on Residence Status Procedures

While the establishment of the Multicultural Coexistence Ordinance does not directly change visa or residence status screening criteria, it has important indirect effects.

Proof of Local Acceptance System

In residence status applications, particularly for “Long-Term Resident” or “Permanent Resident” status, immigration authorities assess whether applicants can adapt to Japanese society and maintain stable lives. A municipality’s active commitment to multicultural coexistence serves as evidence that an environment exists for applicants to lead stable lives.

Improvement of Corporate Acceptance Systems

For work visa applications (Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Specified Skilled Worker, etc.), the receiving company’s support system is also subject to review. A municipality’s established support system for foreign residents demonstrates that the area provides an environment conducive to accepting foreign workers.

For Companies Employing Foreign Workers

Improving Employee Retention Rates

Whether foreign employees stay long-term is a critical issue for companies. If talented individuals recruited and trained leave shortly after joining, the investment becomes wasteful.

Employee retention is influenced not only by salary and working conditions but also by whether employees and their families can live comfortably in the local community.

Importance of Family Living Environment

For foreign employees who have brought their families to Japan, whether spouses and children can live comfortably locally is an important factor in deciding whether to continue working.

  • Can children receive appropriate support at school?
  • Are there places where spouses can learn Japanese?
  • Are there consultation services for daily life issues?
  • Will the local community accept them?

When municipalities like Toyama Prefecture actively promote multicultural coexistence, these family living conditions improve, ultimately leading to higher employee retention rates.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Perspective

Multicultural coexistence initiatives are also important as corporate CSR activities.

Coexistence with Local Communities

Companies employing foreign workers have a responsibility to act as bridges between employees and local communities, helping employees be accepted as community members. By collaborating with municipal multicultural coexistence policies, companies can also contribute to their communities.

Strengthening Recruitment Capabilities

Companies that respect diversity and create comfortable working environments for foreign workers attract talented individuals. Particularly younger job seekers tend to value companies’ diversity initiatives.

Practical Benefits in Visa Application Procedures

When companies employ foreign nationals, visa (residence status) application procedures are unavoidable.

Key Points for Work Visa Applications

When applying for work-related residence statuses such as Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services, Specified Skilled Worker, or Technical Intern Training, immigration authorities review:

  1. Whether the applicant’s educational and work background matches the job duties
  2. Whether compensation such as salary is appropriate
  3. The company’s business content and stability
  4. Whether the company has established a system to accept foreign workers

Among these, the “acceptance system” includes not only internal company systems but also the living environment in the local area. A municipality’s commitment to multicultural coexistence is a positive factor in this regard.

Relationship with Dependent Visas

Spouses and children of foreign workers with work visas can live together in Japan by obtaining “Dependent” residence status.

Dependent visa applications require demonstrating that the entire family can maintain stable lives in Japan. A municipality’s established educational and living support systems work favorably in this screening process.

Expert Perspective: Challenges and Expectations from an Administrative Scrivener’s Viewpoint

Difficulties Foreign Residents Face: What We See in Practice

In supporting visa applications and residence status procedures, we witness various difficulties foreign residents encounter.

Language Barriers

For those who are not fluent in Japanese, administrative procedures are a significant burden. Application documents must be completed in Japanese, and explanations of required documents are also in Japanese. With much specialized terminology, even those who can converse in Japanese at a daily conversation level struggle to understand the paperwork.

Lack of Information

We often hear that people don’t know where to consult. Even when searching for information online, reaching accurate and reliable information is not easy.

Sense of Isolation

Particularly for foreign residents in rural areas, communities of people from the same country are small, making isolation more likely. Not having someone to consult when facing difficulties creates significant mental burdens.

Expectations for the Multicultural Coexistence Ordinance

We hope that Toyama Prefecture’s Multicultural Coexistence Ordinance will contribute to solving these challenges.

Establishment of One-Stop Service Centers

Ideally, one-stop consultation centers should be established where foreign residents can consult about various issues they face, including visa matters, daily life concerns, and educational questions.

Enhancement of Multilingual Support

Beyond multilingual administrative information, it’s important to have staff available who can actually provide consultations in multiple languages.

Collaboration with NPOs and Specialists

By connecting private organizations like NPO Alesse Takaoka (which the governor visited), administrative bodies, and specialists like us, more comprehensive support becomes possible.

The Importance of Listening to Stakeholders

What deserves the highest praise in Toyama Prefecture’s initiative is that the governor personally visited the field and directly listened to the voices of the children who are stakeholders.

Bottom-Up Rather Than Top-Down Policy Making

Policies are often created based on what the administration thinks “must be necessary.” However, there is frequently a gap between the actual needs of people facing difficulties and the support content the administration envisions.

By listening to stakeholders’ voices and reflecting them in policies, truly needed and effective systems can be created.

Need for Ongoing Dialogue

This round-table discussion is an excellent first step, but it should not end here. Even after the ordinance is established, a process of continuously listening to stakeholders’ voices and improving policies is crucial.

Expectations for Nationwide Impact

If Toyama Prefecture’s initiative succeeds, it will likely spread to other municipalities.

Importance of Multicultural Coexistence in Rural Areas

In major metropolitan areas like Tokyo and Osaka, many foreign residents already live, and multicultural coexistence initiatives are progressing. However, in rural areas, many regions are still in the early stages.

On the other hand, rural areas facing serious labor shortages need foreign workers most. Creating environments where foreign residents can live comfortably in rural areas is also important from a regional revitalization perspective.

Toyama Prefecture as a Model Case

We hope that Toyama Prefecture’s initiative will succeed, and its achievements and challenges will be shared with other municipalities, promoting multicultural coexistence throughout Japan.

Conclusion: Toward a Society of Coexistence

Multicultural coexistence is not a policy only for foreign residents. A society where people of diverse backgrounds live together and each can fully utilize their abilities is a richer and stronger society for everyone.

For Foreign Residents in Japan

You may be facing various difficulties while living in Japan. However, as demonstrated by Toyama Prefecture’s initiative, society is beginning to change, little by little.

When you encounter difficulties, don’t struggle alone—consult specialists and support organizations. If you have concerns about visas or residence status, specialists such as administrative scriveners can help.

For Companies Employing Foreign Workers

Creating an environment where foreign employees can work with peace of mind leads to enhanced corporate competitiveness. Consider not only internal systems but also collaboration with local communities when establishing acceptance structures.

Visa applications and residence status procedures are complex. By utilizing specialist support, you can proceed with proper procedures smoothly.

For Everyone

Realizing a multicultural coexistence society cannot be achieved by the administration alone, companies alone, or specialists alone. It’s important for each individual living in the community to have awareness of accepting people with different backgrounds and living together.

Just as Governor Nitta of Toyama Prefecture listened to the children’s voices, why don’t we also listen to the voices of foreign residents around us? That small step will lead to significant change.

Reference Article
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/82955056594b570eb2dd716fc16c153258226aed