SDG 10: How to solve inequality in Japan.
Yuha Seo, Yuna Naruse
There are many inequalities in the world today such as between developing and developed
countries, boys and girls, the educated and uneducated, racial inequalities, and so on. If there
is inequality, even if people want to change the world or their country, they will not have thechance to do so. To achieve a better situation, the first step is to begin with Keimei and Japanand change our behavior. So, what kind of inequality is occurring in Japan? One thing thatcomes to my mind is the exclusive attitude toward people of different races or cultures. For
example, in some schools, foreigner students get bullied just because they are “not the same,”and even in trains, Japanese tend to not sit next to a foreigner just because of how they look.
I will now elaborate on the current state of this problem.
More than a quarter of foreigners in Japan have experienced inequality throughemployment or schooling. In addition, when foreigners look for a place to live in Japan, morethan half of them from various countries are refused the right to move in because they areforeigners. About 30% have been insulted by others because they are foreigners.
Next, I would like to discuss our solutions. First, we must focus on the causes of unequal
attitudes toward race. It might be because Japan is an island nation where foreigners are
rare, no matter how many foreign tourists there are. Also, from a very young age, the people
around us are usually all Japanese with little diversity. So, what should be done to prevent
people from thinking unequally? I discovered the answer to this question last summer when I
went on a language study program in England. At that event, there were people of manydifferent nationalities. We were able to learn about English and interact with each other, thusincreasing understanding of other people from very different backgrounds. I think thisexperience would help many students at Keimei to have an inclusive perspective andeliminate exclusive thinking. Through such experiences, we can build interculturalcompetence. This is the ability to understand and respect each other across all types ofcultural barriers. Furthermore, Keimei should help students go on more study abroad
programs, so that the number of students who experience studying abroad increases.
In order to eliminate inequality with respect to race in Japan, we need to improve
intercultural competence from an early age. It is also important that more people showinterest in studying abroad as a means to achieve SDGs and to inform people about them. Ouridea is that students who have gone on study abroad programs can hold workshops. Theworkshops would be aimed at Keimei students who have not studied abroad yet, as well as
elementary school students in the neighborhood. This will help to lighten the fears of students
who hesitate about studying abroad. Elementary school students will also be interested inhearing about the experiences of high school students, and they will be inspired to take up thechallenge when they become high school students themselves. This plan is designed to provide
future generations of Keimei students with the wonderful experience and knowledge ofstudying abroad in a cyclical manner.
What did you learn from our presentation? I believe that we can contribute to theachievement of SDG 10, especially inequality against race, by changing our attitudes little bylittle. We are still high school students, but we are the next generation. Why don't you
actively participate in study abroad programs to improve your intercultural-competence andgain an equal perspective? Let's learn more about the global society and change our society tobecome an inclusive one.
The best way to solve difficult problems is for as many people as possible to take action
and spread the word.