Zenbird Editorial TeamSince 2005, the city of Toyonaka has taken an approach to political inclusivity with its Foreign Residents’ Assembly. The assembly’s ninth term, marked by the theme of “What We Can Do as Bearers of the Local Community,” involved a two-year discourse where the foreign citizen members sought ways to make their impact felt in the city they now call home.
Last week, the report from these in-depth discussions was submitted to the Mayor Shigeki Nagai by the assembly’s chairperson, Fiona Katayama. The report carried a message: the urge for Toyonaka City to further nurture a culturally diverse society, respecting the variations between the Japanese and foreigners and learning from these differences.
Mayor Nagai responded positively to the recommendations. He acknowledged that striving towards a city more friendly to foreigners would benefit all residents, enhancing the overall livability of Toyonaka. He committed to taking these insights to heart and applying them in the city’s operations.
The city plans to publicize the report on its official website, offering it in a range of languages including Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Spanish, thereby ensuring accessibility to the city’s diverse community.
The assembly brought together eight members with varied views. Some key suggestions included creating spaces for foreigners to utilize Japanese, implementing multilingual signage to add to the city’s international appeal, establishing a support desk to foster connections between the community and the International Exchange Center, and the concept of Human Libraries to encourage learning about different cultures.
