In January 2025, our Community Engagement Project class will visit Sakai City for four days of field work to further study its implementation of SDGs initiatives related to its international residents and issues related to education, employment, and disaster awareness. Our team is focusing on the experience of of some international residents and human rights in Sakai City and to prepare for the fieldwork we conducted online interviews with Lương Văn Cao, a 31-year-old construction worker from Vietnam who has been living in Japan since July 2018 and Tài Thế, another Vietnamese resident who has been in Japan for four years and currently works at a Japanese language school. They both shared their experiences living and working in Sakai City, including the challenges they face, the support available, and areas for improvement.

Challenges and Adaptation in Japan
When Lương Văn Cao first arrived in Japan, he struggled with adjusting to the new environment. In contrast, Tài Thế appeared to adapt more quickly. However, both of them faced difficulties early on, such as being reprimanded at their part-time jobs due to limited Japanese language skills. Over time, with the support of coworkers and supervisors, their language skills improved, and they were able to work on equal footing with Japanese colleagues.

When asked about discrimination, neither reported experiencing direct discrimination in their workplaces or daily lives. However, Lương Văn Cao shared, “I did meet a friend who had been discriminated against.” While such experiences seem relatively rare, they did acknowledge that discrimination does exist for some foreigners in Japan and that the situation varies from person to person.

Working Conditions and Satisfaction
In terms of working conditions, Tài Thế, who works at a Japanese language school, expressed general satisfaction. He described his workplace as stress-free with a positive and international atmosphere, allowing him to work comfortably every day.

On the other hand, Lương Văn Cao, who works in the construction industry, described the job as physically demanding, particularly in winter when he feels his strength is insufficient. He appreciated that his supervisor regularly checks on his well-being, demonstrating concern for his health. However, he suggested improvements, such as raising salaries and upgrading tools. Interestingly, he pointed out that the challenges he faces—like job difficulties—are similar to those of Japanese workers and not specifically to only foreign workers.

Sakai City’s Public Services and Support
Both interviewees acknowledged Sakai City's efforts to support its foreign residents. Although their awareness of specific programs was limited, one mentioned a cultural exchange event (Kōryūkai) held during New Year. At this event, attendees could experience traditional dishes and crafts from various countries. Similarly, at the Japanese language school where Tài Thế works, exchange students share and learn about each other’s cultures, fostering mutual understanding.

Regarding public services, both interviewees expressed satisfaction. One minor concern raised was the long waiting time for administrative procedures at the ward or city office. However, this seemed to be the same situation for Japanese residents and not particular to just foreign residents.

Daily Life Challenges and Suggestions for Improvement
When discussing challenges in daily life, both individuals reflected on their experiences as newcomers to Japan. One noted that, while he no longer faces many difficulties, the early days were tough. The other shared ongoing financial struggles, emphasizing the need to work hard to support himself. Both agreed that their lives had become easier as they learned to speak Japanese and became more self-reliant..

Finally, we asked for suggestions on how Sakai City could further improve life for its foreign residents. One interviewee suggested establishing a mentorship system where a senior resident could guide newcomers through essential procedures, such as address registration or navigating the train system. This would make the initial adjustment less intimidating. The city could organize introductions for new foreign residents helping to connect mentors and new residents.

We also discussed some other support ideas such as the city becoming more involved with creating more job opportunities for foreigners, offering stronger support systems, and improving living and working conditions overall.

Conclusion
This interview deepened our understanding of the realities surrounding the human rights of international residents in Sakai City and highlighted ways the city is supporting these residents as well as ways it can further enhance inclusivity for its growing international community. During our fieldwork in Sakai City, we look forward to learning more about how Sakai City is developing its SDGs platform and how these efforts affect the international community.

Students in the Department of Global Studies at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) are preparing for their upcoming community engagement field work to be held in Sakai City from January 30th – February 2nd, 2025. During the fieldwork, students will be learning about Sakai City’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) platform and how the city engages with different stakeholders to create a more sustainbable city. To prepare for their fieldwork, students have been grouped into topic groups to research and conduct interviews. This article discusses an interview conducted with Mr. Yamamoto, a disaster management official from Sakai City, and DGS students, focusing on disaster preparedness and its implications for international communities in Sakai City.

Mr. Yamamoto's career with Sakai City began with the fire fighting department, specializing in emergency medical services, and later he transferred to his current role in the Crisis Management Division of Sakai City. He explained the interconnected nature of disaster response in Japan, where municipalities collaborate and provide aid during large-scale events.

Sakai City’s primary disaster concerns stem from heavy rainfall, leading to flooding and landslides, posing a more frequent threat compared to earthquakes or tsunamis. The city employs both infrastructure-based solutions, such as levee construction and drainage system enhancements, and information-based strategies, including the publication of flood hazard maps.

Drawing on historical disasters, including the 1980s typhoon and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Mr. Yamamoto highlighted the importance of learning from past events and anticipating disasters that might surpass expectations. He emphasized the importance of preparedness at the individual level, urging everyone to take personal responsibility for their safety.

The interview also examined support systems for foreigners, particularly Brazilian and Filipino communities, in the event of a disaster. Sakai City's plan involves establishing multilingual support centers to provide and gather information and offer assistance in multiple languages. Existing initiatives include collaboration with the International Affairs Division and the local internationalization association to coordinate interpreter volunteers and provide support services. While acknowledging the challenges of raising disaster awareness, Mr. Yamamoto underscored the importance of accessibility and comprehensibility in communication, advocating for multilingual dissemination of information.

Addressing a potential Nankai Trough earthquake, a large-scale event impacting a significant portion of Japan, Mr. Yamamoto acknowledged the potential scale of devastation and emphasized the vital role of individual preparedness and community support in mitigating risks.

A significant discussion point involved translating hazard maps into languages beyond English and simplified Japanese.

Students asked Mr. Yamamoto about the possibility of DGS students collaborating with Sakai City in translating Japanese hazard maps for the city. He expressed willingness to provide data files of hazard maps for translation, recognizing the potential of such a project. He also highlighted the existing multilingual disaster preparedness handbook for foreign residents as an example of a collaborative initiative.

The interview concluded with Mr. Yamamoto's commitment to continuous improvement in disaster preparedness, emphasizing the ongoing need for collaboration and the valuable insights that diverse perspectives, such as those offered by the international student community, could bring.

During the fieldwork in Sakai City, DGS students will meet with Mr. Yamamoto again and also tour the Sakai City General Disaster Center to gain more understanding of disaster preparedness in Sakai City.

Students in the Department of Global Studies at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) are preparing for their upcoming community engagement field work to be held in Sakai City from January 30th – February 2nd, 2025. During the fieldwork, students will be learning about Sakai City’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) platform and how the city engages with different stakeholders to create a more sustainable city. To prepare for their fieldwork, students have been grouped into topic groups to research and conduct interviews.

In preparation our team recently had the privilege of interviewing Ms. Sakaue from the Sakai City Policy Planning Division regarding the city’s SDGs platform. This experience was especially meaningful, as one of our team members is from Osaka, and is extremely enthusiastic about learning and understanding how cities in Osaka can contribute to achieving the SDGs, consequently igniting our passion as well. In this interview, we got to learn more about Sakai City’s SDG plans and activities.

In our conversation, we learned that Sakai City was selected as an SDGs Future City in 2018. Following this designation, the city formulated the “SDGs Future City Plan” and has been working toward achieving the goals set for each target. One of the biggest challenges Sakai City faced was fostering a citywide awareness of and involvement in the SDGs. However, with the creation of the Sakai SDGs Promotion Platform, the city has successfully built strong public-private partnerships that drive local SDG initiatives.

Their efforts have paid off as Sakai City has achieved its goals in eight SDG areas, with progress in nine additional areas also on track. To ensure progress toward its targets, Sakai City reviews its progress annually and adjusts strategies as needed.

While the Policy Planning Department of Sakai City is working to build momentum for the Osaka-Kansai Expo, it is also involved in other SDGs projects, such as the Re-Uniform Project (which provides affordable school uniforms for single-parent households), the Jidai Project (creating upcycled products through inter-company collaboration), and the Hatarakomi corporate registration project team, which offers seminars and workshops for registered local businesses aimed at solving SDG-related challenges.

Sakai City’s proactive approach to the SDGs demonstrates how local initiatives can make a global impact. This interview has not only deepened our own understanding of the SDGs but has also inspired us to think about ways we can contribute to a sustainable future.