News

Inuyama Mutilingual
Published by Inuyama International Association
Date of Publication: February 27, 2024
English version (No.8)

Personal Growth Through Work and Childrearing
Ms. NGUYEN QUYNH PHUONGNationality: Vietnamese
Arrival in Japan: May 2016
Currently works for a food-relatedcompany. She has one son.

Reason for coming to Japan: My two older sisters had also been to Japan, and I had the impression as achild that Japan was a wonderful country and the Japanese people were kind. I graduated from a university
in Vietnam and worked there for a year before coming to Japan.
Post-arrival experience: During my first two years in Japan, I worked part-time while attending a Japanese
language school. It was difficult to find a balance between studying and working. After graduating from
Nagoya University of Economics I studied international law for two years. I am currently working for thesame company in a job related to imports, exports, and business negotiations. My supervisor andcoworkers are very kind to me and the atmosphere at my workplace is good. Around the time I graduatedfrom graduate school, my first son was born.
Job satisfaction: I am able to try new things at work every day. For example, I asked the company if I could
do a job related to exports. I always want to try new things.
About my child's upbringing: My mother came from Vietnam to help me with my child's upbringing for two
years after the birth, but it was very difficult after she returned back home. For example, my son has been
attending kindergarten since February 2022 and if he has a temperature of 37.5° or higher, the daycare
center will contact me and I have to leave work early to pick him up. I also cannot go to work the next day
if my son is not healthy enough to go to the daycare center the next day. I often don’t get enough sleep.
Also, my husband is often away on business trips, so it is difficult for me to take care of my children by
myself, but fortunately, I can do my work online, so I am able to get by.
My son’s language of use: Outside the house my son speaks Japanese. I would like to stay in Japan
forever, but due to my husband's family circumstances, we might have to return to Vietnam someday. I
don’t want my son to forget Vietnamese, so I speak to him 100% in Vietnamese at home. His is learning
Japanese through watching his favorite anime. I also teach him English at home.
About Japan: I would like to live in Japan forever. Japan is an easy and safe country to live in, and the air
is clean. It is a country where food is also safe and trustworthy. Although some of the rules are strict, aslong as you follow them everything is fine. If you are unsure about something, you can ask your fellow
workers or superiors at your workplace, which is a good way to learn.
Message to foreign residents raising children: Making time to spend with your children is difficult, but it isa happy time to be treasured. Having children can also increase your motivation to work. By working aswell as raising children, we can challenge ourselves to try new things and grow. It also leads to better
results. We also want our children to remember their mother tongue so that they will have fewer problems
when they return to their home countries. I have learned through my work that kindness and politeness inany matter will bring good results.
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To all those who will be raising children in Japan
1. About the education system
Compulsory education in Japan consists of six years of elementary school and three years ofinJapanjuniorhigh school. Children of foreign nationalities are also treated the same as Japanesenationals. Foreign children can attend elementary school and junior high school in the same
way as Japanese nationals. Students cannot enter high school without graduating from juniorhigh school. After graduating from high school, students can also go to college or to a vocational school.
◆ School Enrollment Guidebook for Foreign Children (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science andTechnology) <Available in Chinese, English, Filipino, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese)https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/003/1320860.htm◆Guidebook for Developing Pathways for Children Connected to Foreign Countries (Aichi Prefecture) <available
in Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional), English, Filipino, Portuguese, Spanish)
https://www.pref.aichi.jp/soshiki/tabunka/shinro-gidebook.html

2. Planning ahead for financing public elementary and secondary schooling
Be prepared with a plan
There is no tuition fee for classes. However, there are various expenses such as[Example: Things

meals and lunch and educational materials. In elementary school children needstudents need to buy]

school bags, gym uniforms, swimwear, and jackets that will need to be replaced
as they grow. In junior high school, uniforms, gym uniforms, and so forth arerequired.
◆How much money do you need for education? (National average per child per year).
がいこくじん せ い と（Source: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology 2021 Child Study Expenditure Survey)

たいしょうにゅうがくせんばつ

せ いど

くわ

には、外国人を対象 とした「入学 選抜」という制度があります。詳
しくは、Publicjun. high school(¥132,349)
Public elementar生徒
school(¥65,974)） Entrance and other fees
入学金等（158円）(¥158)158

かくこうこう5,380 たず各高校にお尋ねください。

5,424

School trip expenses, etc.
修学旅行費等（5,283(¥5,283)

5,283

14,53839,516(¥24,286)

20,460School trip expenses, etc.

15,824

Books, school supplies,
円）
materials for practical
図書・学用品・実習材
classes/activities, etc.

8,113(¥507)

507

円）
School fees (¥8,113)
学校納付金等（8,113円）
学校納付金等（14,538
School fees (¥14,538)
Books, school supplies,
円）
materials for practical
図書・学用品・実習材
classes/activities, etc.

料費等（32,368円）(¥8,113)Extracurricular
activity
教科外活動費（24,172

expenses (¥2,294)

expenses (¥24,172)

32,368円）
Commuting expenses
通学関係費（20,460円）
Commuting expenses
通学関係費（39,516(¥20,460)(¥39,516)

円）

円）
Other (¥5,424)
その他（5,424円）

24,172Other (¥5,380)
その他（5,380円）

2,294

修学旅行費等（15,824(¥15,824)(¥32,368)

料費等（24,286円）(¥8,113)Extracurricular
activity
教科外活動費（2,294

24,286

Entrance and other fees
入学金等（507円）

3. About High School
There are three types of high schools: full-time, part time, and correspondence.
There are also regular, industrial, and commercial schools. High school
education is not compulsory. It is necessary to pass an entrance examination.
２．高校入試Special examination methods for foreign children (such as the Foreign Student
Selection System):うう
日本はは、高校の進学率
は、98～99％はす。高校の入るには入学には入学試験
試験を受を受ける必要ける必要ががあります。公立、
はは、高校
の
進学率
は、98～99％はす。高校
の入る
はは、高校
の
進学率
は、98～
Some
full-time
inせAichiPrefecture
examinations
forforeignchildren
usual
three
し
りつ
て い じ せ い highにゅうし
こと にゅうしこう りつ こうこう
がいこくじん
せ
いと
たいしょう
にゅうがく
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し schools
り つ にってい
ていじ
いにってい offer
こと special
こう りつ
こうこう
がいこくじんwith the
私立
、定時制
は入試
日程
が異
なります。また、公立高校には、外国人
生徒
を対
象
とした「入
学 選抜」
あります。公立
、私立
、定時制
は入試
日程
が異
なります。また、公立高校には、外国人99％はす。高校
の入る
には入学
試験
subjects
ofど Japanese,にゅうがく
mathematics,
Englishcombined
into one exam,with furigana
phonetic transcriptions
せ い
くわ
たず
せ
いう
と
たいしょう
せんばつ
せ
いど
くわ
かくこうこうたず
し り andつかくこうこうという制度があります。詳しくは、各高校にお尋ねください。
生徒
を対
象
とした「入
学
選抜
」という制度があります。
詳
しくは、
各高校
にお尋
ねくだ
を受
ける必要
があります。
公立
、
私立
、
added
the Japanesecharacters. It is also possible to take exams at part-time high schools with furiganaてい じ せ い to にゅうし
にってい
こと
さい。
定時制
は入試added.
日程が異なります。まtranscription
こう りつ こうこう
がいこくじん せ い と
たいしょう
た、
公立高校
には、
外国人
生徒を対
象 Aichi Prefectural Board of Education
Inquiries:
High
School
Education
Division,にゅうがくせんばつ
せ いど～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～とした「入選抜」という制度があり
TEL:学
052-954-6786
くわかくこうこうたず～～～～～～～～～～～ます。詳しくは、各高校にお尋
ねくだE-mail: kotogakko@pref.aichi.lg.jp
さい。
こ
こう
うこ
こう
うに
にゅ
ゅう
うし
し

に
に ほ
ほ ん
ん

ここ
うう
ここ
うう
こ
う
こ
う

しし
んん
がが
くく
りり
つつ
し
ん
が
く
り
つ

こう
こり
うつ
こう

は い る

ひつよう

ここ
うう
ここ
うう

ははいいるるにゅうがくにゅうがく
ししけけんん

ひひ
つつ
よよ
うう

こうりつ

にゅうがく し け ん

こうりつ

2
２．高校入試う
日本はは、高校の 進学率は、98～99％はす。高校の入るには入学試験を受ける必要があります。公立、
こうこうにゅうし

に ほ ん

し りつ

こうこう

ていじせい

にゅうし

しんがくりつ

にってい

こうこう

こと

は い る

こうりつこうこうにゅうがく し け ん

がいこくじん せ い と

ひつよう

たいしょう

こうりつ

にゅうがくせんばつListening, Speaking, and Experiencing Together～through the Home Visit experience～

Opportunities to Get to Know Each OtherThe Inuyama International Association (IIA) held a Home Visit program, in which foreign residents visited
Japanese families to deepen mutual exchange through experiencing real life in Japan.
Year 2022：5 countries,
17 attendees, and 7 host families

Voice of Participants’Year 2023：5 countries,◆ The most enjoyable part

12 attendees, and 7 host families

was chatting with each otherwhile eating delicious food.
◆ I became friends with myhost family. I would like toinvite my host family to myhome if I have a chance.
◆ We talked about various
things. For example, about
religion and cuisine in Japanand my own country.

Host Family Interview, Ms. Akagi Masayo. (Hosting female students from Cambodia and Vietnam)
My experience as a host family： It was fun. My mother, who lives alone said she also enjoyed it. Maybe it’spart of their culture but they respect the elderly. I saw their smiling faces and felt that they had been carefullyraised properly. It was also interesting to see how different they were from us. For example, they were very
interested in dried persimmons, which are commonplace for us. I got a lot of energy from these two upbeat
and fun women. I want them to continue to do well. I would like to host again next time. Home visits are fun,so I would recommend many foreigners and Japanese families to experience this. I would also like to discuss
this experience with other families who have hosted guests.
Their understanding/impression of Japan： I hope I have given them a good impression of Japan. They said,"I would like to visit again."
After the experience of being a host family：Until now, the family members have always been aware that "they’ll
understand without my saying it,” but by hosting people from different languages and cultures, we started listen
to each other’s stories with the understanding that we all have different personalities and come from different
family backgrounds, which has made our family more caring and close knit.
Benefits of people from different cultures living together：I think if we start by accepting our differences, things
will go more smoothly. The same applies to Japanese people interacting with each other. Building good
relationships starts with listening, talking, and explaining to each other. That is really important! Let’s open up
and get along with each other!

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A Student Who Is Studying Hard at the Inuyama Japanese Language Class!

Ms. Suzuki Yumi
Nationality：Japanese
Occupation：
Homemaker
Came to Japan fromthe Philippines in 2023

I graduated from a public school in the Philippines in September 2023 and came to Japan in October. I would liketo continue attending the Inuyama Japanese Language Class to improve my Japanese and find a job in the
manufacturing industry in Japan. The staff members at the language class are very kind. At home, I study Japanese
by watching Japanese dramas on TV. My favorite Japanese foods are tempura, ramen, and onigiri.
＜Comments from Mr. Zenmoto Masaru, a volunteer teacher＞
Yumi san understands very quickly and is very diligent in her studies. When
we studied counting, after learning how to read "one, two, and three cups (1ppai, 2-hai, 3-bai)", she was immediately able to read "one, two, and three
animals (1-ppiki, 2-hiki, 3-biki)! She seems to have a good sense for theJapanese language. Yumi san is always smiling and engaged in her studies.
So I am grateful to Yumi san for making teaching the class so enjoyable.
※Japanese Language Class⇒Let's continue to have fun learning!

Opportunity to speak in Japanese with people from many countries
We hold online meetings once a monthfor one hour to talk about a topic wechoose. As we discuss our topic, welearn about each other’s cultures andcustoms. Speaking with people fromdifferent cultures can lead to new
discoveries.

◆ To apply：
https://forms.gle/
cLmM8LAJmsoza
QVB8

Next meeting date： 7:30 p.m. ～8:30 p.m., March 13th (Wed.)「Multicultural Chat Club - Online」※Held alternately on weekdays and Saturdays.

～」
Opportunities
to experience new things and communicate with others.
Even just a little Japanese is fine.

Experience cooking,festivals, and culture
together! Meet new people
outside of your workplaceand family.
July 9, 2023 International Cooking Course⇒

Oct. 22, 2023 Hiking in Inuyama◆Find more events on our home page or on Facebook

Home Page（HP）
ｈttp://iiea.info

Facebook「Inuyama International Association」

4Interview with language instructor
IIA offers language classes taught by native speaking teachers.
In this issue, we interview Ms. Kan Inson who teaches the Korean language class.
Hometown: Busan, South Korea
First visit to Japan: 1996
Likes about Japan: Japanese people are calm and kind. Japanese people are mildmannered and don’t intrude into other people’s affairs. Favorite foods are sukiyaki
and takoyaki.
Charms of Busan: Busan is a modern city with fashionable and nice coffee shops
along the coastline. Busan is also famous for its seafood, such as octopus, squid, andsashimi. When traveling in South Korea for sightseeing, please visit Busan and not
only Seoul.
Charms of the Korean Language: The Hangul writing system for Korean was so that anyone could easily write
and read it, so, please don’t think it’s too hard and give it a try. Since the word order is the same as in Japanese,
you can easily write sentences if you learn the letters and the vocabulary. South Korea is very close to Japanand many Japanese visit there for sightseeing. I recommend you visit South Korea after you learn enough
Korean to read the signs at train stations and food menus in restaurants. I think if you are even just a little
interested in Korean culture, you would find it even more enjoyable if they can read and write the language.
※The other language classes that IIA offers are as follows;
Chinese, English, German, Portuguese, and Spanish※Information about Language Classes→↓

About the tax system in Japan
People who work, live, and shop in Japan must pay tax to the national government and local
municipalities (prefectures and cities). Taxes are used to support your daily life.
(Source: Living and Working Guidebook - To Foreign Residents Living in Japana supervised by the Immigration and Residency Management Agency)

Type
IncomeNational

Tax

Who pays?

How much?

When? How?

A person who has a salary
and/or other income.

Tax is determined by thesalary, income, etc.
received during the previous
year from 1/1 to 12/31.

① Every month the company pays
income tax directly (income report[gensen choshu]② In the period 2/16~3/15 of thefollowing the year you worked, you must
submit the documents and pay any tax(final tax return [kakutei shinkoku]

People who have anaddress and work in Japanas of 1/1.

The amount of tax isdetermined by the salary,
income, etc. received during
the previous year from
1/1~12/31.

① Paid monthly by employer (special
collection [tokubetu choushuu])② Pay the tax yourself①8% (groceries other thanalcoholic beverages bought
at supermarkets, etc.)②10% (goods and services
other than ①)

When you buy something or receive aservice, you must pay the consumption
tax.

①Automobile tax/Light
Vehicle Tax
Tax is determined by thecategory of the vehicle.
Motor vehicle tonnage tax:
②Vehicle Weight Tax
Tax is determined by theweight of the vehicle.

①Automobile tax/Light Vehicle Tax:
Must be paid when you purchase a car. A
person who has a car on 4/1 may pay atbanks, post offices, convenience stores,
etc.
②Vehicle Weight Tax:
Tas is paid when during the annual car
inspection. Tax is determined by theweight of the vehicle.

Notice for tax payment will
be sent between April andJune.

The payment date is written on the noticereceived by mail.
Payment may be made at a bank, post
office, convenience store, etc.

tax

Resident

Local

Tax

Tax

Consump-

National

Localtion Tax

Tax

Tax

Anyone who purchased
items or who received
commercial services.

Person who owns his/her
VehicleLocal Tax

car

Tax

Fixed
Asset
Tax

Local

Tax

Anyone who owns land,buildings (houses orapartments) or businessrelated items (machinery,equipment, or vehicles,
etc.,) as of 1/1 each year.

5Various cultures and customs
In the Philippines, on Christmas people eat special dishes such as roasted pig. In
preparation for New Year's they decorate and eat 12 or 13 types of round fruit, such asapple and orange. What kind of preparations do people in other countries who are close to
you prepare for the New Year? It is interesting to ask each other, isn’t it.

Fun Japanese onomatopoeia!
Do you know what onomatopoeia is? Onomatopoeia are words that describe a state, movement,
etc. in sound. Learning Japanese onomatopoeia makes Japanese conversation more enjoyable!
You should have fun using it in your conversation in Japanese!
Uto-utoAppearing on theverge of falling asleep
or in a state of drifting
into a light sleep.

Cool Japan

Pun-punA state of being
extremely angry
and in a bad mood.

Poka-poka

Gutsu-gutsu

Something thatfeels warm to apleasant degree.

The sound of foodsimmering or boiling or
the state of food that issimmering or boiling.

Japanese-stylemeal (washoku)

Do you like sushi, sukiyaki, and tempura? Traditional Japanese cuisine is called washoku.
Japanese food is not only beautiful to look at, it is also nutritionally balanced, which is said to be one of
the factors contributing to longevity. Japanese food was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural
Heritage in 2013 and is attracting attention from people around the world as washoku. Japan has four
distinct seasons, and Japanese cuisine has incorporated a variety of ingredients that can only beenjoyed in each season. Such ingredients are called shun, which means seasonal in Japanese. In
Japanese cuisine, the broth from bonito flakes and kelp is called umami. The successful use of thisumami flavor creates a deep taste while bringing out the flavor of the ingredients. Another characteristicof Japanese cuisine is the use of fermented foods and seasonings. Examples include natto, pickled
vegetables, soy sauce, miso, and bonito flakes.
Inuyama Multilingual News
Published by Inuyama International Association〒484‐0086 Aichiken Inuyama-shi Matsumoto-cho 4-21 Inuyama Community Center『Freude』
TEL: (0568) 48-1355
FAX：(0568) 48-1356
HP：http://iiea.info
E-mail： iia@grace.ocn.ne.jp

Volunteer Translation Team Members:
English: Kusakabe Kazuro, Yasumura Megumi, Uchimura Hidetomo, Steve McGuire
Spanish: Tawara Carlos, Ruiz Bulnes Ricardo Arturo, Saeki Liliana
Portuguese: Yara Marcos, Akagi Kazunori, Akagui Mitsue, Yoshida Gisele
Chinese: Harita Misako, Ten Ru, Sun Jiao, Yang Liya, Ozawa Tsutomu
Vietnamese: Pham Thi Nhu Hau, Tran Van-Ha
Tagalog: Higuchi Marita, Kawasaki Maria

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