Date : October 30, 2024
FY2024 International FPCJ Webinar: Population Decline and Immigration Policy: How Can Japan Become a Country To Be Chosen?
post date : 2024.09.30
In June this year, revisions to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act were passed. The foreign technical intern trainee system, which for over 30 years was one of the ways to hire foreigners as unskilled labor, is being replaced with a new training and employment system. The system aims to both train workers and acquire them for Japan, with trainees intended to acquire Specific Skilled Worker visas after the end of their training period, welcoming foreigners to Japan as workers who might stay in the long term.
With Japan’s population decline and super-aging society, foreign workers are already vital to society and the economy, and systems are being prepared to expand the number of foreign workers brought in to make up for the decline in the productive working population. However, until now there has not been a direct, comprehensive discussion of immigration policy overall, including the future of Japanese society and how much Japan intends to become a multiethnic, multicultural nation.
This webinar will invite leading foreign journalists following immigration issues to hear from them about the challenges facing Japan, including from South Korea, where the population is declining faster than Japan and foreign workers are being brought in thanks to a higher level of remuneration; Vietnam, the country from which the highest number of technical interns come to Japan; and France, one of the earliest countries in Europe to accept immigrants based on the concept of immigrant integration. Together with Japanese experts, they will discuss what immigration policy Japan should implement to bring in more foreign workers.
Webinar Format
Session 1: Current State of and Issues with Immigration in Japan
After a keynote speech by one of the experts, the three foreign journalists will bring up topics to discuss regarding immigration in Japan based on their reporting activities. There will then be an open debate by all the panelists.
Session 2: What Should Japan’s Immigration Policy Be To Become a Country To Be Chosen
Considering the debate in Session 1, the foreign journalists will comment on what Japan’s immigration policy should be and what Japan should do to become a country to be chosen for immigration. They will also comment on what they would like to see be done by the Japanese government, businesses hiring foreign workers, and Japanese society. After comments by the experts, there will then be an open debate by all the panelists.
Outline
1.Date and Time
15:00–17:00 (JST), Wednesday, October 30, 2024
2. Format
Online only (Zoom webinar)
3. Languages
English/Japanese (simultaneous interpretation)
*Note: Depending on the panelist, they will speak either English or Japanese, with simultaneous interpretation for both languages. In order to use the simultaneous interpretation function, be sure to install the Zoom application ahead of time (if you connect via browser, the icon for interpretation will not be displayed).
4. Support
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
5. Cost
Free
6. Program and Panelists
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15:00-15:05 (5 min.) |
Opening remarks |
Kazuo Kodama (FPCJ President) |
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15:05-15:55 (50 min.) |
Session 1 (keynote speech, initial statements, discussion) |
All panelists and moderator |
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15:55-16:35 (40 min.) |
Session 2 (initial statements, discussion) |
All panelists and moderator |
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16:35-16:50 (20 min.) |
Q&A |
All panelists and moderator |
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16:50-17:00 (10 min.) |
Overall summary |
All panelists |
|
17:00 |
Closing remarks |
Kazuo Kodama (FPCJ President) |
◆Panelists
Expert
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Toshihiro Menju, Visiting Professor, Kansai University of International Studies and former Managing Director and Chief Program Officer, Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE) After working for the Hyogo Prefectural Government for 10 years, joined the JCIE from 1988 to 2024. From 2024, visiting professor of the Kansai University of International Studies. Involved in a variety of projects including on multicultural coexistence, immigration policy and grassroots international exchange and research. Currently, he is a member of the Japanese Language Subcommittee of the Chukyoshin (Central Council for Education), Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. He is the author of many books, including “Population Exile: Nippon Reborn by Immigrants” (Asahi Shinsho, 2023). |
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Foreign journalists
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Yeong-Hyo Jeong, Economic Desk Deputy Editor/Former Tokyo Bureau Chief, The Korea Economic Daily (South Korea) Joined The Korea Economic Daily in 2012, located in Tokyo for approximately four years from 2020. In current position since March 2024, covering labor shortages and immigration policy in South Korea. Repeat winner of the Journalists Association of Korea’s Journalist of the Month award. |
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Tuyen Nguyen Cam, Tokyo Bureau Chief, Vietnam News Agency (Vietnam) Tokyo bureau chief since April 2023. Also held the same position for four years starting from 2015. Won a Vietnamese journalism award for a TV report on Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors, which she made during her previous tenure as bureau chief. Actively covers a variety of fields, including politics, society, and culture. |
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Régis Arnaud, Tokyo Correspondent, Le Figaro (France) Tokyo correspondent for weekly economics magazine Challenges, editor in chief of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Japan's magazine France Japon Eco, and contributor to Toyo Keizai. Author of “Carlos Ghosn, le fugitive.” Producer of the Awa Odori Paris festival and the movie “CUT”. Has lived in Japan for 30 years. |
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◆MC/Moderator
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Kazuo Kodama, FPCJ President Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1976. After serving in roles including Press Secretary and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the OECD and to European Union, he left the ministry in September 2020, joining the FPCJ in November of the same year. From 2022, visiting professor for international politics at the law faculty of the University of Hiroshima. |
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*Program details, times, and panelists are subject to change without notice.
7. How to Register
Register using the URL below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y4vEbloJTF-rfQQzpNGKpQ
*An automatic confirmation email with a link to the webinar will be sent from no-reply@zoom.us immediately after applying. If you do not seem to have received this email, check your spam and trash folders. If you cannot find it, please contact us as indicated below.
*We will inform by email all those who have registered about a video of the webinar. Even if you cannot participate live on the day of the webinar, please consider registering.
Contact Information
Sato (Ms.),Ishida (Ms.)
Media Communication and Planning Division
Foreign Press Center Japan
sympo@fpcjpn.or.jp | 03-3501-5251
~ About FPCJ International Webinars ~
Two or three international webinars are held by the FPCJ each year, as unique projects representing our role in acting as a bridge between Japan and members of the foreign media. Through these webinars, we will create opportunities to hear the perspectives of foreign correspondents who are active in reporting on Japan, discussing topics that are important not just to Japan, but to the international community as a whole.