Immigration Japan considers language and manners requirements for residency permits

[thomas]

Japan wants foreigners living in the country for longer periods to learn Japanese and basic manners, and that knowledge could eventually be factored into applications for permanent residency. More than 4 million foreigners now call Japan home. The government is looking to create a pilot programme as early as fiscal 2028 to help this growing population adapt to Japanese society.

The Justice Ministry released an initial report on a programme that would teach the Japanese language and the basic rules of daily life to foreigners seeking medium- to long-term residency. Foreigners who have not yet entered Japan can study online. The same approach will also be considered for people living in rural areas of Japan, where there are few Japanese-language teachers. The report also includes a proposal to make participation in the programme a condition for obtaining permanent residency.

The report identified "a systematic learning program to enable foreigners to learn Japanese and social norms and act as responsible members of society" as an "an urgent challenge." Creating the program would incur costs, including systems development and pay for Japanese teachers. The report did not specify how much of that cost should be borne by foreigners undergoing training.

The Justice Ministry also announced plans to raise fees for renewing and changing residence status. Under the proposal, the new fee would be 10,000 yen (about $62) for permits of three months or less, 33,000 yen for one year and 75,000 yen for stays of five years or longer. The fee for permanent residency would increase to 200,000 yen.

The ministry intends to introduce the new charges from October after a public consultation period. It estimates the higher fees will generate up to 90 billion yen, or about $557 million, in additional revenue. According to the ministry, the money would help pay for digital record-keeping, Japanese-language education, and other related measures.

Paywall alert:

Japan eyes language, manners training as factor in residency permits

Tokyo wants growing foreign-born population adapt to country's norms

asia.nikkei.com

I'm curious how these classes will be organised. Mandatory evening or weekend classes? Or just a manner video, as in the 運転免許の更新?

 

[musicisgood]

I fall into the 200000 yen. Many universities nationwide offer the classes with summer vacation for 500 yen. This is for the textbook. I'll post the book when on the phone camera. I'm currently enrolled in it, but today was the last class before summer break. Next class begins in October. So, ask around, it's a nation wide class that has been around for many years. It's more academic than survival Japanese.
I'll post the book soon.
The Japanese government is clamping down on this. Make sure you pay into the pension and national health plan. If you don't know, get to the city office soon and find out what and where you stand. They mean business, people.

 

[Q Zudic]

Japan is already suffering from a lack of population, this might not help that or attract business.

 

[Ukigumo]

Japan is already suffering from a lack of population, this might not help that or attract business.

I don't think they really want oversea people living there

Manners maketh man so this can only be a good thing!

 

[mdchachi]

I don't think they really want oversea people living there

They don't want them but they need them. Catch 22. They better accelerate their robotics and AI tech if they seriously want to keep the undesirables out.