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Soteria Firm, which sells handmade muffins and rusks with a gentle taste, under the theme of "mental and physical health," is a social firm where people from diverse cultures and backgrounds come together to work. This is also a place where many staff members with foreign roots are actively working. We interviewed Ms. Sayaka Tsukamoto, a member of the incorporated NPO Soteria Tokyo office, who supports the store as management, about her thoughts on the activities of Soteria Firm.

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"Taito Tabunka Kyosei Machizukuri no Kai" is a group of foreigners and Japanese people living in Taito City who think about community development together as community members, through activities such as neighborhood clean-ups and opening stalls at morning markets. We interviewed Ms. Hiroko Yamafuji, the Multicultural Coordinator and Regional Japanese Language Education Coordinator - who launched "Taito Tabunka Kyosei Machizukuri no Kai" together with local foreign residents - about the activities of the group.

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The Japan Myanmar Culture Center (JMCC), an NPO headed by Myanmar national Ms. Ma Hay Mar, is an encouraging support for Myanmar people in Japan. The JMCC is based in Takadanobaba, Tokyo, and receives many inquiries from Japan and Myanmar. We spoke with Ms. Ma Hay Mar, Director, and Mr. Kiyoshi Ochiai, Chairman of the Board, about the activities of JMCC.

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The NPO Tsunagarou Kai Multicultural Japan, which began its activities in 2022, is based in Hachioji. Tsunagarou Kai aims to help create an inclusive society where people accept and acknowledge their differences and support each other regardless of gender, age, nationality or disability. We spoke with the organization’s founder and representative, Ms. Marcia Chikaraishi.

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NPO Bosai Community Network is an organization that aims to form communities connected by disaster preparedness (bosai) - a common issue for Tokyo’s residents - while developing educational and community projects related to disaster preparedness in various areas in Tokyo. NPO Bosai Community Network conducts disaster preparedness activities that can be participated in "casually, easily, and happily" in various regions, such as community cleanup programs that adopt a disaster preparedness perspective, city walks, and a children’s cafeteria that uses emergency rations. We interviewed Mr. Takahiro Uto, one of the founders of the organization.

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"Multicultural Exchange with Everyone in Koto" is an organization active in the Ojima area of Koto City, Tokyo, where members of diverse nationalities of all ages enjoy exchanging cultural activities and work together to build their community. In Ojima, Koto City, the proportion of elderly Japanese residents and young foreign residents has been increasing among those living in apartment complexes and other areas, in recent years.

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General Incorporated Association Choiceful is an organization working on the issue of child poverty, in Adachi ward.

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The Cross-Cultural Club "DANRO" is a gathering of parents, including those with foreign roots, in Machida City, who enjoy raising children together in the community. The members of DANRO are engaged in a variety of activities that leverage their respective cultures and capabilities. They say that while expanding the circle of multicultural coexistence in Machida, they aim to create a considerate and warm community where everyone feels "glad to live in Machida". We spoke with Ms. Mami Nishida, Ms. Lucy Kosugi, and Ms. Yu Onuki about DANRO, where mothers and fathers are working actively and energetically.

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Bookstart is an initiative by local municipal administrations and citizens to offer "picture books" and the "experience" of reading picture books to families and children, at group health check-ups for babies under one-year-old; as well as on other occasions. These activities began in the UK in 1992 and have been implemented throughout Japan since April 2001. Bookstart Japan supports the Bookstart program in each municipality to provide a fun and exciting time for all babies to experience picture books. Bookstart Japan is also expanding the program's multilingual availability. We spoke with Ms. Tomomi Otsu and Ms. Ayako Mikami of Bookstart Japan, which supports local municipalities working on the Bookstart program.

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The YMCA was established in London in 1844. In 1880, the first YMCA in Japan, the Tokyo YMCA, was formed. The Tokyo YMCA has developed various programs, including language education, childcare, and international exchange programs.

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CWS Japan supports people affected by natural disasters, poverty, and conflicts in Japan as well as overseas. One of their activities is the Multicultural x Disaster Risk Reduction Project.

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The NPO Hoshi no Hikari was established in 2023 in Shinjuku City, with holds Japan’s largest number of foreign residents. Hoshi no Hikari offers picture book readings in Chinese and Japanese, and holds picture book talk events; primarily for Chinese parents and their children.

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The Nonprofit Corporation WELgee(hereafter: WELgee) offers employment-focused programs to help people who have fled their home countries and arrived in Japan (here after "internationals*") not only to wait for their refugee status to be recognized but also to rebuild their lives. We interviewed Ms. Mao Narita, a WELgee's Training Program Division Project coordinator.

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RMJ (Relaxing Place for All Moms in Japan) is active mainly in Katsushika City, Tokyo, to help relieve the loneliness of as many moms as possible. Their activities range from running a childcare support center that offers online consultation, to organizing social gatherings.

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TheNPO Adovo consists of high school and university students. Adovo's activities are centered on "Japanese language classes," "mingling and workshops," and, "public relations and awareness activities"; to make the lives of foreigners of the same generation who are working (or will work) as technical intern trainees in Japan, more enjoyable. The NPO Adovo has more than 120 members and has expanded its activities to include charters in the Kanto, Chubu, and Kansai regions.

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In 2022, the Fuchu JSL Learning Support Group was established. Later, in 2024, it changed its name to Fuchu JSL Learning Support Association and made a new start as a corporation. They support children with foreign roots and their parents or guardians by helping them learn Japanese and other subjects, so that they may live their school life without anxiety. We spoke with Ms. Sonoko Ueda, the representative, and Ms. Akane Ishibashi, a Japanese language learning supporter.

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ABOT KAMAY is a volunteer group formed by people from the Philippines. All of them work as caregivers and stay active in Japanese society by helping to interpret at international events and performing dances at local festivals and welfare facilities, as well as in their communities. We interviewed the leader, Ms. Herminia Hikishima, and members, Ms. Linda Tokiwa, Ms. Mai Nishida, and Ms. Mercedes Egawa, about how ABOT KAMAY was founded, its activities, and their caregiving work.

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The Tokyo Metropolitan Library consists of two libraries, the Central Library, and the Tama Library. The Central Library provides support services for comprehensive research and studies. The Tama Library, on the other hand, provides two main services: the "Services for Children and Young Adults", which promotes children's reading activities in Tokyo - and the Tokyo Magazine Bank, which provides services drawing on the distinctive features of magazines. These two libraries are operated with their functions divided between them, and they also provide backup for public libraries in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

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Caring for the Future Foundation Japan (hereafter CFF Japan) operates programs such as sending Japanese youth abroad as volunteers while supporting local children in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Myanmar. As the name Caring for the Future Foundation suggests, their mission is to build a society where everyone has hope for the future; while children and youth - the foundation of the future - grow up together with the organization.

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"I want to increase the number of Myanmar's fans." With this thought in her mind, Ms. Yuna Nonaka launched the Yangon Karuta Project. Why did a high school student living in Japan start an organization to help people become interested in Myanmar? We interviewed Ms. Nonaka to learn more about the project, and her thoughts on the project.

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The NPO Nata De Coco plans and operates a "Cultural Exchange Class for Children" to bring cross-cultural experiences to children throughout Japan. The Cultural Exchange Class for Children offers a systematic program based on intercultural communication studies as a place for exchange between elementary school students and foreigners living in Japan.

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The General Incorporated Association Pinocchio is working on the theme of “a place for children”. However, since its establishment, the activities have gradually expanded to a wide variety, ranging from a children's cafeteria to an after-school club, a parenting & anyone cafe, a Japanese class, an adult cafeteria “Hokkori-tei”, and a Cinema Club. It is now a gathering place for everyone in the community, including children as well as adults. We interviewed Ms. Hatsuko Kawana, the president of Pinocchio - who realizes projects full of ideas with her light footwork - about Pinocchio's activities, from its foundation to the present.

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NGO: Volunteers Group to Send Wheelchairs to Overseas Children is working to deliver wheelchairs that Japanese children have outgrown, to children overseas. In the 20 years since the organization was established in 2004, they have donated 9,395 wheelchairs to 26 countries (as of June 2023). In 2020, they received the Japan Foundation's Global Citizenship Award, and their activities have garnered much support and empathy. We interviewed Mr. Hirokazu Morita, Chairperson, Mr. Akira Kuwayama, director, and Mr. Takao Akine, director, about their motivation for establishing the organization, and the actual situation of wheelchairs for children.

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In May 2023, the 3rd Refugee and Migrant Festival was held at Heisei Tsutsuji Park in Nerima. The charity-style festival, where people from refugee and migrant backgrounds brought their specialties in cooking, handicrafts, songs, and performances, attracted approximately 3,600 people in one day. And, participants enjoyed interacting with each other. We spoke with Ms. Maki Kanai, a writer, and illustrator, who is the founder of the festival and also a member of the executive committee.

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NPO Japan-Peru for Integration (hereafter referred to as AJAPE) helps people of Peruvian and other Latin American origin and their children to adapt to and co-exist with Japanese society while protecting their individuality.

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Hachioji City is home to approximately 14,000 foreign residents (as of December 2022). The number of foreign students is substantial, and the population of foreign residents is increasing year by year. To make Hachioji a city where both Japanese and foreigners may live comfortably, the "kokohana Yasashii Nihongo de Tsunagaru Hachioji no Kai" (hereafter: kokohana), is engaged in various activities, including the promotion of Plain Japanese. We interviewed the two core persons of the organization, Ms. Akane Miyatake, a representative, and Ms. Kumiko Matsubara, a staff member.

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The Organization for Technical Intern Trainee Life Support (hereinafter referred to as TITL), located in Edogawa ward, conducts daily-life support activities to enrich the lives of foreign technical intern trainees in Japan, during their limited period of stay.

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Ms. Shuko Ebihara, the representative director of kuriya, a general incorporated association, stands in front of some yo...

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Every Sunday, many people gather at Restaurant Ruby: including Professor Shin Matsuo of Tokyo Woman's Christian Universi...

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From left to right: Ms. Kazuko Harada and Ms. Kiyoko Kenmoku, Japanese language class volunteers; Mr. Katsuo Yoshinari, ...