Yokohama : A Multicultural Community

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Yokohama A Multicultural Community
Yokohama Association for International
Communications and Exchanges (YOKE)
Presented by Masako MAEDA The chair person of
YOKE
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Yokohama
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Yokohama
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Yokohama
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Yokohama
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Yokohama
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Yokohama
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Yokohama
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Yokohama
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Introduction of the City of Yokohama
Population 3.6 million Largest municipality
in Japan Window through which western culture
and technology were introduced Opening
of the Port of Yokohama(1859) - the starting
point for the Japans modernization
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About Yokohama Association for International
Communications and Exchanges (YOKE)

• Establishment 1981
• Endowment 1,497million yen
• Major projects
• ?Promotion for creating a multicultural society
• ?Promotion of volunteer and citizen activities
• ?Providing support for international
  organizations based in Yokohama
• ?International cooperation through the
  development of human resources
• Representative Chair Person Masako Maeda
• Number of staff members 30 persons
• Number of volunteer staffAbout 300 persons

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Transition in the Number of Non-Japanese
Residents
70,676
24,681
15,990
6,971
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The Background of Increasing Non-Japanese
Residents

• Promotion of globalization of Japanese society
  and economy
• Home coming of the descendants of Japanese
  immigrants from Central and South America and
  families of Japanese war orphans in China in
  accordance with the amendments made to the
  Immigration Control Act in 1990
• Progression of near-by countries such as China
  and Korea

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Support Necessary for Non-Japanese Residents and
International Exchange Lounges

• Providing interpretation services to cope with
  language difficulties, which is a major problem
  due to the increase of non-Japanese residents who
  do not understand Japanese
• Support for exchange activities with the
  community residents
• Support for disaster prevention on earthquakes
  for those who have had no such experience in
  their home country
• Installation of International Exchange Lounges in
  4 areas in the city besides YOKE

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Offering Information in Multiple Languages and
Japanese Language Classes

• Offering public information such as Koho Yokohama
  (Yokohama City Newsletter) in multiple languages
  (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese,
  Indonesian, etc.)
• Interpretation by volunteer interpreters at
  public information desk
• Offering Japanese language studies for beginners
  at Japanese language classes

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Support for Children and Education

• Interpretation at schools
• Learning-support in childs native language(more
  than 1,100 school children need Japanese study)
• Consultation to non-Japanese children (and
  parents) proceeding to higher education
• Interpretation at Childrens Consultation Office

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Special Consultation on Inquiries in Multiple
Languages

• Corresponding in multiple languages at call
  centers(756 calls in April 2006-March 2007)
• Consultation in multiple languages at the
  Information Corner( 25 volunteer members)
• Specialized Consultation Day

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Support for Exchange Students

• Operation of Yokohama International Student House
• Educational guidance by tutors
• Exchange activities between students and local
  peoples
• Support for job hunting
• ( About 3600 exchange students in Yokohama)

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Cooperating with Citizens Groups

• International Exchange Lounge
• Support for housing problems for non-Japanese
  residents (Kanagawa Housing Support Center)
• Support for medical interpretation for
  non-Japanese residents (MIC Kanagawa)

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Aiming for a Multicultural Community

• An attractive city where various cultures exist
  together, making it comfortable for non-Japanese
  residents to live in
• A city that is highly recognized and trusted
  upon by the international society
• An energetic city with global competitive power

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ClosingSee You in Yokohama
In three years, Yokohama will celebrate the
150th anniversary of the opening of the port of
Yokohama. The 150th anniversary- The beginning
of new era
Yokohama Association for International
Communications and Exchanges (YOKE)