Oshu, a city of about 100,000 people, recently reached the milestone of having a little over 1,000 non-Japanese residents. While this is a relatively small percentage, for a city that’s historically had very few foreigners at all, it marks a pivotal shift. The situation sparks some questions: how are non-Japanese residents adapting to life in Oshu? In turn, what is the city doing to help everyone, irrespective of national origin, live together harmoniously? The city has begun holding an annual workshop to address these issues.

What’s the Workshop About?

Over the years, the topics have varied. The first few years centered on “multicultural coexistence” as a concept, but recently, the focus has become more practical and local. For example, last year the topic was proper garbage and recycling management, as these rules can be confusing for Japanese and non-Japanese city residents alike. Information about where to get multilingual resources, where to contact in case of questions, Japanese language classes, and similar was also provided.

This year is all about traffic and bicycle rules, since some of the laws have changed, and non-Japanese residents often cycle to work or to carry out tasks in their daily lives. Regardless of topic though, the general goal has remained the same: to make the idea of multicultural coexistence a little clearer, and by doing so, to improve understanding across cultures.

Who Are the International Residents of Oshu?

This is a heterogeneous group, but according to population statistics, the majority come from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Many of them work in industrial facilities, as Oshu is the site of a major industrial park, which has companies that employ non-Japanese workers. Their technical abilities are put to use while they learn the Japanese language and adjust to life in Japan – in a way that’s perhaps a bit analogous to how workers and researchers could live if the proposed ILC was built here. Foreigners are also part of the fields of care work, food production, and similar: with labor shortages, non-Japanese workers help to make up the difference. To put it another way, a number of them are medium-term residents who are trying to contribute to Japanese society. The foreigners who attended the workshop last time – and who will participate in the upcoming workshop in July – are a part of this cohort.

Reflections, As a Foreigner Myself

By providing information about how exactly life in Oshu works, I think initiatives like this workshop can help to empower foreigners. Navigating a language barrier and cultural differences can be frustrating, and when we have the skills to answer our questions and solve our problems, we gain the ability to flourish in Japan.

Speaking from my own early days in Japan, and based on talking with my fellow foreigners, it’s my sense that most of us aren’t breaking the rules intentionally. Rather, in many cases, we’re just unaware of what’s allowed and what isn’t. I’m grateful for all the people who have kindly told me what’s expected, so I could move forward with the information I needed in order to live here safely and peacefully.

It’s heartening to know that there are systems in place to support foreign residents of Oshu. Were the ILC to come to this area, I feel that the city would be able to collect the resources necessary to support a community of non-Japanese workers and researchers. But regardless of what happens there, foreigners are increasingly become a part of the social fabric of Oshu, and I’m glad that with the provision of proper supports, it’s possible for all of us to coexist in harmony.