Japan to Mull Language Program for Foreigners before Arrival

Tokyo, July 3 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese Justice Ministry project team Friday proposed offering opportunities to learn the Japanese language to foreigners before their arrival, utilizing information and communications technology. The team included the proposal in a report on a government program to ensure that foreign residents smoothly adapt to Japanese society. Specifically, the team urged the government to give foreigners seeking residency in Japan opportunities to study the language, prepare an environment allowing such people to continue studying after their arrival, and use information about their studies in examining whether they qualify for residency. The government’s basic policy on foreign people released in January included the establishment of the adaptation program. Based on this, the project team, led by Mamoru Fukuyama, parliamentary vice minister of justice, discussed related matters. The report said that the central government is responsible for offering such a program, expanding learning support provided by host institutions and reducing the burden of local governments. In the report, it is assumed that foreigners will use the program to learn basic Japanese and gain knowledge of administrative procedures and rules on daily life before and after they enter the country. Local governments should be urged to consider providing face-to-face lessons regarding the characteristics of their regions, the report said. The program would cover a wide range of medium- to long-term residents, giving learning opportunities to their families and letting learners choose content that aligns with progress in their life stages. As the ruling Liberal Democratic Party seeks to start testing the program in fiscal 2028, the government plans to accelerate work to set more details, based on the report. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]