OTA, GUNMA PREF. – Japanese cities with large populations of foreign nationals on Tuesday urged the central government to offer more assistance as the country prepares…
OTA, GUNMA PREF. – Japanese cities with large populations of foreign nationals on Tuesday urged the central government to offer more assistance as the country prepares to start accepting workers from overseas under a new visa system.
Leaders and representatives of 15 municipalities with an especially high concentration of citizens from South America and elsewhere gathered for their annual meeting to discuss with central government and immigration officials how best to live together with foreign nationals.
The Council of Municipalities with Large Migrant Populations compiled a statement stating Japan as a society must work on a variety of issues that may accompany the expected influx of foreigners.
“Accepting foreigners and realizing social coexistence, which have been considered challenges for certain local communities, will need to be discussed, shared and dealt with as issues for Japanese society as a whole from now on,” the statement said.
The statement also referred to their concerns that more foreigners will be accepted into the country “without sufficient consideration of various issues that emerge in local societies.”
The new visa system will start in April as part of an effort to attract more foreign workers for Japan’s labor-hungry businesses.
