Summary of the Public-opinion Survey on Resident Foreigners of Japanese Descent

Transcription

1 Summary of the Public-opinion Survey on Resident Foreigners of Japanese Descent February28, 2013 Public Relations Department of the Cabinet Office Survey overview Survey target 3000 individuals nationwide who were over the age of 20 and a citizen of Japan Valid number of 1,883 individuals (62.8%) responses (percentage) Period of survey January 17, 2013 to January 27, 2013 Method of survey Individual interviews made by poll takers Survey Objective To examine the awareness of Japanese citizens on resident foreigners of Japanese descent, and to use the resulting data as a reference for future policies Survey topics 1 Knowledge about resident foreigners of Japanese descent 2 How the individual became aware of resident foreigners of Japanese descent 3 The desired level of Japanese language skills in resident foreigners of Japanese descent 4 The desired level of understanding toward Japanese culture/customs in resident foreigners of Japanese descent 5 The necessity of having special policies for resident foreigners of Japanese descent out of all foreigners 6 The realization of a society where resident foreigners of Japanese descent can co-exist [Please be aware] When citing the content of this document, we ask that you send a copy of the published item to the below address. Survey Staff, Office of Public Relations, Minister's Secretariat, Cabinet Office Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Telephone 03(3581)0070 FAX03(3580)1186

2 1 Awareness about resident foreigners of Japanese descent (1)Knowledge about resident foreigners of Japanese descent Aware (subtotal) Aware and have knowledge of meaning Have heard of the term, but not sure of the meaning Not aware 52.9% 24.7% 28.2% 46.4% Aware (subtotal) 52.9% (Number of valid responses) Aware and have knowledge of meaning Have heard of the term, but not I don t know sure of the meaning Not aware Total (1,883 individuals) - 1 -

3 (Question to all the individuals who answered Aware and have knowledge of meaning or Have heard of the term, but not sure of the meaning (996 people)) (a) How did you become aware of resident foreigners of Japanese descent?(multiple responses, top four answers) Television 72.8% Newspapers 48.2% There was a resident foreigner of Japanese descent working or living around me 16.7% Information from other people 16.4% (The multiple response question to all the individuals who answered Aware and have knowledge of meaning or Have heard of the term, but not sure of the meaning ) Television Newspapers There was a resident foreigner of Japanese descent working or living around me Information from other people Books and/or magazines Radio Lectures and/or public presentations Posters and/or brochures by local public organizations Posters and/or brochures by private organizations (such as NPOs) The web sites of private organizations (such as NPOs) Government web sites The web sites of local public organizations Other Not sure Total(N=996 individuals, M.T.=192.1%) - 2 -

4 2 About resident foreigners of Japanese descent (1) The desired level of Japanese language skills in resident foreigners of Japanese descent before coming to Japan Japanese skills on an equal level with the Japanese citizens 3.5% Japanese skills good enough to carry out daily life activities comfortably 46.1% At least the minimum level of Japanese skills to carry out daily life activities 42.0% There is no need for Japanese skills, but English skills are desired 2.6% There is no need for language skills outside of one s mother tongue 1.6% There is no need for Japanese skills, but English skills are desired There is no need for language skills outside of one s mother tongue Japanese skills on an Japanese skills good enough to carry out daily life activities At least the minimum level of equal level with the comfortably Japanese skills to carry out daily life Japanese citizens activities Other Not sure (Number of valid responses) Total (1,883 individuals) - 3 -

5 (2) The desired level of understanding toward Japanese culture/customs in resident foreigners of Japanese descent Some extent of understanding is desired before coming over to Japan 41.5% It is not necessary to have understanding before coming to Japan, but they should 50.4% actively try to comprehend culture/customs after coming to Japan Understanding culture/customs is not necessary 4.4% Some extent of understanding is desired before coming over to Japan It is not necessary to have understanding before coming to Japan, but they should actively try to comprehend culture/customs after coming to Japan Other Understanding culture/customs is not necessary Not sure - 4 -

6 3 About policies for resident foreigners of Japanese descent (1) The necessity of having special policies for resident foreigners of Japanese descent out of all foreigners Policies should be improved 27.3% Present policies should be maintained 59.7% Policies should be scaled-down 4.8% Other Policies should be improved Present policies should be maintained Policies should be scaled-down Not sure (Number of valid responses) Total (1,833 individuals) - 5 -

7 (2) The realization of a society where resident foreigners of Japanese descent can co-exist Agree (subtotal) 80.9% Agree 30.0% Somewhat agree 50.9% Disagree (subtotal) 12.9% Somewhat disagree 10.4% Disagree 2.5% Not sure Agree (subtotal) 80.9 Disagree (subtotal) 12.9 Agree Somewhat agree Somewhat Disagree (Number of valid responses) disagree Total (1,883 individuals) - 6 -

8 Public-opinion Survey on Resident Foreigners of Japanese Descent February 2013 Period of survey: January 17, 2013 to January 27, 2013 Survey target: 3000 individuals nationwide who were over the age of 20 and a citizen of Japan Valid number of responses (percentage): 1,883 individuals (62.8%) Now for a different topic, here are some questions on resident foreigners of Japanese descent. 1. Knowledge about resident foreigners of Japanese descent (Questions were asked after the survey to target individuals that had been presented [Document 1] and had read the document.) [Document 1] Many Japanese had emigrated to South American countries such as Brazil and Peru before the war. These emigrants and their offspring endured many hardships to gain the trust of the local society where they had landed. There is a system in Japan where the offspring of these emigrants and their family, who are citizens of Brazil and Peru and have no Japanese citizenship, are given qualification for residence. The period is fixed at one, three and five years under the Japanese Law, and individuals using this system to live in Japan are called resident foreigners of Japanese descent. Furthermore, some of these resident foreigners of Japanese descent have been hired for jobs such as those in the manufacturing industry without apt knowledge of the Japanese language. They have lived in Japan with the support of their employers, who have looked after them in their daily activities. Q1 [Answer sheet 1] Are you familiar with the term resident foreigners of Japanese descent? (24.7) (a) Yes, I am also familiar with the meaning of the term (28.2) (b) I have heard of the term, but am not familiar with the meaning (46.4) (c) No, I am not familiar (To Q2) (0.7) I am not sure (To individuals who answered (a) Yes, I am also familiar with the meaning of the term and (b) I have heard of the term, but am not familiar with the meaning ) SQ [Answer sheet 2] How did you come to know about resident foreigners of Japanese descent? Please choose as many as needed. (M.A.) (N=996) (16.7) (a) There was a resident foreigner of Japanese descent working or living around me (16.4) (b) I heard about it from someone I know (72.8) (c) Television ( 9.3) (d) Radio (48.2) (e) Newspapers (12.0) (f) Books and/or magazines (1.6) (g) Government web sites (1.2) (h) The web sites of local public organizations (2.2) (i) The web sites of private organizations (such as NPOs) (2.8) (j) Posters and/or brochures of local public organizations (2.8) (k) Posters and/or brochures of private organizations (such as NPOs) (4.2) (l) Lectures and/or public presentations - 7 -

9 (1.1) Other ( ) (0.7) Not sure (M.T.=192.1) (To all survey participants) 2. About resident foreigners of Japanese descent Q2 [Answer sheet 3] What do you think is the desired level of Japanese language skills in resident foreigners of Japanese descent before coming to Japan? Please choose one from the below. (3.5) (a) Japanese skills on an equal level with the Japanese citizens (46.1) (b) Japanese skills good enough to carry out daily life activities comfortably (42.0) (c) At least the minimum level of Japanese skills to carry out daily life activities (2.6) (d) There is no need for Japanese skills, but English skills are desired (1.6) (e) There is no need for language skills outside of one s mother tongue (0.1) Other () (4.1) Not sure Q3 [Answer sheet 4] What do you think is the desired level of understanding toward Japanese culture/customs in resident foreigners of Japanese descent who are contemplating long-term residence in Japan. Please choose one from the below. (41.5) (a) Some extent of understanding is desired before coming over to Japan (50.4) (b) It is not necessary to have understanding before coming to Japan, but they should actively try to comprehend culture/customs after coming to Japan (4.4) (c) Understanding culture/customs is not necessary (0.1) Other( ) (3.7) Not sure 3. About policies for resident foreigners of Japanese descent (Questions were asked after the survey to target individuals that had been presented [Document 2] and had read the document.) [Document 2] Many resident foreigners of Japanese descent were seen experiencing financial difficulties after the worldwide economic crisis following the year As a result, in addition to the existing policies toward all foreigners, the national government and local municipalities enforced the following for resident foreigners of Japanese descent: Implementing activities such as Japanese language training, targeted at children staying at home and not attending school, to promote enrollment in public schools Stationing interpreters in Hello Work (Public Employment Security Offices) Implementing activities such as work preparation training that supports acquiring knowledge of the Japanese language and labor laws needed for employment. Q4 [Answer sheet 5] At the present, policies aimed toward resident foreigners of Japanese descent exist - 8 -

10 in addition to the policies toward all foreigners. Please select the closest answer according to your thoughts about these policiesfrom the below. (27.3) (a) Policies should be improved (59.7) (b) Present policies should be maintained ( 4.8) (c) Policies should be scaled down (0.2) Other( ) (7.9) Not sure Q5 [Answer sheet 6] Japan is promoting its policies based on the view that these resident foreigners of Japanese descent should be solidly accepted as a member of Japanese society, and not be socially excluded. Are you willing to accept these resident foreigners of Japanese descent as local community members? Please choose from the below. (30.0) (a) Willing to accept (50.9) (b) Somewhat willing to accept (10.4) (c) Somewhat not willing to accept (2.5) (d) Not willing to accept (6.3) Not sure - 9 -