Multicultural Coexistence and Support for Community-Based Japanese Language Education

Aiming for the Deployment of a Practical Sustainable Collaboration

Abstract

In this paper I first make clear what I mean by "multicultural coexistence". Next I review what we can learn from previous research on multiculural coexistence and support for community-based Japanese language education, and situate such support in terms of national policy for Japanese language education. Then I show what can be gleaned from the unfolding of the Plan for the Promotion of Multicultural Coexistence put forth by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and from recent measures taken by local authorities, and give a general view of policies and measures implemented by The Agency for Cultural Affairs to enhance support for community-based teaching and learning of Japanese. Next I briefly describe the policy shift of 2007, which may be seen as a watershed in support for community-based Japanese language education, as well as developments that have taken place within the prefectures and municipalities, and I introduce examples of practical sustainable collaboration realized through Japanese language. Finally I point out the importance of fostering and retaining coordinators who can make such collaboration possible, and preview how such support will progress in the future.