Why We Launched the Foreign Resident Listening Initiative — Japan 2026

Japan is becoming increasingly diverse, yet the experiences of foreign residents are far from uniform. “Foreign residents” are often spoken about as a single group, but in reality, people come from different countries, cultures, professions, and life circumstances. Their challenges, successes, and daily realities can differ greatly.
 

At ICAJ, we believe that meaningful support must begin with listening.

The Foreign Resident Listening Initiative — Japan 2026 was created to better understand the real, lived experiences of foreign residents across Japan. Whether someone’s experience has been positive, difficult, or somewhere in between, every voice matters. By gathering insights from people of different backgrounds and languages, we hope to identify what support, opportunities, and improvements are truly needed.

As a newly established nonprofit organization operating through volunteer efforts, we may not be perfect. But we believe that taking action — even in small steps — is more important than waiting for ideal conditions. Listening is our first step toward building stronger bridges between foreign residents and Japanese society.

Through this initiative, we aim to shape future programs, partnerships, and advocacy efforts that reflect real voices — not assumptions.

The survey is available in seven languages to ensure broader accessibility. We kindly invite you to participate and to share the video with others in your community. The survey link can be found below on this page or in the comment section of the video. Your support in spreading the word will help us reach more voices and build a more inclusive future together.

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YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/074IDVG8OVI
 

Survey Links:
● English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QKTK8T3

● नेपाली: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2QXBGV6

● 简体中文: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2SGPJ5X

● 한국어: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X9HVJVT

● Tiếng Việt: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/23YKV6V

● Tagalog: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/X2YSTHF

● Português: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XCYWDBW