日本語
English
नेपाली
—Resolve everyday questions, understand Japanese lifestyle and culture, make more friends with Japanese peers, and befriend your Japanese neighbors.
The pace of life in Japan is fast, and the distance between people can be somewhat difficult to gauge.
After living here for a few years, I still have very few Japanese friends.
Having a child at home brings about parenting, kindergarten, daycare, school, tutoring, and hobbies, all in the Japanese way. For foreign families living here, it can feel like a series of questions everywhere.
Even parents who are good at Japanese need to continuously learn and gather information. For those parents who are not yet proficient in Japanese, it can be even more challenging.
Living abroad and integrating into the local community to build more social connections is an unavoidable topic for every expatriate family. Once you have children, this issue becomes increasingly hard to ignore.
"Otonari-san Family Friend Program(Japanese name: Otonari-san Family Friend Program)" was announced, and immediately many Japanese families signed up to volunteer, hoping to become friendly pairs with foreign families living nearby.
Every day, new Japanese families sign up or inquire about participating in activities. Faced with an overwhelming and enthusiastic response, the team was both surprised and delighted, as so many caring Japanese residents are willing to help foreign families with potential inconveniences in their daily lives, while also being eager to communicate directly with them. It warms the heart.
As good neighbor volunteers, Japanese neighbors form friendly pairs with foreign families living in nearby areas. During a six-month activity period, they regularly meet up, go out together, take the kids to play, chat, answer various questions from their foreign neighbors, participate in local events, introduce Japanese culture and lifestyle, and engage in free exchange activities to deepen understanding and build friendships.
The coordinator of the organizing group conducts detailed pre-event visits with both the good neighbor volunteers and participants to understand everyone's specific needs, and then organizes them accordingly. To ensure the interests of both parties, all registrations must be done under real names. If any issues arise, feel free to consult with the coordinator at any time.
At the same time, the organizing group provides essential knowledge and information for foreign residents, as well as expert consultations in various fields. They also regularly host a variety of activities aimed at foreign families.
Ms. Y, 40 years old, 4 children, company employee
—Interested in foreign cultures and hoping to communicate directly with foreign residents
FMs. 50 years old 2 children former Japanese teacher
—I also have experience living abroad, and I received help from foreign friends at that time. Now, I want to do my best to assist foreign residents.
T Teacher 40 years old 2 children, employee at a strategic consulting firm
—With extensive experience living abroad and a passion for foreign cultures, I aim to support foreign residents in Japan.
Ms. K, 30 years old, 1 child, housewife
—I am very happy that my daily life experiences can help others
UTeacher 50years old, Real Estate Manager
—Increase in foreign clients, seeking to better understand their needs to provide improved services
Ms. T, 30 years old, 1 child, Designer
—My child is still young, and I want them to play with foreign children and experience different cultures from an early age.
In addition, there are many volunteers from various backgrounds in life and work waiting for your participation!
- Try to chat in Japanese as much as possible to improve your conversational skills.
- Address various questions in daily life, reducing the trivial worries and anxieties of everyday living.
- Join local events together or share various community information to immerse yourself in the area.
-Answer questions about Japanese daily life and culture to better integrate into society.
-Traveling with children, having fun, and expanding their social circle.
-Listen to you like a friend, and you may find a kindred spirit from another country.
Please visit the group webpage
www.j-ii.org
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who can participate?
A1: Foreigners living in Japan. Primarily targeting those who have been in Japan for 5 years or less, with a preference for families with children.
Q2: What is the participation fee?
A2: per person 1500 yen/year. Can be 2 installments. Please discuss with the coordinator in case of special circumstances.
Q3: What should I do if I'm not satisfied with the combination?
Q3: If you feel that the pairing is not suitable after the grouping, you can request a reassignment from the coordinator at any time. The coordinator will make appropriate adjustments after understanding the specific circumstances and reasons.
Q4: Where is the organizing body located?
Q4: The organizing body is the Japan Intercultural Intelligence, a specified non-profit organization headquartered in Tokyo. Its main activities include providing various professional consultations related to living and working for foreign residents in Japan, as well as conducting various exchange activities to help foreign residents better integrate into society. In 2019, it launched the "Otonari-san Family Friend Program" in Japan for the first time. It has also participated in foreign resident support projects commissioned by the Tokyo government. Its activities have been recognized by Japanese society, receiving the 11th "Youth Power Award" as the only group award.
What are you waiting for? Sign up now!