Japan ( Tokyo ) 🇯🇵 Japan’s Governors Call for a Clearer Policy on Foreign Residents and Japanese Language Education
Japan’s National Governors Association has formally asked the national government to take a bigger role in supporting foreign residents who live and work in Japan.
Speaking about the proposal, Suzuki Yasutomo, Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, said foreign residents should be treated not just as workers but as members of local communities.
The governors are calling for a national framework that would cover
- Japanese language education
- Employment and job mobility
- Living conditions and daily life support
- Long term settlement and community integration
One key concern is that local governments are currently carrying most of the responsibility, especially in areas like language education, schooling for children, healthcare guidance, tax support, and consultation services.
Why Japanese language education matters
Governors warn that limited Japanese ability can directly affect job stability. Some foreign workers lose jobs or struggle to find new ones simply because they cannot communicate well enough in Japanese. Others fall behind on taxes or paperwork because they do not understand the system.
Language skills are also critical for children. Without proper support, foreign national children risk dropping out of school and becoming isolated from society.
A growing gap between policy and reality
While Japan officially avoids calling its approach immigration policy, the number of foreign workers continues to rise due to labor shortages in tourism, manufacturing, nursing care, and regional industries.
Governors say this double approach is causing problems. Foreign workers are welcomed to fill jobs, but the systems to support them long term are unclear and underfunded.
What the governors are asking for
- A basic national law defining how Japan supports foreign residents
- A central government body to coordinate language, labor, and living policies
- Stable funding for Japanese language education and community programs
- Training and job fields that match regional needs
Why this matters for job seekers in Japan
If you are working in Japan or planning to move here, this debate could shape
- Access to Japanese language education
- Job mobility and retraining options
- Support for families and children
- Long term stability for living and working in regional areas
The message from local leaders is clear. If Japan relies on foreign workers, the national government needs to take responsibility for helping them integrate and succeed.
Do you think Japan should do more at the national level to support foreign residents learning Japanese and building long term careers here?
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