migrant integration in japan

Migrant Integration Migrant Integration in Japan: in Japan:

The local government The local government perspective perspective

Yamawaki Keizo, Meiji UniversityYamawaki Keizo, Meiji UniversityIntegrating Cities Ⅵ ConferenceIntegrating Cities Ⅵ Conference10 Septemnber 2013, Tampere10 Septemnber 2013, Tampere

Migrant Integration in Migrant Integration in JapanJapan

IntroductionIntroduction Local governmentsLocal governments National governmentNational government Networking of citiesNetworking of cities Policy exchange with European Policy exchange with European

citiescities ConclusionConclusion

Foreign residents in JapanForeign residents in Japan

Increase up to 2008Increase up to 2008 Impact of the global financial crisis in 2008 and Impact of the global financial crisis in 2008 and

the earthquake in 2011the earthquake in 2011 2 million (1.6%) as of December 20122 million (1.6%) as of December 2012 Chinese, Koreans, Brazilian and FilipinosChinese, Koreans, Brazilian and Filipinos 2/3 are de-facto immigrants2/3 are de-facto immigrants

　　　　　　　　

Japanese population in Japanese population in 20552055

Japanese population reached its peak Japanese population reached its peak in 2004 in 2004

127,787,000 (in 2004) → 89,930,000 127,787,000 (in 2004) → 89,930,000 (in 2055)(in 2055)

Productive-age population: Productive-age population: 87,165,00087,165,000 　　 (in 1995) → 45,951,000 (in 1995) → 45,951,000 (in 2055) (in 2055)

The aging rate: 24% (in 2013)→ 41% The aging rate: 24% (in 2013)→ 41% (in 2055)(in 2055)

Changes in populations Changes in populations of three age groups of three age groups

Japan’s response to Japan’s response to globalization globalization

Japan is slow to respond to Japan is slow to respond to globalization, butglobalization, but

Companies are seeking highly Companies are seeking highly skilled foreign workers skilled foreign workers

Universities are seeking foreign Universities are seeking foreign studentsstudents

Companies and universities are the Companies and universities are the major forces promoting diversitymajor forces promoting diversity

Japan’s future: Japan’s future: from homogeneity to from homogeneity to

diversity?diversity? The only industrialized country The only industrialized country

with a relatively few migrantswith a relatively few migrants Will aging and declining Will aging and declining

population and globalization population and globalization lead to more immigration?lead to more immigration?

Is Japan to become more Is Japan to become more diverse?diverse?

Migrant integration policy by local governments

Immigration policy: admission policy and integration policy

1970s: local governments with a large Korean community

1990s: local governments with a large Brazilian community

2000s: Tabunka Kyosei policy

Tabunka KyoseiTabunka Kyosei

Key concept for local migrant policyKey concept for local migrant policy Tabunka as many cultures, Kyosei as Tabunka as many cultures, Kyosei as

living togetherliving together NGOs then local governments started NGOs then local governments started

to use the term in the late 1990sto use the term in the late 1990s 2006: Ministry of Internal Affairs 2006: Ministry of Internal Affairs

made the plan to promote Tabunka made the plan to promote Tabunka Kyosei in local communitiesKyosei in local communities

Recent initiatives by local governments

Council of Municipalities with a Large Foreign Population, led by Hamamatsu City (2001)

Council for the Promotion of Intercultural Communities, led by Aichi Prefecture (2004)

Shinjuku, Ota, Osaka and Kawasaki Miyagi Prefecture

National government

1990s: Countermeasures but no policy 2006: Plan for intercultural communities General measures regarding foreigners as residents 2011: Action plan on measures for foreign residents of Japanese descent 2012: Commission on building a society to live with foreigners

MIC’s Plan for MIC’s Plan for Intercultural Intercultural

Communities (2006)Communities (2006) Support for communication: Support for communication:

Japanese language education & Japanese language education & multilingual translationmultilingual translation

Support for living: housing, Support for living: housing, education, welfare, laboureducation, welfare, labour

Intercultural community building: Intercultural community building: participation in community & participation in community & awareness buildingawareness building

Council of MunicipalitiesCouncil of Municipalitieswith a Large Foreign with a Large Foreign

Population (1)Population (1) Established in 2001 with 13 municipalities Established in 2001 with 13 municipalities

with a large number of migrant workers, with a large number of migrant workers, mostly Brazilians of Japanese origin.mostly Brazilians of Japanese origin.

27 municipalities as of 2013.27 municipalities as of 2013. Most of them are from Tokai region, the Most of them are from Tokai region, the

centre of Japanese manufacturing industry centre of Japanese manufacturing industry Conference in Tokyo for policy dialogue Conference in Tokyo for policy dialogue

with the national government every two with the national government every two yearsyears

Council of MunicipalitiesCouncil of Municipalitieswith a Large Foreign with a Large Foreign

Population (2)Population (2) Making policy proposals to the national Making policy proposals to the national

government for migrant integrationgovernment for migrant integration Has been influential in the national Has been influential in the national

government’s policy-making, such asgovernment’s policy-making, such as MIC’s plan for intercultural communities MIC’s plan for intercultural communities

in 2006, Cabinet’s office’ adoption of in 2006, Cabinet’s office’ adoption of action plan for policy on resident action plan for policy on resident foreigners of Japanese origin in 2011, the foreigners of Japanese origin in 2011, the reform of the system of registration for reform of the system of registration for foreign residents in 2012. foreign residents in 2012.

Intercultural Cities Intercultural Cities ProgrammeProgramme

Program started in 2008 by Council Program started in 2008 by Council of Europe and European of Europe and European Commission. Participation of more Commission. Participation of more than 60 cities. than 60 cities.

Intercultural policy aims at making Intercultural policy aims at making the most of diversity at the same the most of diversity at the same time promoting social integration time promoting social integration through interaction among different through interaction among different groups.groups.

5 types of migrant policy5 types of migrant policy

Based on the experience in migrant Based on the experience in migrant integration of European cities since 1970sintegration of European cities since 1970s

1. non-policy1. non-policy 2. guest worker policy2. guest worker policy 3. assimilationist policy3. assimilationist policy 4. multicultural policy: emphasis on group 4. multicultural policy: emphasis on group

identitiesidentities 5. intercultural policy: emphasis on 5. intercultural policy: emphasis on

interaction, mixing and hybridityinteraction, mixing and hybridity

Tabunka kyosei and Intercultural City

MIC’s plan consists of support for foreign residents and intercultural community building

Local governments have focused on support for foreign residents

Emphasis on community building may lead to Japanese-style intercultural city

Tabunka kyosei defined as intercultural rather than multicultural

Xenophobic movements at the grassroots

Because of recent tensions with China Because of recent tensions with China and South Korea, xenophobic groups and South Korea, xenophobic groups are getting more active in Japanare getting more active in Japan

They tend to quote xenophobic They tend to quote xenophobic discourse in Europe and regard discourse in Europe and regard European countries as ‘failed’ in European countries as ‘failed’ in migrant integrationmigrant integration

Unbiased view on European experience Unbiased view on European experience in migrant integration is vital for Japanin migrant integration is vital for Japan

Summits of Intercultural Summits of Intercultural CitiesCities

January 2012: Tokyo Summit January 2012: Tokyo Summit 9 mayors from Europe, Japan and Korea 9 mayors from Europe, Japan and Korea

(Lisbon, Botkyrka, Reggio Emilia, (Lisbon, Botkyrka, Reggio Emilia, Hamamatsu, Shinjuku, Ota, Ansan, Suwon, Hamamatsu, Shinjuku, Ota, Ansan, Suwon, Seodaemun)Seodaemun)

October 2012: Hamamatsu SummitOctober 2012: Hamamatsu Summit 1111 mayors from Europe, Japan and Korea mayors from Europe, Japan and Korea

(Copenhagen, Dublin, Rotterdam, (Copenhagen, Dublin, Rotterdam, Hamamatsu, Shinjuku, Ota, Higashi-Osaka, Hamamatsu, Shinjuku, Ota, Higashi-Osaka, Gwangmyeong, Gwangsan, Guro, Cheonan)Gwangmyeong, Gwangsan, Guro, Cheonan)

Tokyo Declaration (1)Tokyo Declaration (1)

Having acknowledged that in an Having acknowledged that in an age of globalization, which has age of globalization, which has been changing our economies and been changing our economies and our societies, the understanding of our societies, the understanding of the concept and practices of the concept and practices of interculturalism can only grow in interculturalism can only grow in importance, for cities in Asia, importance, for cities in Asia, Europe and the wider world, we Europe and the wider world, we declare:declare:


That we regard the cultural diversity of That we regard the cultural diversity of our cities as an asset, and that we will our cities as an asset, and that we will explore a new urban vision which can explore a new urban vision which can build upon diversity to foster dynamism, build upon diversity to foster dynamism, innovation, creativity and growth. To innovation, creativity and growth. To that end, we will seek to establish a that end, we will seek to establish a partnership between intercultural cities partnership between intercultural cities to learn from each other’s achievements to learn from each other’s achievements and seek answers to our common and seek answers to our common challenges. challenges.


And that the ultimate goal of And that the ultimate goal of intercultural cities should be to intercultural cities should be to bring individuals of different bring individuals of different cultural backgrounds together cultural backgrounds together for the purpose of building for the purpose of building prosperous and harmonious prosperous and harmonious cities of the future.cities of the future.

Challenge of HamamatsuChallenge of Hamamatsu

2001: Establishing the Council of 2001: Establishing the Council of Municipalities with Large Municipalities with Large Migrant PopulationsMigrant Populations

2013: Making a 2013: Making a vision of vision of Hamamatsu as an intercultural Hamamatsu as an intercultural city city

Toward a national network of Toward a national network of intercultural cities in Japanintercultural cities in Japan

ConclusionConclusion

November 2012: Conference in Tokyo November 2012: Conference in Tokyo of the Council of Municipalitiesof the Council of Municipalities

Ex-minister Nakagawa vs Hamamatsu Ex-minister Nakagawa vs Hamamatsu Mayor on the interim report of the Mayor on the interim report of the commissioncommission

Agreement on a more diverse societyAgreement on a more diverse society Disagreement: integration policy Disagreement: integration policy

immigration (admission) policyimmigration (admission) policy

migrant integration in japan

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