On Sunday, July 5, the Kohoku Community Studies Seminar, organized by the Kohoku Ward Citizens’ Activity Support Center with the cooperation of the Kohoku International Lounge, was held for the second time following last November’s event. This year’s theme was “Building a Community Where Foreign Residents Can Thrive Together.”
People of all ages, from high school students to participants in their 60s, attended the seminar.
Foreign residents in Japan are predominantly young adults in their 20s and 30s—the core working generation—and they play an increasingly important role in our local communities. Through the experiences shared by volunteers, staff members, and foreign residents involved with the Kohoku International Lounge, participants explored how we can build relationships that allow everyone to support one another.
During the session on the Multicultural Mama Café, a staff member spoke about the importance of overcoming loneliness and isolation by connecting with the local community, sharing heartwarming stories from the café.
An Indonesian participant shared that shortly after arriving in Japan, there was a time when she became afraid to leave her home. However, after connecting with the Lounge, she discovered the Japanese language classes and the Mama Café, where she met many supportive people. She said that these experiences made her realize that she was “no longer alone.” She also expressed her hope that, as members of the Kohoku community, people of different cultures and religions will continue to build relationships based on mutual understanding, respect, and compassion.
A volunteer from the Japanese Language Class spoke about the joy of talking with learners from many different countries, saying that each conversation feels like taking a journey around the world. He also shared how rewarding and enjoyable volunteering has been for him.
A learner from China explained that the Japanese language class is much more than a place to study Japanese. Through meeting teachers and classmates, her world has expanded. By becoming involved with the Lounge, she has also had opportunities to serve as an interpreter and a speaker at events. She spoke passionately about how these experiences have allowed her not only to receive support but also to contribute to the community, giving her a strong sense of belonging as a member of Kohoku.
In the second half of the seminar, participants took part in a short workshop on Easy Japanese. Working in small groups, they created disaster preparedness posters using Easy Japanese so that the messages would be understandable to foreign residents as well.
Foreign residents can also play an important role in community disaster preparedness. By getting to know one another and building connections in our everyday lives, we can create a community where everyone is able to support each other in times of emergency.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the seminar.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the Kohoku Ward Office for providing us with this valuable opportunity.
