Multicultural Society

Multilingual Information

We provide foreign residents with information necessary for everyday life in Japan, as well as urgent updates.

The Multilingual Information Manual

This manual provides tips to local government officials who are providing information to foreign residents in community languages.

Support for Foreign Residents During Natural Disasters

After a large earthquake, it is imperative that accurate information is relayed to foreign residents who do not have a sufficient grasp of the Japanese language. Furthermore, some foreign residents come from countries with few natural disasters, so experience a greater degree of psychological stress. In order to overcome these problems, we encourage the establishment of ‘Multilingual Disaster Information Centres’ whose role is to provide foreign residents with access to the same information available to Japanese citizens, except in community languages.

This website contains a wealth of information aimed at those who are developing public policy in the field of multicultural coexistence. Information is set out with an eye to the individual needs of foreign residents throughout their life.

Multicultural Leaders Program

We send ‘Multicultural Managers’ into communities to assist in developing cutting edge public policy in this area.

Regional Internationalisation Adviser Program

This program sends experts in the field of multicultural coexistence to give lectures at seminars run by local governments and local NGOs. We provide funding for transport and speaking fees.

We provide specialised professional development courses in cooperation with two training facilities known as JIAM, and JAMP. Courses are available to local government officials and certain NGO staff who are engage in promoting multicultural coexistence in their local communities.

We provide subsidies for programs in the field of multicultural coexistence that are of particularly high importance.

‘Foreign Resident Support Manual’

Local government and Regional International Relations Associations are important sources of information for foreign residents. This manual is aimed at officials whose role is to support foreign residents, and lists solutions to common problems, and advice regarding a wide range of issues facing foreign residents.

‘2010 Multicultural Coexistence Project Case Study Digest’

This booklet lists exemplary projects that are a model for action by other organisations.
A searchable list of projects from others years is also available.

The Citizens International Plaza aims to improve links between local governments and NGOs, and also to promote internationalisation/multicultural coexistence projects around the country.

CLAIR is the home of the secretariat of the ‘Council of Regional International Exchange Associations’. We run meeting and seminars for the benefit of council members.