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Otonari-san Corporate Program (OCP)
Providing a secured and supportive living environment for international employees strengthens a company`s long term future
~JII supports corporate growth by fostering coexistence through connection between international employees and local communities~
Corporate sustainability is where employees can live with peace of mind being supported by local communities.
The number of companies hiring international employees to secure talent is increasing year by year. However, many international employees face various challenges that are difficult to raise at work- such as differences in daily customs and culture, as well as caring for accompanying family members.
When international employees feel "I'm glad I joined this company," it leads to stronger performance, greater contributions to the company, lower turnover, and enhanced corporate value. In other words,initiative efforts toward cultural synergy are an investment for companies not only for today but for the future as well.
JII provides a suructured platform that connects international employees with local residents through its community-based "Otonari-san" activities. While offering day to day support to international employees, JII also creats opportunities for Japanese employees to engage with social issues. By fostering mutual understanding and growth we contribute to creating an environment where every employees can maximize their potential, regardless of nationality.
Recommended For
Human Resources & Recruitment
- Considering Hiring and Onboarding International Employees
- Unlock the potential of your international employees and empower them to thrive as valuable members of your team.
- Who want to reduce the turnover rate of hired international employees and ensure their retention
Talent Development & Management
- Who want to create a workplace where diverse talents can thrive
- Managers struggling with managing International employees
- Who want to increase interaction between Japanese and international employees
CSR & Internal Engagement Manager
- Who want to create opportunities for employees to easily participate in social contribution and cross-cultural experiences.
- Looking for a system that balances solving social issues with employee growth
A Symbiotic Ecosystem where Businesses and Communities grow together
Reducing cultural gaps and loneliness among international employees, fostering employee growth, and revitalizing local communities—all achieved simultaneously with "Otonari-san Corporate Program (OCP)".
JII has long been engaged in supporting foreign residents and addressing social issues through "Otonari-san・Family Friend・Based on the Family Friend Program (OFP), this is a cultural synergy support program in which the company and local community work together to simultaneously ensure the peace of mind of international employees and the growth of Japanese employees.
Providing a "symbiotic system" where companies, communities, and individuals connect by leveraging their unique strengthsIn addition to providing support for international employees and their families in daily life, culture, and language, we also offer Japanese employees opportunities for personal growth through cross-border experiences and social contribution.Will do.
Related Pages
What is the Otonari-san Family Friend Program (OFP)?
What is "Spot Otonari-san"
Three Supports Realized through the “Otonari-san Activities”
① Supporting the “Peace of Mind“of International employees
Supporting their life in Japan and connecting them to success
- Local Japanese volunteers (Otonari-san) provide life consultations and community information
- Providing support for healthcare, education, welfare, and other essential lifeline services
- Providing trusted contacts and connections for support outside the workplace
- Creating an environment where international employees are connected and integrated into the local community
- Support for Deepening Understanding of Japanese Language and Cultural Practices
- Building Neighborly Bonds and Friendships for the Whole Family
② Fostering Japanese Employees'"Growth"
Giving Japanese employees opprtunities for "cross-boundary experiences." as well as learning moments by engaging with social issues.
- Japanese employees can participate as volunteers
- Engage with foreign residents both inside and outside the company to broaden perspectives, deepen mutual understanding, and enhance awareness of social issues
- Fostering Intercultural Understanding, Language Skills, and Communication Abilities
- Fostering new connections beyond positions and departments
③ Corporate`s “Social Value” is enhanced
Integrating CSR and HR strategies to create corporate value together with the community.
- By collaborating with NPOs, social contribution can be implemented as a structured system
- Start easily without incurring internal operating costs
- Contributing to corporate SDGs and diversity initiatives by directly engaging in solving social issues
- Reduce turnover rates and cut recruitment and training costs
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JII's Strengths
- Over 1,500 participants including volunteers and foreign attendees
Four years of extensive know-how and a trusted network cultivated in the field of Cultural synergy. - A Management System That Ensures Safety and Security
We establish clear activity rules and registration requirements to create a system where all participants can engage with confidence. - Careful Pairing-up and Continuous Follow-up
Pairing-up and ongoing support tailored to each individual's characteristics, hobbies, preferences, hopes, challenges, and language skills, achieving high satisfaction and building continuous trust. - Comprehensive Support in Collaboration with Specialized Agencies
A collaborative system that enables smooth handling of issues requiring specialized knowledge, such as legal matters, medical care, education, and residency status. - Flexible Program Design Tailored to Your Business Challenges
Customizable according to objectives such as recruitment, talent development, organizational development, retention, and CSR. Provides support rooted in on-site needs. Also able to collaborate in planning multicultural synergy events that deepen mutual understanding.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Support services for international employees are diverse and tailored to meet the needs of international employees and their families.
Broadly speaking, there are two types of activities: "long-term activities," which involve six months of exchange and support in daily life, and "one-time activities," which provide support tailored to specific, single needs.
All activities can be conducted either in-person or online, allowing for flexible participation based on your schedule and interests.
Examples of One-Time Activities
・Support with Administrative Procedures
- Accompanying children to health checkups and parenting consultations
- Accompaniment support to hospitals (not medical interpretation of the consultation content, but mainly assistance with procedures to ensure a smooth visit)
- Support for Enrollment and Admission Procedures
Examples of Long-Term Activities
- Japanese Practice and Conversation
・Sharing the rules and manners of Japanese society
- Exchange of information regarding children's education and school life
・Participation in Local and Internal Company Events
A: There are two types of employees involved: "International employees who need support (including their families)" and "Employees who volunteer (mainly Japanese employees)."
International Employees Receiving Support：
This is intended for those who have been in Japan for less than about 10 years, wish to become familiar with Japanese society, want to establish a long-term living foundation, and are raising children in Japan.
Employees Participating as Volunteers：
Participation is open to both Japanese and foreigners. International employeeswho wish to volunteer must have at least 10 years of living experience in Japan.
A: No special skills are required. Your experience living in Japan is the greatest skill you can have.
However, if you are a foreign national volunteering, you must be able to communicate fluently in Japanese and have lived in Japan for more than 10 years.
A: For Otonari-san pairs (long-term activities), about 2 hours per week is sufficient. In many cases, you will actually meet in person about 1 to 3 times per month.
Since you start activities after attending an orientation provided by JII in advance, even first-timers can participate with confidence.
For one-time volunteer activities, it is common to participate for up to 3 hours per session.
A: You can freely choose either an "internal pair" with fellow employees or an "external pair" with employees from other companies or local community members.
Internal pairs connect employees from different teams who don’t usually interact in their work, fostering cross-team interaction, while external pairs help expand connections in personal life and the local community.
A: All participants undergo identity verification, an orientation session, and individual interviews. Based on their characteristics, hobbies, preferences, hopes and challenges, and language skills, experienced JII coordinators propose suitable candidates.
During the activities, JII coordinators provide regular follow-ups and respond promptly to any concerns or issues.
A: We maintain a high pairing-up success rate through careful interviews, but if it becomes difficult to continue activities due to personal or work-related reasons, pairs can be changed midway.
In such cases, pairing-up will be conducted again to aim for a smooth restart.
A: Employees can join at their preferred timing and freely choose between long-term or one-time activities.
In long-term activities, JII provides regular follow-ups to connect experiences with growth and insights.
A: It usually takes about 1 to 2 months from the consultation to implementation.
We also offer employee briefing sessions before implementation, so even companies using our service for the first time can adopt it with confidence.
A: If you participate as a corporate member, the fees will be billed collectively to the company.
JII does not charge individuals any additional participation or membership fees.
We flexibly adjust our support and costs according to your company's challenges, number of participants, and budget.
A: Through participant surveys and follow-ups, we regularly track and visualize the satisfaction levels of foreign employees as well as changes in the mindset of employees participating as volunteers. We provide reports to companies, hold sessions to share challenges, and create opportunities for networking and information exchange among representatives from different companies.
Lectures and Training (Workshops)
We conduct lectures and training on the themes of supporting foreigners and Cultural synergy.
Example
・Guidelines for Volunteers Supporting Foreign Residents
・What We Learned from Supporting Foreigners
・Common Pitfalls for Supporters
・Current Situation and Needs of Foreign Residents in Japan
・Considerations for Hiring Foreign Employees
・Important Perspectives for Retaining Foreign Employees
etc.
This can also be customized according to the number of participants and their needs. Please contact us for more details.