In the late 1980’s an increased number of Asian women came to Japan to look for a job. Some of them got married to a Japanese man and later got divorced. They started to settle in Japan and some decided to stay permanently. They are now our “neighbors” who live in the same areas with us.

 Some of the women, however, can’t read or write Japanese, even though they can speak Japanese very fluently. They don’t know how to write a resume and many can’t get good stable jobs. They don’t have a chance to show their talents, and the only choice they have is to live unstable lives. Their future is problematic.

 They face difficulties not only in language and culture but also societal prejudice against “women,” divorce due to domestic violence, and raising children in the unfamiliar country. To overcome these difficulties, they need to be empowered. And at the same time, we need to create a society more understandable of multicultural reality and a more inclusive system for migrant workers.

 However, we still have problems of prejudice and hate speeches against foreigners. We need to eliminate the prejudice against multicultural people. We need to welcome them as citizens. We need to create an environment for them and their families to live as members of the same society. This is a responsibility for each of us, and for governments, companies and NGOs. This can’t be accomplished without the power of migrants.

 WORKMATE sets its goal to create a society in which both Japanese and foreigners can live happily together. We provide services for Japanese and foreigners to work together as partners, understand each other, and to create a safe and peaceful society.

 We wish the seed of multiculturalism will take root and grow strong.

                                                  June 2nd, 2014

代表/President・・・・・・・・もりきかずみ/Kazumi Moriki

副代表/Vice President・・・・・戎カリナ/Carina Ebisu

事務局/Secretariat・・・・・・村西優季/Yuki Muranishi