Living Issues from the Viewpoint of Support Cases of Foreign Residents who experienced Difficulties receiving Support

Abstract

  This study investigates issues faced by foreign residents in Japan. From 2011 to 2015, I interviewed social workers associated with volunteer groups providing support for foreign residents throughout Japan and collected cases where such residents had experienced difficulties in obtaining support. I carried out a qualitative analysis of 108 such cases and identified six serious and pressing issues including “child care and education,” “lack of information about the Japanese system,” “victims of crimes,” and “suspected or accused of crime.” The issues that were identified but that were not pressing included “difficulty communicating in Japanese,” “prenatal care,” and “differences in adapting to the surrounding culture.” In relation to diversity-related issues, a new support system must be developed for foreign residents to supplement the present system. This would also be desirable as a framework for countermeasures regarding misdemeanors and illegal residents.