The 54th Convention of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad
Declaration
We, the representatives and interested members of Nikkei and Japanese descendants living
abroad and in Japan, held the following sessions to discuss the three issues under the overall
theme “The Nikkei community and Japan: Collaboration for Continual Development” in the 54thConvention of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad which took place in Tokyo for three days fromOctober 29 to 31, 2013.
Agenda1. Nikkei Communities Abroad and Japanese Society
2. Nikkei Living in Japan
3. Nikkei Youths
As a result of discussions in the sessions and the general assembly of the Convention, thefollowing 8 statements were established as declared in the name of the Convention:

Resolution
1. We, the Nikkei communities, endeavor to develop further collaboration withJapanese society for continual development of the both parties
Given the multi-polarization of the world economy and politics associated with the progressof the globalization, further reinforcement of collaboration and reciprocal relationships
between Japan and the Nikkei communities is essential to develop our societies together. We
consider that promoting the succession and diffusion of Japanese culture would contribute to
the continual development of both parties. Today, while Japanese society is taking a new
dynamic step toward the global world, it is important to reconstruct a network of Nikkei
communities, taking into account the richness of human resources fostered for a long periodof time there. To this end, we would like to request Japanese private companies particularly
for their proactive measures.

2. We expect further effort of the Japanese government to promote JapanesecultureLiving abroad, we endeavor to present and promote Japanese culture in countries ofour residence. Handing over the Japanese culture and language to the next generation
is an important issue for the Nikkei communities. The Japanese government’s policy“Cool Japan” – which aims to create aggregated values and expand markets bymeans of promoting Japanese culture as indicated in its development strategy
coincides with the interest of Nikkei communities which have been working on thesame task. In view of that we expect that the Japanese government should further
promote such policies.

3. We expect more proactive overseas publicity of the local governments from
Japan
Over long years of our residence abroad, we have organized many events related toJapan in different places. They provide an excellent opportunity for the publicity of
the Japanese national and local governments including prefectures. For example, theevent of “Nisei Week” in Los Angeles has been held for 73 times to date and the“Festival Do Japão” in San Paulo attracts 200 thousand visitors every year. There aremany other events developed in other countries, involving their local societies. TheJapanese local governments’ active participation and support in those events will
promote international exchanges and friendship to increase the number of tourists toJapan. We therefore expect more proactive publicity work of the Japanese nationaland local governments using opportunities created by the Nikkei communities.
4. We expect the transition from the phase of labor immigration to that of social
integration and advancement in social participation of our second generation
Today, the phase of Nikkeis’ “labor immigration” to Japan has already passed and
we are in the new phase of “integration” to Japanese society and active participationof the young people who were born in Japan or arrived there in their childhood.
Those youths of the second generation are uncommon human resources for theiradvantage to acquire bilingual and bicultural capacity as potential to work to connect
different countries and Japan as well as Japanese companies with business abroadwhen they grow up. We strongly believe that receiving Nikkeis with their cultural
background from countries of their residence would enrich Japanese culture andcontribute to the internationalization of Japanese society. We therefore expect
Japanese government’s policy measures to support the growth of young-second
generation of Nikkeis in Japan so that they can access sound opportunities for social
participation. On the other hand, we positively acknowledge the government’s
decision to authorize reentry permission from October 15 of the present year, though
under certain conditions, for those who had visited Japan via their participation in thegovernment’s program to support Nikkeis’ return to Japan.
5. The Nikkei youths will become pioneers in the network of human resources forthe global society
We, the Nikkei youths, wish to have solid and profound exposure to Japanese culture
and become a part of frontier of exchanges with Japanese society as members ofglobal human resources network in the future. The topics discussed during theConvention on the “Potential as Global Human Resources” and the “Challenge for
the Second Generation of Nikkeis in Japan” were very useful for us. Many of themembers participated in the session on Nikkei Youths are foreign students andtrainees. From now on we will make our efforts to grow to be bilingual and bicultural

workers who can serve efficiently in different sectors of the global society. We
expect to have spaces and opportunities to apply our new ideas in the countries of ourorigin and Japan.
6. We request the Japanese government to abolish the legal stipulation of the lossof nationality and for approval of the double nationality among Nikkeis
For persons of the first generation of Nikkeis who obtained the nationality of othercountry, the legal stipulation on the loss of Japanese nationality that “a Japanesecitizen shall lose the Japanese nationality at the moment of any voluntary acquisitionof any foreign nationality” is a critical rejection of their desire to remain as a part ofJapanese community based on their national identity. Even after their naturalization
to the country of their residence, these first-generation Nikkeis will never lose theiridentity as Japanese. We therefore seek the Japanese government understanding of
our situation and abolishment of this stipulation on the loss of nationality to approvethe double nationality for those Nikkeis.
7. We request for considerations to continue the “project for the Nikkei issei tovisit Japan” as a government program
In April of this year, the “Delegation of Immigrants to Brasil to Visit the Homeland
Japan” visited Japan for the first time in 8 years. This project, in which theAssociation of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad invited 20 persons of the first generationof Nikkeis who had never visited Japan since their emigration, had very successfulresults. This time the project was implemented thanks to the thoughtful favor andoffer of funding on behalf of a Japanese individual. We request the Japanese
government for the continuation of this project as a governmental program.
8. We support Japan’s hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo
2020
In our 53rd Convention Statement of last year, we supported the bid to hold theOlympic and Paralympic Games of 2020 in Tokyo. We, together with the Japanesenation, are pleased with the successful result of the bid from Tokyo and will support
the hosting of these events in Tokyo by promoting its publicity in the countries of ourresidence so that many people will visit Japan for this opportunity.