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Asahi Shimbun
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Shrinking city in Miyagi turns to foreign students for revitalization
The 28 students take turns talking about their goals during the April 10 entrance ceremony at the Osaki City Japanese Language School in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture. (Ikuko Abe) OSAKI, Miyagi Prefecture—Applause rang out at an elementary school here that shut down in March 2023. The crowd was cheering for the 28 students aged between 18 and 63 from Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia who represent hope for the future of this city in the northeastern Tohoku region. The occasion was the April 10 entrance ceremony for the Osaki City Japanese Language School, the second public Japanese language school in the country. The positive reaction to the students was an indication that Osaki residents are losing their prejudicial feelings about non-Japanese residents. The city government decided to establish the school after Yoshihiro Murai won his fifth term as governor of Miyagi Prefecture in 2021, pledging to accelerate efforts to receive talented individuals from overseas to replenish the declining population. The Osaki City Japanese Language School classes, operated with the cooperation of public sector entities, are held at the former city-run Nishi-Furukawa Elementary School, which was closed due to a decrease in the number of students. Using a microphone, the language students introduced themselves in Japanese and talked about their wishes and goals. According to the basic resident registry, Osaki had a population of 128,718 in 2020. Since then, it has decreased by 7,492 over the past five years. The percentage of people 65 and older was 32.1 percent in 2024, higher than the prefectural average of 29.5 percent and the national average of 29.3 percent. The two-story school building was renovated using grants from the prefectural government and other funds. Desks and other equipment were replaced with new ones, while the library has a collection of manga books. There is also a prayer room for religious students. 'The school building where children's voices were once heard has been given a new life,' Toshimitsu Suzuki, 66, the school's principal, said in a congratulatory message during the ceremony. 'All you students revived the school.' The enrollees will spend up to two years learning Japanese while mingling with local residents and experiencing farming. They aim to acquire Japanese language skills equivalent to the second-highest N2 level on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test by the time they graduate. After finishing school, students will be hired by companies in Osaki on referral from the local chamber of commerce and industry and other institutions. 'We want them to energize the community,' an Osaki city official said. FOLLOWING PRECEDENT Osaki is following the example of Higashikawa town in Hokkaido, which established the first public Japanese language school in the country in 2015. Higashikawa has been promoting the community by increasing consumption among foreign students and taking other measures. It had only 50 foreign nationals at the end of 2012 before the school was established, but the non-Japanese population climbed to 541 as of April this year, a more than tenfold increase. The town's overall population has risen from 6,973 to 8,711. Ishinomaki city, also in Miyagi Prefecture, is considering a municipal Japanese language school to revitalize the community. MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING The Osaki city government has stationed an official at Nishi-Furukawa Station near the school to support foreign students who use the JR Rikuuto Line to commute from their dormitory. The deficit-ridden station had been unmanned since 2005 due to decreasing ridership. The students are now expected to help create a bustling atmosphere around the station. 'As the city's hub for multicultural inclusiveness, we have high expectations to meet,' said Suzuki, who responded to a public solicitation by the city government to serve as principal. He started working in April 2024 during preparations to open the school. During an explanatory session hosted by the municipality, Suzuki was surprised when residents expressed concerns that their children would be taking the same school route with the foreign students. Suzuki says he invites residents to classes so that they can mingle with the students and ease such unfounded worries. He feels the students have brought a fresh breeze into the community in the one month since the school opened. 'We will continue to deepen our mutual understanding and build an environment where students can learn at ease,' he said.
Metropolis Japan
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metropolis Japan
How to get permanent residency in Japan in 1-2 years
Want to get permanent residency in Japan in two years? Creator Tokuyuu teaches you how. A fateful first trip to Japan at the age of 18 changed Tokuyuu's life. After falling in love with the country and eventually returning, he would go on to achieve the highest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), land a job with a Japanese company, and start a YouTube channel focused on life in Japan and learning the language. Receiving permanent residency in Japan (which he got in record time) allowed him to leave his job to pursue content creation full-time with the goal of sharing Japan with the world, so that others may have their life-changing connection with Japan as he did. Tokuyuu: After graduating from high school, I traveled to Japan for the first time with one of my close friends, Michael, who is half-Japanese. It was a month of pure adventure—two teenagers free-roaming Japan. I instantly fell in love: there were anime characters on the streets, the trains were always on time, and the architecture and nature were beautiful. But what moved me most was the kindness of the people. There was just one problem—I couldn't communicate. Michael had to translate everything: casual chats, my feelings of gratitude, and even my jokes (which, of course, fell flat in translation). On the Shinkansen ride back to the airport, I stared out the window with tears welling in my eyes—moved by the experience, but frustrated by the language barrier. At that moment, I made a promise to myself: I would become fluent in Japanese and one day return to Japan. Tokuyuu: As a motivated but broke 18-year-old, I mostly self-studied Japanese, scavenging the internet for any free resources I could find—YouTube videos, grammar guides, vocab lists, anything. I took a couple Japanese courses at university, but they only got me to about an N4 level, so once they ended I was back to self-study. That's when I became more regimented. I used an app called 'Kanji Study' to learn all the kanji from N3 to N1, studying 5 to 10 new characters and their related vocabulary every day. For grammar, I relied on YouTube playlists. For listening, I immersed myself in Japanese podcasts. And for speaking, I spent time with Japanese exchange students to practice conversation. It took about five and a half years after my first trip to Japan, but I eventually passed the JLPT N1. It remains one of my proudest achievements—not just because of the result, but because of the resourcefulness and discipline I developed to get there. Tokuyuu: Life in Japan feels completely different depending on whether you can speak Japanese or not. While many Japanese people will kindly try to speak English, their proficiency is often limited, so the depth of your relationships stays limited too, shaped by your own ability to speak Japanese. In my early stages of learning, I'd often resort to saying the closest word I knew and think, 'This isn't quite what I want to say,' or if I didn't fully understand someone, I'd just laugh and move on, but both situations always created a subtle sense of disconnect. As I've become more fluent, I can now express and understand more complex thoughts, emotions, and nuance. That ability has completely changed how I connect with others: I can share insecurities with friends, communicate feelings in a relationship, and even banter with the staff at my gym. It's opened the door to deeper, more meaningful relationships that just weren't possible before. You might also be interested in reading How to Buy A Property in Japan. Tokuyuu: I used to think there were only two ways to get permanent residence in Japan: marry a Japanese citizen or live in Japan for ten years. But a friend told me about a third option — the Highly Skilled Professional fast track. Under this system, you're assigned points based on factors like age, education, salary, work experience and Japanese proficiency. If you score 70 points, you can apply for permanent residence after three years of living in Japan. With 80 points, that wait is reduced to just one year. I hit exactly 80 points thanks to being in my twenties, holding a Master's degree, having a well-paying job and passing the JLPT N1. After submitting my application, I waited six long months. When I finally got the approval after two years in Japan, I was literally jumping on the couch in joy. Tokuyuu: The greatest benefit has been the freedom from being tied to a work visa. I worked for a great company, but it was unsettling knowing that if I lost my job, my life in Japan would be upturned—I'd have to leave and return to Canada. Permanent residence removed that pressure. After completing my work contract, I was able to leave my company and pursue content creation full-time. This was something that wouldn't have been possible without PR. Another benefit is how flexible Japan's permanent residence is. You're not required to live in Japan to keep it, which gives me the freedom to temporarily move abroad if I choose, without having to start over from zero when I come back. Tokuyuu: Naturalization in Japan requires giving up your current citizenship, as Japan doesn't allow dual nationality. Since permanent residence already gives me the freedom and stability I need, I didn't see the need to sever ties with Canada. That's something I'd be very reluctant to do. Tokuyuu: My biggest piece of advice is to stay patient and consistent with your Japanese studies. Learning the language is tough and takes time. I remember thinking, 'I've studied for years, but I still can't speak confidently,' which can be mentally challenging. It often feels like there's an infinite amount of Japanese to learn—because honestly, there is. But the good news is there's a finite amount you need to know to communicate confidently in daily life. If you keep showing up, keep pushing and stay curious, you will reach that point. And fluency will follow. Speaking Japanese will open doors. It strengthens your job prospects, deepens your relationships, and gives you points toward permanent residence. If you're serious about moving to Japan, learning the language is by far the most valuable investment you can make. Based in Japan: Would You Renovate an Akiya in Tokyo?
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Nikkei Asia
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Nikkei Asia
Japan considers lower language hurdles for foreign bus, cab drivers
TOKYO -- Japan looks to ease language requirements for foreign bus and taxi drivers entering the country via its specified skilled worker program, lowering what some observers argue has been a barrier to alleviating the industry's labor shortage. The program, introduced in 2019, generally requires workers to have Japanese language skills equivalent to N4 on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, which indicates basic understanding. For bus and taxi drivers, the requirement is a step higher at N3, to ensure they can provide information to customers and handle accidents.
Express Tribune
03-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Pakistan seeks to diversify opportunities
Listen to article With shrinking employment opportunities in the Gulf, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan has started looking towards Japan to export human resources. The move aims to partially offset the adverse impacts on remittances, despite challenges to adopt Japanese culture by Pakistanis. Japan has long sought skilled Pakistani workers, but the local authorities were not able to meet the demand due to cultural and language barriers. Though this trend is slowly reversing, it benefits Pakistan through increased remittances and allowing workers to contribute to industrial development upon return to their home country, with the skills and knowledge acquired in Japan, stated Japan's ambassador to Islamabad, Akamatsu Shuichi on Friday. He said that the upcoming Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in July this year has already seen more than 1,000 applicants, reflecting the growing interest in learning Japanese among young Pakistanis. The foreign remittances sent by Pakistani workers and professionals are now the single largest source of avoiding default, even higher than the highly subsidised exports. Pakistan is expected to receive $38 billion in foreign remittances this fiscal year compared to an estimated about $32 billion in exports. But in March alone, Pakistan received $4.1 billion remittances with total remittances increasing to $28 billion. In the year 2023, about 863,000 Pakistanis went abroad, including 230,000 going to the UAE alone. However, the trend saw a downward spiral after the UAE government placed restrictions on Pakistani workers due to their illegal activities, including begging. As a result, only 64,130 workers went to the UAE in 2024, a reduction of 72% within a year. This pulled the overall number of people going abroad in search of jobs to 727,400 in 2024. The trend continued in 2025, with only 172,000 people going abroad during January-March period, including just 8,331 to the UAE. Japan's plan to welcome 340,000 foreign workers through the SSF framework offers a great opportunity for Pakistani skilled professionals, said Chaudhry Salik Hussain, the Minister for Human Resource Development and Overseas Pakistanis. Highlighting challenges, Ambassador Akamatsu said that to live and work in Japan, foreign workers' need a certain level of Japanese language proficiency and an understanding of Japanese customs in business and daily life. He said that institutions like PlusW, Ecoscience, NUML, NUTECH, and HANA have already initiated Japanese language education courses tailored to employment in Japan. More than the skill set, it is the lack of respect for Japanese culture that is the biggest hurdle in exporting human resources to Japan, said a Pakistani official who, till recently served in Tokyo and worked for expanding cooperation in the human resource field. He said that Pakistan has the potential to increase remittance from Japan from $20 million per annum to $500 million, subject to adopting Japanese culture and learning their language. In the year 2023, about 1,184 Pakistanis went to Japan for jobs, which jumped to 1,518 in 2024 and showing an upward trajectory. During three months of this year, 708 Pakistanis went to Japan and the authorities expect that the figure will cross 3,000 this year. According to the recorded data, only 6,272 Pakistanis work in Japan. The Japanese ambassador emphasised that simplifying procedures on both sides is key to boosting cooperation and increasing the number of workers for smoother engagement. For Japanese companies, improvements in Pakistan's business environment are also essential. A better business climate would attract more Japanese investments, leading to larger employment opportunities for Pakistani professionals and the development of future-prominent talents, he added. Since the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on Technical Intern Training in 2019, more than 100 trainees have come to Japan due to the efforts of the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) and other stakeholders. Although this number is not yet satisfactory, this fact shows a tangible progress, said the ambassador. The JICA chief in Pakistan said that four years ago, JICA conducted two studies to assess Pakistan's ICT sector potential.
