November 2020 Architecture Journal

November 2020 Architecture Journal 18p
Special feature: "Residence for foreigners" - Issues surrounding foreigners living in Japan that we want you to know more about
Based on the principle of mutual assistance, we provide consultations, proposals, and courses.
Mayumi Yoshida

Conduct "solution-oriented consultation"
We provide consultation on various difficulties and problems that foreign residents face while living in Japan.
It is not just a "traffic arrangement consultation" that introduces consultation places,
We provide "solution-oriented consultation" that supports consultations in any field until they are resolved.
We also work hard to advocate for the government and other organizations by conveying the voices of foreign residents that emerge through these consultation services.
In addition to these activities, we hold study sessions and seminars to help foreign residents improve their lives in Japan.
We also hold lectures and symposiums to help Japanese residents learn more about foreign residents.

There are properties that do not accept foreigners
Even now, there are properties that do not allow foreigners to live in. Also, there are many cases of trouble with neighboring residents.
Of course, foreigners don't know the unspoken rules of Japanese society, and Japanese people don't say them out loud,
The two sides have not been able to come to an agreement. I think it is necessary for Japanese people to make an effort to "communicate."

The foreigners we support live in the Kanto area.
It seems that properties are often found in "population areas" where many people from each country live.
For example, many Bangladeshi people in Tokyo live in Kita Ward.
We introduce properties where we have already built a relationship of trust with the landlord,
In addition, events for fellow countrymen are held in nearby facilities, so
It's also easy to access these types of communication opportunities.

"The Precarious Position of Non-Regular Employees"
Many foreigners lost their jobs. Foreigners have difficulty becoming full-time employees (due to issues such as Japanese language proficiency),
As many of them work on a contract or part-time basis, they are the first to be laid off during the COVID-19 recession.
It is not easy to find new employment, and even if they want to return to their home countries, there are no flights due to the global spread of the infection.
There were many foreigners who looked at a loss.
We don't usually notice it, but it feels like the precarious position of foreigners has been brought to light during emergencies like this.

"As a close neighbor"
Japan is already accepting many foreigners for various reasons.
Foreigners are important for the economic development of Japanese society.
Furthermore, you are not simply a labor force to cope with an aging population, but are real human beings.
I would like to appeal to the government and local authorities to implement policies that take into consideration the lives of the people they accept.
Foreigners are also our close neighbors. Japanese ways of thinking and foreign ways of thinking that seem to deviate from them are
Each has its own set of values. If we come together as neighbors in the local community, I believe we can build a diverse society.