I just can't ... The reality of Japanese society as seen by Ukrainian refugees | NHK

I just can't ... The reality of Japanese society as seen by Ukrainian refugees July 25, 20:27

"There is no more support. It's my problem ..."

Five months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The number of evacuees who entered Japan exceeded 1,500.

Some voices thank you for your generous support.

However, some people live with frustration.

A man who evacuated in April told me a story.

Table of contents

・ What is the experience of evacuated men?

・ Introduction of Japanese language teaching materials for refugees

・ Learning support for children

・ List of local government consultation counters in each region

There is also evacuation support

"It was a small town with a coast, cafes and restaurants, good food and beautiful scenery. Missiles started to fall every day in such a peaceful town."

Anton Mikalkov (29), who is evacuating to Osaka, told me that.

Anton is from Mykolaiv, about 100 kilometers east of Odessa, the largest port city in southern Ukraine, and although it wasn't usually in a conflict with Russia, things got worse after the Russian invasion.

On March 29, the Mykolaiv State Capitol was attacked by rockets, killing 14 people (as of the end of March).

Anton, who has a chronic illness, was allowed to evacuate abroad and fled to Japan with her mother in April because her sister had lived in Japan for over 15 years.

In Japan, which has been evacuated, a group of Japanese language schools accepted me, and everything went smoothly from finding a house to preparing basic daily necessities.

However, it was the language barrier that stood in the way.

Anton has no experience learning Japanese and cannot read, write or speak.

While taking classes at a Japanese language school on a daily basis, I am gradually learning daily conversations such as greetings and shopping, but it is said that Japanese is still difficult.

He answered the interview in English.

Mr. Anton

Japanese is difficult because it is not similar to English-speaking languages.

Since the way of writing sentences is completely different from Ukrainian, you have to assemble the sentences in your head before speaking.

Besides, there are many Chinese characters in Japanese, so it is difficult to write.

The neck is still ...

It's been 3 months since I started living in Japan.

What was even more deadlocked was "finding a job."

Originally in Ukraine, Anton learned digital marketing skills and started an advertising agency as a venture.

He usually communicates in English and accepts requests from European companies.

He repeated interviews with IT-related companies in order to utilize his skills in Japan.

"Can you speak Japanese?" What

was required at the interview was Japanese ability.

After a few months of learning Japanese, I haven't been able to reach the business level, and so far I haven't been able to accept requests from Japanese companies.

I gave up the skills I had cultivated and once considered recruiting an English conversation teacher, but I had to decline because I had to work in Tokyo, which is far from my sister's Osaka.

As the war prolongs, it is unclear whether he will continue to study Japanese and continue to live in Japan, or whether he will use English to move to another European country.

Mr. Anton

You may find a job if you study Japanese, but it will take some time for several years.

You have the option of moving to Europe far away, but that depends on the future situation ...

The support side is also frustrated

Anton's evacuation life is supported by the "Ukrainian Student Support Association," which is formed by a group of Japanese language schools that mainly accept international students.

The association has accepted 32 young people nationwide so far, and is aiming to accept 100 young people by the end of this year, but it is said that acceptance is a little behind schedule due to the effects of soaring airline tickets. ..

It is said that the Japanese language school actively supports people looking for a job so that people who evacuate later can easily continue.

Hiroshi Fukuhara, Deputy Principal of Seifu Johokoka Gakuin

It takes two to three years to acquire a level of Japanese that can be used at work.

I also go to work interviews together, but the current situation is that it is difficult for companies to meet their needs if they don't understand Japanese ...

On top of that, he talked about how to support evacuees as follows.

Overall, there is plenty of support, but the level of support tends to vary depending on where you live.

Also, in the unstable war situation, students seem to flash back their hard experiences in the field by watching the news when they are alone, so it is necessary to consider mental care in the long run.

Providing teaching materials that meet your needs

The first language barrier you face in your life in Japan.

To support Japanese language education for foreigners, the Agency for Cultural Affairs added Ukrainian and Russian to the website "Connecting Hirogaru Nihongo no Seikatsu" on June 30th, where you can learn Japanese for free. did.

This is because there were many requests from local governments that accepted evacuees.

In addition, the Agency for Cultural Affairs plays the role of coordinator when a person who has evacuated from Ukraine asks "I want to learn Japanese".

A Japanese language class held by the local government according to the needs of the counselor and the goal of "what level to aim for" such as "I want to learn face-to-face", "I want to study every day", "I want to study on Saturdays and Sundays because I work on weekdays" We will guide you and recommend online courses in areas where there are no classrooms.

A person in charge of the Agency for Cultural Affairs said, "Since the evacuees have come to Japan from the beginning, the foundation of their lives has been improved, and the number of inquiries about" how to learn Japanese "is increasing. I want to make a suggestion. "

Connecting Hirogaru Living in Japanese Ukrainian version (leaving the NHK site)

In addition, NHK World also produces a Japanese learning site explained in Ukrainian.

Easy Japanese Ukrainian version (NHK World)

Supporting children's learning

There are also moves to support children who have been deprived of educational opportunities in their homeland.

There is a group that has begun to make videos explaining calculation methods, formulas, etc. in Ukrainian so that children can learn subjects such as math and mathematics without stumbling on the language barrier.

At the "Kyoto University of Education Thinking about Education for Foreign Children", in order to support the learning of children whose mother tongue is not Japanese, "math" and "mathematics" in five languages ​​such as Portuguese and Japanese I have made a learning video of.

After the military invasion by Russia, we raised funds for the production so that children who had evacuated from Ukraine could learn in their mother tongue, and started to release the Ukrainian version of the video little by little from April.

The translation into Ukrainian is done with the help of international students and Ukrainians who still live in Ukraine.

Remittances also provide financial support to those in difficult situations.

Professor Yasushi Kuroda, Kyoto University of Education If

you can't speak Japanese, you will naturally be delayed in learning.

In order to avoid this, we must provide teaching materials that allow students to study in their native language.

It's hard to get to math and mathematics by learning a new language.

According to Professor Kuroda, for example, Japanese textbooks use brush calculation for addition and subtraction, but Ukrainian textbooks have a calculation style that keeps writing sideways.

In the video, you can also learn how to do long division in Ukrainian.

Even from the teachers of the school using the video by

Professor Kuroda , it was difficult for a third grade elementary school child from Ukraine to understand math in a normal class, but using this video, a little hand in class

I've heard that you can now list them.

Children will shape the future when we think about 10 to 20 years from now, so I think that the country will not rebuild unless we firmly guarantee the academic ability of those children.

In that sense, I would like to firmly support you so that learning will not stop.

This time, I hurriedly launched the production of the Ukrainian version and managed to get on track.

Therefore, I think there is a possibility that we will be able to provide learning support for children in Myanmar and Afghanistan in a short period of time.

I think that the future of children will be determined by education.

We really want to think about it as the next stage.

Ukrainian version of math and mathematics video content HP (leaving the NHK site)

There are windows in each area to support the acceptance of evacuees and troubles.

This April, we released a list of contact points for major local governments nationwide, and this time we will post the updated list again.

I think that there are people who are worried about new evacuation plans, and people who have unexpected troubles in an environment with a different culture and language.

If you notice it, I hope that people around you will call out to you.

List of main consultation counters in each region

Hokkaido

"Hokkaido Foreigner Counseling Center"

Phone: 011-200-9595

Hours: Weekdays 9:00 to 17:00 (excluding 12:00 to 13:00)

* Ukrainian and Russian support

E-mail: support@hiecc.or.jp

Hokkaido Foreigner Counseling Center (Leaves NHK site)

Ibaraki Prefecture

"Ibaraki International Association Foreigner Counseling Center"

Phone: 029-244-3811

Hours: Weekdays 8 : 30-17: 00

* Ukrainian and Russian are translated by translator

Ibaraki (leave the NHK site)

Tochigi Prefecture

"Tochigi Foreigner Counseling Support Center"

Phone: 028-627-3399

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday 9:00 to 16:00

* Ukrainian and Russian are supported by a translator

Tochigi prefecture (leaving the NHK site)

Gunma Prefecture

"Gunma Foreigner Comprehensive Consultation One-Stop Center"

Phone: 027-289-8275

Hours: Weekdays 9:00 to 17:00

* Ukrainian and Russian are supported by a translator

Gunma Foreigner Comprehensive Consultation One-Stop Center (Leaves NHK site)

Saitama

"Foreigner General Counseling Center Saitama"

Phone: 048-833-3296

Hours: Weekdays 9:00 to 16:00

* Ukrainian (reservation required), Russian available

Saitama Prefecture (leaving the NHK site)

Chiba prefecture

"Chiba International Exchange Center"

Phone: 043-297-2966

Hours: Weekdays 9:00 to 16:00 (excluding 12:00 to 13:00)

* Ukrainian (reservation required), Russian available

Chiba International Exchange Center (Leaves NHK site)

Tokyo

"Tokyo Connection Creation Foundation"

Phone: 03-6258-1227

Hours: Weekdays 10 : 00-16: 00

* Ukrainian (reservation required), Russian available

Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for Connection Creation (leaving the NHK site)

Kanagawa Prefecture

"Multilingual Support Center Kanagawa"

Phone: 045-316-2771

Hours: Weekdays 9:00 to 17:15 (excluding 12:00 to 13:00)

* Ukrainian will be available as soon as it is ready.

Multilingual Support Center Kanagawa (Leaves NHK site)

Fukui prefecture

"Fukui Prefecture International Economics Division"

Phone: 0776-20-0752

E-mail: kokusai@pref.fukui.lg.jp

Fukui Prefecture International Economics Division (Leaves NHK site)

Nagano Prefecture

"Nagano Prefectural Multicultural Counseling Center"

Phone: 026-219-3068

Hours: Weekdays, 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 10am to 6pm (excluding 1st and 3rd Wednesdays)

* Ukrainian language available with telephone interpreter and translator (Reservation required)

Nagano Multicultural Coexistence Counseling Center (Leaves NHK site)

Gifu Prefecture

"Gifu Prefecture Foreign Residents Counseling Center"

Phone: 058-263-8066

Hours: Weekdays 9 : 30-16: 30

* Ukrainian (reservation required) Russian

Gifu Prefecture Resident Foreigner Counseling Center (Leaves NHK site)

Shizuoka Prefecture

"Shizuoka Multicultural Coexistence Division"

Phone: 054-221-2178

Hours: Weekdays 9:00 to 17:00 Speaking

words: Japanese

E-mail: tabunka@pref.shizuoka.lg.jp

Shizuoka Prefecture Multicultural Coexistence Division (Leaves NHK site)

Aichi prefecture

"Aichi Multicultural Center"

Phone: 052-961-7902

Hours: Monday-Saturday 10: 00-18: 00 (Closed from 12/29 to 1/3 during the year-end and New Year holidays)

* Ukrainian and Russian with a translator for visits Correspondence

あいち多文化共生センター（NHKサイトを離れます）

大阪府

「大阪府国際交流財団（OFIX）」
電話:06-6941-2297
時間:月曜日、金曜日9時～20時、火曜日、水曜日、木曜日9時～17時半、第2第4日曜日13時～17時
※ウクライナ語、ロシア語対応

大阪府国際交流財団（NHKサイトを離れます）

兵庫県

「ひょうご多文化共生総合相談センター」
電話:078-382-2052
時間:平日9時～17時
※ウクライナ語、ロシア語対応

兵庫県（NHKサイトを離れます）

徳島県

「とくしま国際戦略センター」
電話:088-656-3312・088-656-3313
時間:10時～18時（12/9～1/3は休み）
※ウクライナ語（予約制）、ロシア語対応
E-mail:topia＠topia.ne.jp

徳島県「ウクライナ避難民支援ポータルサイト」（NHKサイトを離れます）

愛媛県

「愛媛県外国人相談ワンストップセンター」
電話:080-4783-5253
時間:月曜日～土曜日9時～17時
※ウクライナ語（※ウクライナ語通訳は常駐せず、県内在住者の協力で対応）、ロシア語対応
E-mail:sodan＠epic.or.jp

愛媛県（NHKサイトを離れます）

大分県

「国際政策課」
電話:097-506-2046
時間:平日9～17時

佐賀県

「さが多文化共生センター」
電話:0952-22-7830
時間:平日9時～16時（12時～13時を除く）
※ウクライナ語（予約制）、ロシア語対応
E-mail:info＠spira.or.jp

佐賀県（NHKサイトを離れます）

長崎県

「長崎県国際交流協会」
電話:095-820-3377
時間:月曜日～土曜日9時～17時
※ウクライナ語（予約制）、ロシア語対応

熊本県

「熊本県外国人サポートセンター」
電話:080-4275-4489
時間:平日8時半～17時15分
※ウクライナ語（予約制）、ロシア語対応

鹿児島県

「県観光・文化スポーツ部国際交流課」
電話:099-286-2303
時間:開庁日の8時半～17時15分

政令指定都市

さいたま市
「さいたま観光国際協会国際交流センター」
電話:048-887-1506
時間:月曜日から土曜日9時～16時（祝日は休み）
※事前予約でウクライナ語・ロシア語対応可
E-mail:iec＠stib.jp

千葉市
「千葉市国際交流協会」
電話:043-245-5750
時間:平日9時～20時、土曜日:9時～17時
※ウクライナ語、ロシア語は自動翻訳等で対応（窓口）

横浜市
「横浜市多文化共生総合相談センター」
電話:045-222-1209
時間:平日10時～17時・第2第4土曜日10時～13時
※ウクライナ語、ロシア語は調整中
E-mail:t-info＠yoke.or.jp

川崎市
「川崎市多文化共生総合相談ワンストップセンター」
電話:044-455-8811
時間:月曜日～土曜日9時～17時
※ウクライナ語は翻訳機での対応（窓口）、ロシア語は翻訳機・三者通訳サービスで対応（窓口及び電話）
E-mail:soudan39＠kian.or.jp

相模原市
「相模原市国際課」
電話:042-707-1569
時間:平日8時半～17時15分
※ウクライナ語、ロシア語は翻訳機で対応

静岡市
「静岡市多文化共生総合相談センター」
電話:054-273-5931、054-354-2009
時間:平日8時半～17時15分
※ウクライナ語（予約制）対応

浜松市
「浜松市多文化共生センター」
電話:053-458-2170
時間:9時～17時半（原則として）
E-mail:info＠hi-hice.jp

名古屋市
「名古屋国際センター情報サービスコーナー」
電話:052-581-0100
時間:火曜日～日曜日9時～19時（12時～13時除く）

京都市
「ウクライナ・キエフ京都市民ぐるみ受入支援ネットワーク」
電話:075-752-3511
時間:火曜日から日曜日9時～21時
※ウクライナ語が対応可の場合も

大阪市
「大阪国際交流センター」
電話:06-6773-6533
時間:平日9時～19時土曜日・日曜日・祝日9時～17時30分

堺市
「多文化交流プラザ・さかい」
電話:072-228-7499
時間:平日午前9時～17時30分
※ウクライナ語は翻訳機で対応

神戸市
「神戸国際コミュニティセンター」
電話:078-742-8705

Hours: Weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00 (excluding 12 to 13:00, telephone is available from 9:00)

Kitakyushu City

"Kitakyushu International Association"

Phone: 080-6445-2606

Hours: Weekdays from 9:30 to 16:00 (holidays, holidays) (Excluding year-end and New Year holidays)

* Ukrainian language is available by advance reservation

E-mail: helpdesk@kitaq-koryu.jp

* In addition to the listed local governments, some local governments are currently preparing to set up a window.