Kirk here with a ChatGPT translation of a nice article about the 30th anniversary of Kumamoto City’s International Foundation. If you’ve had any interaction with the foundation or the International Center downtown (which I suspect many of you have), I highly recommend that you read the article (I think this English translation is quite readable).

— start translation — Supporting Foreign Residents in Kumamoto for 30 Years: Kumamoto City International Center Contributes to Mutual Understanding and Coexistence through Consultation Services and Japanese Language Classes

September 18 (Wednesday) 8:59 AM

Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun

Photo captions: Foreigners learning Japanese at the Kumamoto City International Center, August 23, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City.

Kumamoto City International Center (Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City) has marked its 30th anniversary. Over the years, the center has adapted its role to meet the changing times, supporting foreign residents living in Kumamoto through various activities, such as holding exchange meetings between locals and foreigners and offering consultation services. With the recent influx of foreign residents due to companies like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) expanding into the city, the center is expected to provide even more detailed support.

“Sorting garbage is complicated.” “Some Japanese people don’t return greetings.” “I want to interact with Japanese people, but there are no opportunities.” These were some of the issues raised by foreign participants during an exchange meeting held by the Kumamoto City International Exchange Promotion Foundation, which manages the center.

The center was built in 1994, with a budget of approximately 4.1 billion yen. It has seven floors above ground and two basement levels, housing a large hall, a tea ceremony room where visitors can experience Japanese culture, and other facilities. Since its opening, the foundation has been managing the center as a hub for the city’s international exchange strategy.

When the center first opened, international exchanges between cities were popular nationwide. Kumamoto City also established sister and friendship city relationships with cities like Guilin in China and Heidelberg in Germany. The center’s primary mission back then was promoting “international understanding.” Over time, this mission has shifted toward “intercultural understanding” and “multicultural coexistence.” Tomomi Katsuya, the foundation’s director, who has been involved since the center’s opening, reflects: “While the activities themselves haven’t changed, the roles we take on have evolved with the times.”

Photo caption: Participants at an event on August 23, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City, learning French from a French instructor (second from the left).

With the steady increase in foreign residents, the city established the “Foreign Residents General Consultation Plaza” inside the center in 2019. The plaza offers support in various areas, including healthcare, housing, administrative procedures, and mental health, with specialists such as lawyers and administrative scriveners providing expert advice. In fiscal year 2023, the center handled about 700 people and a total of 900 consultations.

A 29-year-old company employee from the Dominican Republic, living in Kumamoto City, who used the plaza for visa consultation, said: “There are many foreigners struggling with life in Japan due to language and cultural differences. The staff here work hard to support us.”

According to the city, as of August 1 this year, the number of foreign residents in the city was 9,970—3.4 times the number 30 years ago. This number is expected to continue rising. As mutual understanding and smooth communication between local residents and foreign nationals become increasingly crucial for achieving a harmonious society, Shinichiro Nakajima, the 69-year-old representative of the civic group “Kumustaka—Living Together with Foreigners,” emphasizes: “The responsibility should not be left solely to the foundation; the government must also work together to provide support.”

One key to promoting coexistence may lie in the Japanese language classes the foundation holds across the city for foreign residents. These classes help foster good relationships in the community and workplaces. Additionally, the center regularly organizes events aimed at Japanese people, offering deeper insight into the culture and languages of around 10 countries, including Mexico and Germany. A 19-year-old female student at Kumamoto Prefectural University commented: “It’s great to have the chance to casually learn from native speakers. It makes it easier to understand the culture of those countries.”

Looking toward the future of Kumamoto City, where Japanese and foreigners will live together, Director Katsuya said enthusiastically: “We want to contribute more than ever to building a society where people from diverse backgrounds support each other, using the International Center as a base to connect the community with foreign residents.”

(By Mitsuhiro Yonemoto) — end translation —

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/779ba1b764d749bcf0a3be82c3f9938ae2649a5c