Blog

To celebrate the 3rd anniversary of the Otonari-san Family Friend Program (OFP), we will hold a members-only networking event. Would you like to spend an enjoyable time connecting with others? At the event, not only will there be interaction between Otonari-san volunteers and foreign participants, but also […]

From April 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023, we have been conducting activities with the support of the Central Community Chest of Japan (CCCJ) through the Support Grant for Activities Assisting People with Foreign Roots (3rd round). Here, we present our activity report. OFP is an organization where foreign residents in Japan [...]

What sparked your interest in the Otonari-san program? I found this program through an internet search, and since JII's website said it "supports foreigners living in Japan," I decided to apply. I work at a Korean company […]

How did you come to know about the Otonari-san program? Two years ago, a friend of mine participated in this program. When I told her that I was struggling to understand various things in Japan, she told me about this program. The story […]

What made you decide to join the Otonari-san program? I learned about this program from a foreign friend. Before joining, I had few Japanese friends and was very shy even when I had opportunities to communicate with Japanese people […]

In February 2023, a board member gave a presentation at the four-part series "Foreign Supporter Training Course" hosted by the Tokyo Fuchu City Cultural Synergy Center DIVE. This training was held in the large hall of a beautiful local community center. Currently, Fuchu City has about 5,700 people […]

Q: What made you decide to participate in Otonari-san? A: I wanted to make use of my English skills. Since I had worked overseas, I was able to converse in English, but after returning to Japan, I didn’t really have many opportunities to use those skills. It felt like a waste to not take advantage of them […]

Q: What made you decide to participate in Otonari-san? Fujii-san: I wanted to meet foreigners and hoped my children would develop an international perspective. I learned about this program through a recruitment notice for foreign families who came to Japan, posted at the ward's child-rearing plaza. In Japan, […]

Q: What made you decide to participate in Otonari-san? M.Y.: Because I was treated kindly by local people during my life abroad, I want to help foreigners as well. When I was living overseas due to my husband's job transfer, I wanted to learn more about the country's culture and customs, and to feel at ease […]

With the increase in participants in the Otonari-san Family Friend Program, we are now recruiting individuals who can be involved in overall operations and administrative tasks. If you sympathize with OFP, are interested in supporting foreign residents, interested in working for an NPO, or have language skills, [...]

Due to Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, as of April 1, more than 4 million Ukrainians have been forced to flee abroad. Although the number of refugees to Japan cannot be said to be large compared to neighboring countries, there are certainly not a few refugees who seek refuge in Japan relying on friends and family […]

The global COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed our daily lives. School and daycare closures, stay-at-home orders, remote work, and reduced income have all had an unprecedented impact on our family life. In this situation, being confined at home [...]