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The 57th Convention of the Nikkei and Japanese Abroad
Conference Declaration–Japanese descendants of the 21st century as partners for coexistence–
October 26, 2016
TokyoWe, Japanese descendants, or Nikkei people, from all over the world gathered for the57th Convention of the Nikkei and Japanese Abroad, held for three days from October
24th to 26th, 2016, discussed topics centering on the overall theme “Image of Nikkei
People in the 21st Century” over three days. We hereby declare that we have adopted
the following seven resolutions as a result of this Convention.

１．

We recognize that Nikkei communities are rapidly becoming diversified andnew measures for coexistence need to be taken.

Nikkei communities, that are now present across the world, are the result ofemigration program driven by the Japanese government since the Meiji era. Over theyears, core of Nikkei shifted from the first generation to the second, third and fourthgenerations, and now in some countries the fifth, sixth and seventh generation
Japanese are being born. In many countries it is now very common for Japanesedescendants to marry non-Nikkei people, and there has been an increase in thenumber of new generations that do not speak the Japanese language, whose ideas are
more diversified than ever. On the other hand, the number of Japanese and theirchildren living overseas, along with the number of Japanese living abroad due tointernational marriage, are growing. It is now causing emergence of a new breed of
Nikkei people, or one might call it “Shin-Nikkeijin”, in many parts of the world. In
addition, presence of Nikkei people and their children in Japan, staying in Japan forwork since 1990s, should also be taken into account.
As we recognize this change of Nikkei communities that are rapidly expanding andbecoming diversified, we acutely realized the need to reshape the image of Nikkei as“Nikkei people in the 21st century”. At the same time, participants of the Convention
confirmed that the role of Nikkei people and Nikkei communities, as the globalization
progresses, is increasing their importance as channels for Japan’s internationalization,
both within and without the country. Additionally, for us Japanese descendants alsobuilding network within and without the adopted country would help us significantly
to expand the range of our activities.
We strongly hope that the Japanese government bears such change in mind andconduct measures putting emphasis on “coexistence” and “cooperation”, shifting focus
from “assistance”. Such measures, we believe, may include even more effective use of
Nikkei people in international cooperation initiatives, as well as participation of
Nikkei people or groups living overseas to National Sports Festival, interscholastic
athletic meet, the National Cultural Festival and the National Culture Festival for
Upper Secondary Schools.

2We propose effective use of Nikkei people as “human power” in diverse areas
including business and international cooperation.
Nikkei in the 21st century are the people who are rooted in the countries that they２．

live in. It was displayed, for instance, in the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games inwhich Nikkei athletes and instructors delivered great performance.
In addition to the language skills and knowledge of culture of the adopted countries,
we Japanese descendants, having lived in harmony with people of different races andethnicity, are aware that we have distinct “human power”. We also have personal
network and credit inherited from, and developed by, our ancestors over time since thetime of emigration.
We find it unfortunate that such “human power” of Nikkei is not fully recognized byJapan, and in particular, the Japanese business world.
We hope that Nikkei’s comprehensive ability, “the human power”, will getwell-deserved recognition and be utilized in business operations by Japanesecompanies or in international cooperation activities implemented by the Japanese
government. We believe that we Nikkei people will best display our “soft power” inassisting Japan when we are treated as equal partners.
３．

Nikkei youths, as internationally competitive human resources, will strive tobridge Japan and the adopted countries, making use of diverse backgrounds,
flexibility and personal networks

Nikkei people tend to lose identity as Japanese as generation changes. We Nikkei
youths who live in Japan for study etc. discussed how to revitalize Nikkei communities
and what roles we should play in the future. We all have different backgrounds. Somewere born and raised in the home countries, while others grew up in Japan or in thirdcountries. Nevertheless, we are all determined to work hard to learn Japaneselanguage and to build up our expertise as well as to learn about Japan’s good customs
and tradition while leading active daily lives.
In Nikkei communities within Japan also, there is new breed coming up like those get
job in Japan after going through Japan’s entrance exam race, and those finish middle
and high school in Japan and go to university in their home country and get job there.
We all have bilingual background. Educational environment for non-Japanese
students in areas where many Nikkei live in has been improved. We request theJapanese society to extend warm support to the second and third generations of Nikkei
residing in Japan, including opportunity for language education so that they can live
their lives to the fullest.
We, as Nikkei in the 21st century, are determined to work hard to promote qualities ofJapan to the world, bridging Japan and our home countries making use of oureducation, diversity, flexibility and network.
４．We ask for special consideration for resident status of the fourth generation, andgenerations after that.
Increase of so-called “Dekasegi” work after the year 1990 generated not onlyopportunity to work and to live in Japan, but also a variety of secondary effects such as
development of new type of human resources, new area of expertise and opportunity
for cultural exchange.

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As a result, flow of people between Japan and the home countries increased, andmoreover, it is said that such flow revitalized some Nikkei communities that had been
once feared to disappear due to absence of migrants. In recent years, as Japan builds
up its attraction in technological, cultural and academic aspects, more and more people
are interested in Japan and many youths are seeking opportunity to visit Japan, andto visit their family at the same time.
Currently the Japanese government issues special long-term resident visa up to thethird generation. Beside this treatment, we request Japan to take special measures, interms of resident status, for the fourth generation and generations after that who
think their roots are in Japan.
５．
We propose provision of educational opportunity to, and effective use of,non-Nikkei people who work in Nikkei communities.
Not only Nikkei people drive Nikkei communities. There are more and morenon-Nikkei people who take part in annual Japan Festivals, or those engaged in judo,
Japanese drumming, tea ceremony, flower arrangement and cool-Japan culture, oreven those teach the Japanese language at schools. In Nikkei communities of the 21stcentury, their presence is indispensable. We request Japan to recognize their roles andcontribution, as well as to be flexible on target range of programs for Nikkei such as“Nikkei training programs” to support revitalization of Nikkei communities.
６．
We request the Japanese government to take flexible measures and allow dual
nationality.
The Nationality Law of Japan stipulates that in case of a Japanese citizen acquires
nationality of foreign country at his/her own discretion, he/she shall lose Japanesenationality, and the law has been executed strictly. However, this law in some cases
violates the right to the pursuit of happiness of those who wish to participate in social
activities as Japanese and yet cannot be recognized as one, or those who have Japaneseparent(s) but cannot have identity as Japanese. We request the Japanese government, in
this era in which flow of people is increasingly dynamic, to open a path for dual
nationality and give Japanese nationality to those who wish to maintain nationality of
the country of birth or country of residence, eyeing fully on measures taken across theworld and the presence of Nikkei people in the 21st century.
７．
We propose simplification of the system for voting from abroad.
In June 2015, the revised Public Offices Election Law was enacted lowering voting
age to 18. Since the implementation of voting from abroad 16 years ago, measures suchas voting registration at local government office prior to migration have been taken.
However, in light of maintaining the rights and duties of citizens, we request furtherimprovement of the system including automatic distribution of election notice andintroduction of voting through fax or electronic voting.