Abstract
This essay deals with some particular foreigner problems in Japan, especially problems encountered by women from Asian countries other than Japan who live in Japanese local communities. The author argues that it is particularly important for such women to acquire their own 'voice'. The relation between the acquisition of the 'voice' and language knowledge is discussed, and the paper further explores the question of how the women can make their voices heard in their local communities and how members of the community can manage their own behaviour to make communication democracy possible.
