Toward an Inclusive Society Where Diverse People, Regardless of Their Nationality, Can Thrive Together: Research Outcomes Discussed at a Symposium on Foreign Worker Acceptance

On Feb. 3, 2022, JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development (JICA Ogata Research Institute) held the online symposium “Achieving Inclusive Society Targets in 2030 and 2040: Supply-Demand Simulation of Foreign Workers and Recommendations Toward Social Cohesion.” Around 500 participants attended.

Matsuoka Hiromu from Value Management Institute, a private think tank, reported the outcome of the study which forecasted the demand for foreign workers in Japan and the potential supply of workers from migrant-sending countries as of the target years 2030 and 2040. He warned that Japan would not be able to secure enough foreign workers to achieve its GDP targets, even if more capital investments for automation are made. More specifically, the shortage of foreign workers would be around 630,000 in 2030, and 420,000 in 2040. Kameyama Takuji from Japan Economic Research Institute, another private think tank which jointly conducted the study, shared the suggestions from case studies of 20 Japanese local administrations. He raised two future challenges. One is to improve the institutional environment for support to foreign workers in the areas of basic human rights, social engagement, employment and livelihoods. The other is to build frameworks tailored to the characteristics of each local administration so that these measures can function effectively. Adding to these, Shishido Kenichi, vice president of JICA, presented six challenges identified by the study, and as a way forward, actions to be taken by JICA to realize an enriched and inclusive society where Japanese and non-Japanese people can play active roles together with hopes and a sense of security.

The second was Menju Toshihiro, managing director of the Japan Center for International Exchange, who stated that much has been considered around ”how Japan should accept foreign workers” but the focus should shift to “how Japan can be chosen by them.” Menju noted in this respect that JICA has the ability to look at Japan with external perspectives through its activities in developing countries and it is significant that this study suggested that objective discussions must take place. He also pointed out the importance of linking rural community revitalization with the acceptance of foreign workers and expressed his expectations in talents like Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in making great achievements.

The panel discussion started with a video message from Yamamoto Ichita, governor of Gunma Prefecture. Yamamoto introduced the Prefectural Ordinance for Promotion of Intercultural Co-creation, which came into effect in 2021 to co-create social values with the 60,000 residents of non-Japanese nationalities in Gunma to revitalize the local economy. On COVID-19 pandemic response, he highlighted that the prefecture has been collaborating with various stakeholders such as companies, embassies and non-Japanese communities to overcome challenges around information sharing with foreign residents.

Oussouby Sacko, then president of Kyoto Seika University, said that we often talk about the realization of an inclusive society but the crucial point here is to enable foreigners to participate in society instead of treating them as visitors. Instead of leaving foreigners to form their own communities based on their country of origin, it is necessary to create dialogue platforms that enable them to participate in local policymaking as members of local communities, for instance. Oussouby added that career development frameworks to help foreign workers are also needed. For example, frameworks that allow them to switch to different occupations, participate in trainings together with Japanese workers and launch new businesses in Japan. Oussouby concluded by saying that he hopes to see a day will come when they are no longer called “foreign workers.”

Tanaka Akihiko, then president of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, GRIPS (now president of JICA) suggested a way forward for Japan to become the country of choice among foreign workers. He said that we should understand the future direction shown by the study as an opportunity to transform Japan into a more vibrant country, that is, to move on to a society where things are not seen as a simple dichotomic interpretation of foreigners versus Japanese, but rather where diverse people can compete with each other in a friendly environment. In this sense, Tanaka said that the term “co-creative society” is preferable over “inclusive society.”

Finally, reflecting on how the study started, Kitaoka pointed out the need for institutional reform to accept more foreign workers in Japan. He then said that JICA would like to assist various partners who are facing immediate needs to accommodate foreigners at the frontline, like local governments, in raising their voice to improve the status quo. When people from different cultures who speak different languages are in trouble, JICA has the human resources to give them advice and support. Kitaoka added that JICA will continue to work under its ”field-comes-first” motto so that everyone can enjoy working with foreigners and find it a necessary thing, embracing the power of diversity.