Basic PolicyofInternational Exchange and Multicultural Coexistencein Nerima City

March 2012
Nerima City

What is an international exchange..
Regional international exchange activates the area: the encounter with people
with different languages, way of living and habits, makes inhabitants recognize
the merit, appeal etc., of their region, let them know the good point of its sistercity and enriches their culture and society.

Also the direct international

exchange activities by inhabitants are expected to change their awareness about
the world contribution.

Various exchanges and cooperative activities by regionalpublic bodies, private bodies and individuals are expected to deepen mutual
understanding at a grass-roots level and the relation between nation and nation,and eventually lead to the contribution to the world peace.
(Summary of “the meaning and aim of regional international exchange” out of “Thepolicy concerning the assessment of the outline of regional international exchangepromotion” by Ministry of Home Affairs in February 1989.)

What is multicultural coexistence…
People with different nationalities and races live together as a member of thecommunity, respecting each other’s cultural difference and trying to build a fairrelationship.
(excerpts from “Report on Multicultural Coexistence Promotion by a study group”
by Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, March, 2006.)

Table of Contents

I

Upon Compilation of Basic Policy･･･････････････････････････････････1
1

Background Information･･････････････････････････････････････････1

2

Positioning of Basic Policy････････････････････････････････････････4

II

Basic Principle of International Exchange andMulticultural Coexistence･･････････････････････････････････4

1

Basic Principle of International Exchange･･････････････････････････4

2

Basic Principle of Multicultural Coexistence････････････････････････4

III

Consensus on International Exchange andMulticultural Coexistence･･････････････････････････････････5

1Promoting activities by residents･･････････････････････････････････5

2Role of municipality･･････････････････････････････････････････････5

IV

Basic measures on International Exchange andMulticultural Coexistence･･････････････････････････････････6

1

Promotion of International Exchange･･････････････････････････････6

2

Promotion of Multicultural Coexistence････････････････････････････7

3

Improvement Promotion Teams･･･････････････････････････････････8

Reference material / Commentary on terms････････････････････････････････9

IUpon Compilation of Basic Policy1
Background Information(1)
National Policy of Internationalization
Along with fast development of information andcommunication technology as well as globalization ofeconomic activities, people move across national
borders more actively than before. Against thisbackground, Japanese government has announced“Guidelinesoninternationalexchanges
bymunicipalities”(March 1987) note 1 to demonstrate
its policy to support the internationalization ofmunicipalities.
Along with the various governmental approaches
which resulted in an increase of number of foreign
residents and visitors, the revision of “Immigration
Control and Refugee Recognition Act” in 1990 note 2
diversified the nationalities of foreign residents andincreased the number of foreigners who apply forpermanent residence and/or naturalization.
On the basis of these facts, Japanese government
recognized the necessity of promoting multicultural
coexistence communities where people of different
nationalities and races live together as a member of acommunity by respecting each other’s culturaldiference and trying to build a fair relationship.
“Regional Multicultural Coexisting Plan”(March 2006)
note 3 was developed for local public organizationsand “Basic Resident Registration Act” was revised(July 2009) note 4 so that Basic Resident Registration
System will be applied to foreign residents as well.
(2) Current Status of Nerima City and its
Internationalization Policy
The number of foreigners living in Nerima city is on
the increase, and as of January 1, 2012, the number offoreigners who registered in Nerima city was 13,017.
The number of registered foreigners increased to 1.12
times during the last 10 years, which account for
1.84% of the entire population of Nerima city (as ofJanuary 1 2012, 707,903), and the variety ofnationalities counts over 100.
In order to promote international understanding
among citizens, Nerima city has carried out
international exchange programs to introduce foreigncultures and help residents interact with each other.
We have also provided Japanese language classes,
information in foreign languages and consultation
services for foreign citizens.
In 2006, we established “Nerima city international
exchange projects promotion association”, consistingof members of international exchange projects,
volunteers and foreign residents, to facilitate effective
promotion of international exchange projects as wellas collaboration among people concerned. And in 2009,
we carried out the opinion poll: “Researching thethoughts and ambitions of Nerima’s foreignresidents”.note 5Regarding the exchange with overseas cities, in1992 we signed “Agreement on friendship cooperationand exchange” with Haidian ward, Beijing city, China,and in 1994 “Agreement on friendship and bilateral
cooperation” with Ipswich city, Queensland, Australia.
Based upon these agreements, exchanges among
municipalities are expanded and at the same time,exchanges among residents are deepened throughcoulture, art, sports and overseas youth exchange
programs.
Furthermore, in April, 2009, we concluded“Animation industry exchange agreement” with
Annecy city, France and Annecy Metropolitancommunity.

(3)Development of Nerima City Basic Concept andNerima City Long Term Plan
“The Nerima City Basic Concept” which provides abasic policy for the management and administration ofthe city puts the slogan “Our city, Nerima, which isbuilt together and extended to the future, is a place
where people and greenery glow” forward as a desired
status of the city 10 years from now.
The Long Term Plan which was developed based on
the basic concept (March, 2010) has positioned thepolicy concerning international exchange andmulticultural
coexistence
under“Policy#335:
promoting understanding of the variety of culturesand societies” of “Category-by-category objective 3:
creating a city with liveliness and serenity”. Becauseof the increasing necessity for mutual understanding
and cooperation beyond the difference of languages
and customs, the plan also encourages theimplementation of exchange programs with sistercities abroad and measures to promote interaction,
mutual understanding and cooperation between
Japanese and non-Japanese residents in the city.
(4)Increased Necessities of International Exchange
and Multicultural Coexistence
The Great East Japan Earthquake which occurred on
March 11, 2012 devastated the Tohoku region. Japan
has received assistance force, aid supplies andmonetary contributions from many countries whichhave friendship relations or cooperation partnerships
with Japan. On the other hand, some foreign residents
in Japan went back to their home countries feelinganxiety. The great disaster outlined the importance of-3-

accurate information, network and exchange among
local residents. Further promotion of international
exchange and multicultural coexistence is requested
in order to activate local community functions byfacilitating accurate information providing system in
emergency.
2II
1

2

Positioning of Basic Policy
Based upon various projects ever before as well as
opinions collected by conducting the survey,“Researching the thoughts and ambitions of Nerima’s
foreign residents,” we will carry out measures of thelong term plan. This Basic Policy is set as a guideline
for developing international exchange andmulticultural coexistence measures and promoting
them comprehensively and systematically.
Basic Principle of International Exchange andMulticultural Coexistence
Basic Principle of International Exchange
We try to reinforce mutual understanding andfriendship between municipalities through exchangeprograms for internationalization of residents. Moreexchange activities joined by residents to move more
people and materials gives good effets a wide variety offields such as economy, culture, art, and sports, whichleads to a richer local society. Trust-based relationshipamong municipalities and residents over difference ofnationality and culture contributes to world peace.
Basic Principle of Multicultural Coexistence
If both foreign and Japanese residents respect eachother’s cultural differences, try to build a fairrelationship and live together as members of thecommunity, we can facilitate creation of new culturesand local activities to make our community a society-4-where everybody wants to live in.
III1.

Consensus on International Exchange and MulticulturalCoexistence
Promoting activities by residents
It is important that international exchange andmulticultural coexistence are participated by each ofresidents independently in variety.
A mind to respect each other is cultivated not only
through international exchange between minicipalities;
It is also developed by deepening understandng about
different clutures through continuous resident-based
relationship with people who have different habits andlanguages.
Through exchanges with various cities, additional
cultues and an appeal will be created to make Nerimacity more attractive for both residents and visitors.
If foreign residents and Japanese residents accept eachother’s difference, respect each other and work together
on regional challenges, new regional cultures will becreated and regional activities will be promoted.
It is our basic policy that we respect independence andcreativity of activities by residents and various groups
so that they can take active acts on promoting aninternational exchange and multicultural coexistence.

2.

Role of municipality(1)Promoting international exchange
We cooperate with residents and support them so thatthey can exchange independently; we cooperate withother municipalities for friendship, establish arelationship of mutual trust and cooperation, provide
residents places to promote theirinternational
exchange activities, collect and offer information andetc.
-5-

(2)Promoting multicultural coexistence
We support the activities of the residents and its
groups by making an effort to maintain and improve
the infrastructure, at the same time we respect thehuman rights of everybody including foreign residents
for the establishment of multicultural coexistence
community.

IVBasic Measures on International
Multicultural coexistence

1Promotion of International Exchange(1) Exchange with Friendly cities
a. On an equal friendship relation, we deepen thetrust between municipalities by understanding
the situation and the needs of the partners.
b. We promote the participation of residents whoare involved with activities of culture, art, andsports, etc. to the exchange activities.
(2)ExchangeandAn Exchange mainly composed of residents
We establish the structure so that exchanges
mainly composed of residents can continuously
be done in various fields.

(3) Making of Attractive Citya. We promote to make city from universal designnote 6 point of view so that foreigners are able tounderstand signs in the city easily.
b. We collaborate with residents as well as variousorganizations to carry out exchange programs,
develop local businesses, economy and tourism
by promoting residents’ exchange activities sothat Nerima can be more attractive to visitors.

-6-2

Promotion of Multicultural Coexistence
We help foreigners to be a member of community andJapanese to deepen understanding of different culture.
Moreover, we establish a facility to serve as a liaison
office to promote multicultural coexistence measuresand try to invigorate collaboration with relatedorganizations.
(1)

Communication Supporta. We provide foreign residents with information
on daily lives in foreign languages and try toprovide more opportunities and places toremove language barriers.
b. City office staff make most of “basic Japanese”
note 7 when they speak with foreign residents
and try to communicate with each other moresmoothly in Japanese. At the same time, we
make usage of basic Japanese more popularamong residents through town activities andcommunity activities.
(2) Livelihood Supporta. We provide foreign residents with information
on welfare, medical services, education anddisaster prevention that are closely related todaily lives so that foreign residents can easily
get the information when they need to. We
promote collaboration with related sections
and expand consultation service windows in
foreign languages.
b. We provide places for activities ofmulticultural coexistence where residents canpropose and conduct exchange programs andexchange information with each other.
(3) Making of Multicultural City where residents
with different cultural background can coexist
a. We introduce Japanese culture and customs to-7-foreign residents and promote international
understanding so that residents can recognize
different culture and customs with each otherand build equal relationship in the region.
b. We promote exchange programs with regional
activity organizations to activate exchange
among residents, help foreign residents join
regional activities to build stable relationshipamong neighbors.
c. We train residents with excellent skills in
multicultural communication who can be of help
to multicultural society.
(4) Collaboration with Regional Activity
Organizations and Volunteer Groups
a. We cooperate with neighborhood associations,residents’ associations, private enterprises, NPO,
volunteer organizations, and educational
institutions positively to promote solid
coordination system.
b. We aim to activate volunteers who registered on
the list of cooperators for multicultural society
in Nerima City and strengthen the association.
3

Improvement in Promotion Framework
To support residents-based activities and to promoteinternational exchange projects and multiculturalcoexistence generally and effectively, we set up in city
office a trans-office communication adjustment system
and aim to strengthen our cooperation system. We also
set up a liaison conference composed of residents and/orgroups in the city to promote international exchange
projects and multicultural coexistence which adopt
various opinions of them.

-8-Reference material / Commentary on terms
note 1
Guideline on the ideal method of international
exchange of local public entities. (Ministry of Home Affairs,Feb.1988)
The guideline was set by the government so that local public
entities can assess and develop their society on international
exchange for the time being, with the recognition, that theinternational exchange by local public entities should beimproved both in quality and quantity.
note 2. Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.
(Immigration Control Act) (government ordinance No.319 in1951)
The law which stipulates the Immigration Control system andRefugee Recognition system on the basis of Convention
relating to the status of Refugees and Refugees protocol. By
the revision in June 1990, the status of residence of “long-term
resident” was newly created and people of Japanese ancestry
up to 3rd generation (sansei) was given the status whichenables them to work. Therefore for people of Japaneseancestry(Nikkei) from South and Central America, such as
Brazil, Peru etc., an entry for Japan became easier.
note 3 Regional multicultural coexisting plan (Ministry ofInternal Affairs and Communications March 2006)
The plan is made to help local public entities to make their
guideline/plan regarding an improvement of multiculturalcoexisting plan. We recognize that the policy on foreign
residents is a national-wide challenge since the foreign
residents in Japan is expected to increase and that therefore itis necessary to promote the regional internationalization
further through “International Exchange”, “InternationalCooperation” and “Regional multicultural coexistence” asthree main means in local public entities.

-9-note 4 The Basic Resident Registration Act (Act No.81 of1967)
The Act stipulates the Basic Resident Registration System
which controls the records concerning residents properly on
the basis of office work management. In July 2009, the Basic
Resident Registration Act is partially revised and it became
applicable to foreign residents equally as Japanese residents.
note 5 Research on thoughts and wishes of Nerima’s ForeignResidents (Oct 2009)
We surveyed the opinions of 6,300 residents selected at
random out of all foreign Nerima residents who are more than
20 years old, 17 international exchange related groups and 18
volunteer Japanese class on easiness of living in Nerima,
request to city administration regarding regional exchange
and making of co-existing community. It aims to obtain abasic reference material so that we could make communities inwhich residents of different nationalities and habits couldrespect each other and coexist.
The result shows that almost 70% of the respondents feel
Nerima city comfortable to live in. A little less than 30%
respondents mentioned “language” as one of the obstacles inthe daily life in Japan. Specifically, most answered that it isdifficult for them “to read Japanese newspapers and notices”
as well as “to understand explanations given at the city officeand hospitals.” As requests for the municipal administration
to develop co-existing community, “the efforts to eliminate
prejudice and discrimination” and “events or opportunities toexchange with Japanese residents” were given.
note 6 Universal Design
It means to design things for any people, regardless of age ordisability. To design things available for as many people aspossible.

- 10 -

note 7 Easy Japanese
Simple and easily understandable Japanese terms wereresearched and selected for people of “Basic JapaneseProficiency” after Hanshin Awaji Great Earthquake so thatdisaster information is surely conveyed to foreign victims.
e.g. Kesa(this morning)→ Kyou (today) Asa(morning)

Kakuninsuru (confirm)→Yokumiru(watch closely)
Yoshin(afterquake) → Atode(later) Kuru(occur) Jishin(quake)Kiken(danger)→ Abunai(watch out)

- 11 -Basic Policy of International Exchange andMulticultural Coexistence in Nerima CityMarch 2012
Issued by Culture and International Relations Section
General Affairs Division
Nerima City
6-12-1, Toyotama-kita, Nerima-ku, Tokyo 176-8501
TEL: +81-3-5984-4333
Nerima City Web page: http://www.city.nerima.tokyo.jp/- 12 -