Notice of Revision to OFP Membership Fees

Thank you for always participating in JII's activities. We would like to explain the background and reasons that led to the review of the membership fees.

Background of Membership Fee Review

Growth of OFP

The "Otonari-san Family Friend Program (OFP)," which started in 2020, was the first initiative of its kind in Japanese society and began from scratch. Starting with initial uncertainties, the membership fee was set at a level equivalent to the price of one movie ticket, so that even if it failed, it wouldn't be a big concern—it was set with the intention of trying it out.

　Since then, through three years of trial and error and effort, OFP has been accepted by many people and has grown, with the number of applicants exceeding 1,000. To establish the best possible pairings for participants and ensure they can engage in activities with peace of mind, the secretariat and supporters have continuously improved the entire operational process, including explanations, hearings, pairing-up, and follow-up. Additionally, to ensure the security of information management, various measures such as the introduction and enhancement of a database system have been implemented.

Demonstration of Results and Necessity

The activities so far have welcomed foreign residents from more than 40 countries and regions, with approximately 700 people participating in total. A high satisfaction rate of 97% has been maintained among foreign resident participants. Not only have the everyday challenges faced by foreign participants been resolved, but many pairs have continued their relationships as good friends and good neighbors even after the activities ended. Centered in Tokyo, many Otonari-san and foreign residents have connected directly through OFP, building trust and friendship within the community, thereby demonstrating the necessity and usefulness of OFP.

Economic Issues

With the increase in participants, the program membership fee set at the time of establishment (1,500 yen per person per year upon pair formation) covered only about 4% of the operating costs. (*2022 fiscal year settlement) Last year, we began soliciting donations and supporting members, and thankfully received more donations than expected, which was a great encouragement to the secretariat. However, it is still difficult to fully support the operation of activities. Until now, we have been operating with funding from private grants, including The Toyota Foundation, Chuo Labour Bank, Kirin, and pal system Tokyo. However, grants have time limits, and after the grant period ends, it is assumed that independent projects will be established, so repeated grant approvals are not possible.

Rising Prices

Recent increases in prices are also impacting operational costs, further increasing the burden of organizational management. It is necessary to reassess the burden of maintaining and improving the resources and facilities required for activities and to implement appropriate pricing.

Reasons for Membership Fee Review

Sustainable Management

The board recognized that if the system enabling OFP activities is not sustainable, it will be difficult to achieve the principles of OFP and its social impact. As part of strengthening the organizational foundation, the board has concluded that reviewing membership fees is an unavoidable choice in reassessing the financial balance of our activities.

Supplementing Activity Costs

With the revision of membership fees, income from OFP membership fees is planned to support 15-20% of the overall activity costs. The remaining 80-85% will continue to be supplemented by grants, donations, and income from new projects. This diversification of business income will enable more stable operations.

Enhanced Support

Going forward, we plan to invest in improving operational processes and strengthening support systems to ensure higher quality and safety for more OFP participants.

New Activities

We began supporting refugees last year, and in response to the various challenges we've identified through our activities, we are planning to launch new initiatives and expand existing programs. While this will incur additional costs, we believe it will contribute to the further development of OFP.

Addressing Risks through Membership Fee Review

Introduction of the Fee Waiver System: To assist those for whom financial burdens are a barrier to participation, we will establish a fee waiver system to minimize the impact of membership fees on participation.

Examples of Application

• For refugees and their families: Waiver of membership and participation fees
• If you are facing economic hardships due to disabilities, illnesses, single-parent households, non-taxable households, or unstable employment: Membership fee waiver and half-price membership dues.
• Students with significant tuition burdens, such as those utilizing scholarships: Membership and enrollment fees are half price.
• Other reasonable accommodations may be necessary

Thank you very much for reading to the end. This concludes the explanation of the reasons and background for the membership fee review. We sincerely ask for your understanding and cooperation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the office at (info@j-ii.org). We appreciate your continued support of OFP.

October 2023

Otonari-san Family Friend Program (OFP) Management Team

*Reference: 2022 Activity Report Activity Report Activity Financial Statement (PL)