Committee on the Roles of Professionals Who Coordinate
Comprehensive Support
Roles of Professionals Who Coordinate Comprehensive Support
(Report on Discussions [Outline])
April 20231Trend in the number of foreign residents and their percentage of Japan’s total population and the number of foreign workers
Changes in the number of foreign residents and their percentage of the population
By status of
residence
By nationality/
region of origin
1. Basic Concept (Changes in the Status of Foreign Residents in Japan)00.511.522.533.544.5505001,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
在留外国人数
外国人労働者数
総人口に占める在留外国人の割合
September 2008 Global Financial Crisis
March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
2020 COVID-19 Epidemic
July 2012
Introduction of new residency
management system
June 1990
Arrangement of
Status of Residence
(Thousand People)
End of
June 2022
2,961,969 people
486,398 people(%)0.80%
July 2010
Creation of "Technical Intern Training"
Integration of "College Student" status
and "Pre-College Student" status
NumberofForeign
ResidentsandForeign
Workers
PercentageofForeign
ResidentsinJapan's
Total
Population
November 2017
Implementation of
Technical Intern
Training Act
April 2019
Establishment of "Specified
Skilled Worker" System
2.29%
End of 2021
2,760,635
people
1,822,725 people
2.20%June2.37%
China
668,644
32.7%
Korea
542,182
26.5%
Brazil
209,265
10.2%
Philippines
203,2949.9%Peru
51,4712.5%United States
49,1192.4%Vietnam
44,4442.2%Thailand
41,3162.0%Indonesia
24,3051.2%India
20,9801.0%Other
192,3299.4%China
744,551
25.1%
Vietnam
476,346
16.1%
Korea
412,340
13.9%
Philippines
291,0669.8%Brazil
207,0817.0%Nepal
125,7984.2%Indonesia
83,1692.8%United
States
57,2991.9%Thailand
54,6181.8%Taiwan
54,2131.8%Other
455,488
15.4%
End of June 2022
Number of foreign residents: 2,961,969
Number of registered foreign nationals: 2,047,349
2011 Year-end End of June 2022
Number of registered foreign nationals: 2,047,349
2011 Year-end
Number of foreign residents: 2,961,969
Permanent
Resident
845,693
28.6%
Technical
Intern
Training
327,689
11.1%
Engineer/
Specialist in
Humanities/
International
Services
300,045
10.1%
Special
Permanent
Resident
292,7029.9%Student
260,7678.8%Dependent
209,2567.1%Long-Term
Resident
202,3856.8%Spouse or
Child of
Japanese
National
143,5584.8%Designated
Activities
112,5013.8%Specified
Skilled Worker
87,4723.0%Other
179,9016.1%Permanent
Resident
598,440
29.2%
Special
Permanent
Resident
389,085
19.0%
Student
188,6059.2%Spouse or Child of
Japanese National
181,6178.9%Long-Term
Resident
177,9838.7%Technical
Intern
Training
143,3087.0%Dependent
119,3595.8%Engineer/Specialist in
Humanities/International
Services
110,4885.4%Skilled Labor
31,7511.6%Spouse or
Child of
Permanent
Resident
21,6471.1%Other
85,0664.2%Number of foreign residents
Number of foreign workers
Percentage of foreign residents in total population
Ideal Society of Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals (Three Visions)
Safe and Comfortable
Society
A society where foreign nationals
are included as members of
Japanese society of the future, and
where all people can live safely and
comfortably
Diverse and Vibrant Society
A diverse and vibrant society where
all people, including foreign
nationals, from various backgrounds
can participate and demonstrate
their abilities to their fullest
Society that Respects
Individual Dignity and
Human Rights
A society where all people,
including foreign nationals, respect
each other’s individual dignity and
human rights and can live without
discrimination or prejudice
Medium- to Long-term Issues to be Addressed (Four Key Points)
1 Initiatives such as Japanese language education for smooth communication and participation in society
2 Disseminating information to foreign nationals/Strengthening consultation systems for foreign nationals
3 Support for each life stage and life cycle
4 Initiatives to establish the foundation of a society of harmonious coexistence22-1. Basic Concept (Significance of Establishing Training and Certification Schemes
for Foreign National Support Coordinators [1])
(Discussing training and certification schemes for coordinators of comprehensive support)
○しろまる The government will consider the content of training to develop professionals (tentative name: Comprehensive Foreign National Support Coordinators) who
can lead foreign nationals facing problems in their lives to an appropriate source of assistance (e.g., supports for those who need job searches and daily
necessities by unemployment and Japanese-language studies for different needs and levels, etc.) and measures for smooth assignment of those that have
completed the training and gradually implement such measures. In addition, the government will consider how the certification system for highly
specialized support professionals should be designed and arrive at a conclusion.
Roadmap for the Realization of a Society of Harmonious Coexistence with Foreign Nationals
(approved by the Ministerial Conference on Acceptance and Coexistence of Foreign Nationals on June 14, 2022)35-yeargoalDevelop who can lead foreign nationals facing problems in their lives to an appropriate source of assistance and measure for smooth
appropriate assignment so that foreign nationals can quickly receive the assistance they need.
Outline
- Provide training needed to develop professionals (tentative name: "Comprehensive Foreign National Support Coordinator" ) who can lead
foreign nationals facing problems in their lives to an appropriate source of assistance as well as maintain their expertise and raise their social
recognition level.
- Consider how the certification system for highly specialized support professionals should be designed and arrive at a conclusion.
Roadmap
Specific policies FY2022 FY2023 FY2024 FY2025 FY2026 KPI
Provision of
training needed to
develop
Comprehensive
Foreign National
Support
Coordinators
(tentative name)
and consideration
of the ideal
certification system
- Number of training
sessions held
- Number of persons who
complete the training
course
- Employment of persons
who complete the training
course by related
organizations (to be
considered based on the
results of review in
FY2022 and FY2023)
Consideration of issues
such as the content of
Coordinator training and
promotion of the
assignment of persons
who complete training
based on the opinions of
experts
Provision of necessary training, etc. based on the results of
consideration
Consideration based on the opinions of experts, etc. as to how the certification system for highly
specialized support professionals should be designed, and its gradual implementation starting from
what can be done first based on the results of the consideration
Consideration of
the roles, abilities,
etc. of
Coordinators with
experts, etc. to
arrive at a
conclusion
Development and promotion of professionals who coordinate comprehensive support for foreign nationals, etc.
<4>, <30>, <65>, and <86>
2-2. Basic Concept (Significance of Establishing Training and Certification Schemes
for Foreign National Support Coordinators [2])
Question Answer (multiple answers allowed) Ratio
42.9%
42.1%
31.5%
13.3%
Basic Survey on Foreign Residents
(conducted by the Immigration Services Agency from February to March 2022) (*1)
I don't know any place where I can talk about
my worries concerning child education and
child-raising, and I don't know anyone whom
I can talk with about such worries.
I did not know who to consult.
I don’t understand the system in detail.
I don’t understand the system in detail.
Issues with the pension system
Issues with long-term care insurance
Issues when consulting public institutions
(local, prefectural, and national governments)
Parenting issues
* In addition to the above questions, some respondents responded "I did not know who to consult" to questions about issues when receiving medical care at
hospitals, pregnancy and childbirth issues, and disaster issues.
*1 The survey targeted 40,000 foreign residents (mid to long-term residents and special permanent residents) age 18 or older. The survey received valid
responses from 7,982 respondents (the numbers [n] in parentheses indicate the number of valid responses to each question).
*2 Respondents who answered the first question (*1) and who were age 40 or older
*3 Respondents who answered the first question (*1), excluding 444 special permanent residents
*4 Respondents who answered the first question (*1) and who had a child age 0 to 6 in Japan
(n = 7,982) (*1)
(n = 2,812) (*2)
(n = 7,538) (*3)
(n = 1,367) (*4)43-1. Basic Concept (Survey Results of Foreign Residents [1])
* Surveys conducted by local governments also received similar responses to
questions about issues at the customer service counters of local governments or
other public institutions, such as "I wasn’t sure about the necessary procedures"
and "I couldn’t get enough information from officials."
Question
Answer
(multiple answers
allowed)
Issues when consulting
public institutions (local,
prefectural, and national
governments)
I was sent around
multiple departments
before I could reach the
right one.
(7.9%)
The person in charge
had little expert
knowledge.
(4.6%)
Basic Survey on Foreign Residents
(conducted by the Immigration Services Agency from February to March 2022)5Appropriate advice about
where to consult
Online support (including
via social media)
Carefully listening to what
you are saying while
providing consultation
One-stop service for
consultation
Phone support
Desired support * Top 5 responses
Underfunding
Understaffing
Inexperience
133(54%)
110(45%)
104(42%)
n=245
126(51%)
92(38%)
62(25%)
n = 245
Lack of expertise
Understaffing
Underfunding
Difficulty securing and training
consulting staff members
Difficulty training and securing human
resources to provide support
Problems with consulting
counters for foreign residents
Problems with human resources
who support foreign residents
Survey of Local Governments’ Efforts Related to Harmonious Coexistence Measures
(conducted by the Immigration Services Agency in July 2021) (*1)
Common
problem
Common
problem
*1 Out of the 308 local governments (47 prefectures and 261 municipalities [*2]) surveyed, 245 local governments responded.
*2 The local governments surveyed were selected from among core cities and the "top 150 local governments with the highest foreign resident populations" and the "top
150 local governments with the highest proportion of foreign residents" in the Survey of Population, Demographic Changes, and Number of Households Based on
the Basic Register of Residents (as of January 1, 2020) conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC).63-2. Basic Concept (Survey Results of Foreign Residents [2])
Training for support
professionals
Increase in the
number of sources of
assistance by support
professionals
(including cross-
regional cooperation)
Certification system
for support
professionals
Implementing
these
measures
requires
training and
certification
systems for
Foreign
National
Support
Coordinators.
Start to discuss these issues alongside
promotion of the assignment of Foreign
National Support Coordinators in order to
realize a society of harmonious coexistence
with foreign nationals from FY2023 onward.
Appropriate provision
of information by
support professionals
Measures
Challenges
(1) Shortage of
qualified
staff
(2) Difficulty
finding
qualified
personnel
(3) Poor
access to
necessary
information
on living in
Japan
(4) Shortage of
sources of
assistance
• Public institutions do not have enough support staff who can deal
with complicated, multifaceted problems faced by foreign residents.
• Public institutions do not have know-how regarding staff training.
• Many support staff members are employed on a fixed-term basis
and are not highly recognized within society or within their
organizations, which makes developing them into support
professionals challenging.
• Public institutions have difficulty finding qualified persons who can
deal with complicated, multifaceted problems faced by foreign
residents.
• Some foreign residents face various challenges because they do
not have enough information on systems or procedures necessary
for living in Japan or available support services (during the early
stages of their life in Japan).
• A lack of recognition or the absence of appropriate local sources of
assistance makes it impossible to connect foreign residents to the
correct sources of assistance that they need to solve their issues.74. Basic Concept (Challenges in Connecting Foreign Residents to an Appropriate
Source of Assistance and Necessary Measures)
(1) Foreign National Support Coordinators build relationships of mutual trust with foreign residents
who seek help for complicated, multifaceted problems in their lives, understand their problems,
draw up suitable support plans, give necessary advice, contact sources of assistance,
coordinate assistance efforts with such sources of assistance, and help foreign residents solve
their problems with their consent.
If other support staff members are available, Foreign National Support Coordinators provide
them with necessary advice and guidance regarding complicated, multifaceted cases for which
such other members are responsible.
(2) Foreign National Support Coordinators prevent foreign residents from facing problems in their
lives in Japan. To enable foreign residents to smoothly reach out to the proper place when in
need, these coordinators help them understand the gist of support systems and procedures in
Japan as well as the differences from those of their home countries by giving advice and
guidance directly or through support providers during daily life orientations and other
programs. In addition, these coordinators provide foreign residents with information on where
they can seek help when in need.
Individuals who can perform the tasks described in (1) and (2) below based on their expertise in
Japan’s laws and systems (*1) and support services available to foreign residents as well as
consulting support skills (*2)
(*1) Including the laws and systems of foreign countries
(*2) Foreign National Support Coordinators are expected to be assigned to the national government, local governments, and
organizations that accept foreign nationals.85. Basic Concept (Ideal Foreign National Support Coordinators)
Cooperate to improve the environment for accepting foreign nationals by
Cooperate to improve the environment for accepting foreign nationals by
sharing challenges* identified through individual support
* Such as problems faced by local foreign residents and shortages of sources of assistance
Consulting support Preventive support
Roles to fulfill Roles expected
Promote mutual understanding with sources of assistance and increase
sources of assistance based on support needs
Foundation for smoothly connecting foreign residents to appropriate sources of assistance96-1. Roles of Foreign National Support Coordinators (Outline of Roles)
Department that is providing support
Foreign
residents
seekinghelp(suchasresidents,
workers,andstudents)
Sources of
assistance
Connect the foreign resident in need to a source of assistance (assistance
service provider) as soon as possible to resolve their case.
1) Seek help.
3) Show available
support and
sources of
assistance.
2) Make contact, coordinate
assistance efforts, and
take over the case.
Foreign National Support Coordinator
Based on their expertise (knowledge, experience, and skills):
(1)Understand the resident’s complicated, multifaceted
problems;
(2)Draw up a cross-sectoral support plan (including the order
in which problems are to be solved); and
(3)Consider and choose the correct sources of assistance.
Public
institutions,
specialized
organizations,
assistance
organizations,
experts,andother
assistance
service
providers
[If other support staff members are available]
(4)Provide them with advice and guidance about the
complicated, multifaceted cases for which they are
responsible.
* Show them which actions to take.
4) Collect thecaseresults and
accumulate
them as
know-how.106-2. Roles of Foreign National Support Coordinators (Consulting Support)
Department that is providing
support
Orientations at their organization or at
the request of external organizations*,
events for foreigners, and other
opportunities
Foreign residents
(such as newly employed workers,
matriculating students, residents moving in from
another municipality, or visitors participating
in an event)
Explain the basic rules of
Japanese society with videos
or handbooks (including
showing tailor-made support
plans).
Show where foreign residents
can seek help when necessary
(using specialized
organizations or other sources
of assistance or a local
assistance network).
Foreign National
Support
Coordinator
* Participate or
give advice
as an expert
at the
request of
external
organizations.6-3. Roles of Foreign National Support Coordinators (Preventive Support)
Participate and provide an
explanation by oneself.
Give advice.orForeign National
Support
Coordinator
Foreign National
Support Coordinator
Person providing
an explanation
Person providing
an explanation
Preventive support by providing
accurate, necessary information11- Prevent foreign residents from facing problems by helping them
understand the gist of support systems and procedures in
Japan as well as the differences from those of their home
countries.
- Enable foreign residents to smoothly reach out to the proper place
when in need by providing them with information on such
locations.
Provide
information
based on one’s
expertise.
Ability to connect foreign residents to appropriate sources of assistance
Ability to accurately understand the status
of residence of foreign residents127. Abilities Required of Foreign National Support Coordinators (Four Abilities)
Ability to help foreign residents adequately solve their complicated, multifaceted
problems
Ability to understand different cultures and
values
(1) Adequately understand foreign residents’ complicated, multifaceted problems based on
mutual trust.
(2) Identify the necessary support.
(3) Draw up suitable support plans aimed at solving foreign residents’ problems from a cross-
sectoral viewpoint, provide necessary advice, and make contact and coordinate assistance
efforts with sources of assistance.
(1) Knowledge of the purposes, governing laws, and roles of national government organs and
Japan’s laws and systems related to foreign residents’ lives and employment as well as
similar systems of foreign countries
(2) Skills in building good relationships with and collaborating with relevant organs
Knowledge about immigration control laws
and regulations
Cross-cultural understanding
○しろまる Practice of the
basic knowledge
and skills learned
in training
program (1) (*)
(at participants’
workplaces)
○しろまる Lectures on basic
knowledge and
skills (64 hours)
On-demand
lectures
○しろまる Achievement test
(Participants who
pass this test
move on to the
practicum after
being assigned
tasks to work on
in the next
program.)
Training program (1)
(Online training)
Practicum
Training program (2)
(Group training)
Recognitionofcompletion
(2 months) (3 months)
○しろまる Case study
(including group
discussions)
○しろまる Program
completion test
(2 days)
National
qualification
examination
(to be discussed)
Instructor training for
those who have 3 years
or more of practical
experience after
completing the program
(to be discussed)
(*) They work on tasks
assigned in training program(1).Trainingforcertification
renewal
(every3years)
○しろまる Planned total number of participants: 300 (by FY2026)138. Training for Foreign National Support Coordinators (Outline of the Training)
Discuss how to promote assignment of Foreign National Support Coordinators.
Discuss how to promote the assignment of Foreign National Support Coordinators in consideration of the organizations
where they are expected to be assigned.
Discuss how to improve the social valuation, status and treatment of Foreign National Support
Coordinators through their training and certification systems.
Discuss how to ensure that the social valuation, status and treatment of Foreign National Support Coordinators who work at
one-stop consulting counters of local governments and other public institutions aligns with their levels of expertise.
Discuss a certification system for highly-skilled support professionals.
Discuss introducing a national qualification for Foreign National Support Coordinators based on the status of activities of
those who have completed the training program and the operational statuses of other national qualification systems.
Help those who have completed the training program to share necessary information.
〇 Release and use a special portal site for those who have completed the training program.
〇 Hold case study workshops for those who have completed the training program.
Discuss how to share challenges identified through individual support, including shortages of
local sources of assistance, with the national government and local governments, in order to
improve the environment for accepting foreign nationals.
Discuss how Foreign National Support Coordinators can feed back information on shortages of local sources of assistance
to the national and local governments in order to improve the environment for accepting foreign nationals.149. Actions to Take from FY2023 Onward
Date Interviewed parties Date Interviewed parties
1 November 15, 2022 (Tue)
- HAMAMATSU PLANNING & COORDINATING
DEPARTMENT International Affairs Division
- Hamamatsu Foundation for International Communication
and Exchange
11 January 25, 2023 (Wed) Vietnam Mutual Aid Association in Japan
2 November 17, 2022 (Thu) Tochigi International Association 12 January 26, 2023 (Thu) NPO Multilanguage Center FACIL/ Mukogawa Wemen's University
3 November 17, 2022 (Thu)
- Multicultural Society Section, Social Activities Promotion
Division, Community Affairs Department, Bureau of
Community and Cultural Affairs, Aichi Prefecture
- Aichi International Association
13 January 30, 2023 (Mon)
Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (自治体国際化
協会(CLAIR))
4 November 22, 2022 (Tue)
Oizumi Town Hall Planning Department Multicultural
Cooperation Division
14 January 30, 2023 (Mon) International Organization for Migration
5 November 22, 2022 (Tue) Sendai Tourism, Convention and International Association 15 February 7, 2023 (Tue)
The Japan Federation of Certified Administrative Procedures Legal
Specialists Associations
6 December 16, 2022 (Fri)
- General Affairs Division International Affairs Bureau City of
Yokohama
- Yokohama Association for International Communications
and Exchanges
16 February 9, 2023 (Thu) Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry
7 December 21, 2022 (Wed) Angelo Ishi Musashi University, Faculty of Sociology 17 February 17, 2023 (Fri) Japan Federation of Bar Associations
8 December 22, 2022 (Thu)
KIKUCHI Akiyoshi (Institute for Multicultural Society
Professionals)
18 February 20, 2023 (Mon) Nihongo kyōikukikan dantai renraku kyōgikai
9 December 23, 2022 (Fri) IKUKO YAMAURA 19 February 21, 2023 (Tue) Keidanren (Japan Business Federation)
10 December 26, 2022 (Mon)
Kanagawa Prefectural Goverment Child Education Support
Division
20 February 22, 2023 (Wed) Japanese Association of Certified Social Workers
A broad range of relevant parties were interviewed to foster discussion of the roles of professionals who
coordinate comprehensive support.1510. Reference Information (the Hearings with the Relevant Parties)