Kirk here with a news article, translated by ChatGPT. (There’s a video news report on the page I’m linking to.)
— start translation — Kumamoto Prefecture Holds First Meeting of its Multicultural Integration Promotion Headquarters: Addressing Challenges such as ‘Wage Levels and Childcare Systems’ Amid the Highest Growth Rate of Foreign Residents Nationwide
September 3, 2024 (Tuesday) 18:48
With the number of foreign residents in Kumamoto Prefecture on the rise, the prefecture held the first meeting of a promotion headquarters it established to further multicultural integration and secure additional human resources.
The meeting was organized by entities including the prefectural government, the prefectural Board of Education, and the police.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the number of foreign residents in the prefecture reached a record high of 25,589—about 2.6 times the figure from 10 years ago (9,693 in 2013). The growth rate over the past year, up until January, was the highest in Japan.
Foreign Resident Growth Rate: 1st: Kumamoto Prefecture - 24.18% 2nd: Hokkaido - 24.14% 3rd: Saga Prefecture - 23.33%
During the meeting, projections indicated that the number of foreign workers in the prefecture will increase to about 51,000—approximately 2.8 times the current number (10,226 last year)—by 2040. However, concerns were raised about issues such as the low wage levels making Kumamoto companies less attractive, differences in lifestyle and culture, and the lack of adequate childcare systems to accommodate children in local facilities.
Governor Keiji Kimura of Kumamoto Prefecture: “We plan to carefully address the challenges presented today by collaborating with the various departments and consulting with cities and towns. We aim to formulate policies by the end of the year.”
The next meeting is scheduled for November, during which the introduction of advanced initiatives by businesses will be discussed.
Other Key Challenges (excerpt):
・ Insufficient multilingual support (including simple Japanese) in administrative services ・ Communication difficulties during emergency calls (119) and in medical and emergency settings ・ Lack of crime prevention and traffic safety information provided to foreign residents ・ The need to enhance disaster preparedness education and strengthen disaster readiness for foreign residents ・ Insufficient financial and human resources to support learning, such as Japanese language and professional qualifications ・ Outflow of foreign workers to metropolitan areas ・ Concerns about illegal employment invitations through social media, leading to disappearances ・ Resident disputes arising from a lack of understanding of garbage separation and traffic rules ・ Communication difficulties with residents due to insufficient Japanese language skills — end translation —
