Future imperfect: Japan's immigration policies and the winds of change: for too long Japan has dodged the immigration debate. But its population is now dwindling and complacency is not an option. Can integration work? Take Toyohashi—please - Cover Story

Japan, Inc., Oct, 2003 by Tony McNicol

The main problem for South Americans in the factories is their low status and poor conditions. The recruitment company system means that the factories are largely free from dealing with troublesome responsibilities, like providing severance pay or compensation in the event of injury.

"If I get fired, I get nothing," he says.

Japan will have to move mountains to integrate large numbers of non-Japanese into the nation's economy and society. One part of Japan that seems to be trying hard is Nagano prefecture. Its reformist governor, Yasuo Tanaka, is well known for opposing pork barrel construction projects in the prefecture, but now he's working to build bridges between the Brazilian and Japanese communities. In March, Tanaka received an award from the Brazilian state to thank him for his support of the 18,000 Brazilians in the prefecture.

One effort is the "Santa Project," an education project to support the children of immigrant children. Few Brazilians can afford to send their children to the few privately run Brazilian schools. Dropout rates are high among Brazilian children attending Japanese schools. A spokesman for the charity says that 17 percent of immigrant children in Nagano prefecture are not attending school. "Education is a basic human right," he says. "All children should be educated and [it] is crucial for the future of the children of immigrants. That's why we started the project."

This August, Toyohashi held its annual summer festival. The city's main street was flooded with a colorful parade of floats, musicians and dancers. The festival has long included traditional Japanese dance and music, but recently a hint of South American carnival has crept into the proceedings. South American and Japanese dancers from the local samba schools showed off their moves together, adding an extra and by all accounts welcome flash of color.

Immigrant communities in Japan are still small. But those who wonder bow Japan can ever become a multicultural nation are probably right to look for new policies and ideas. Perhaps in a few places, change has already arrived.