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1. Create a friendly community of harmonious cultural diversity for non-Japanese Guidelines for Creating a Multicultural Yokohama Community |
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In recent years, the city of Yokohama has accepted an increasing number of non-Japanese residents and visitors. The Guidelines for Creating a Multicultural Yokohama Community have been prepared to enable Yokohama to develop into an attractive cosmopolitan city where foreigners from many countries and regions can live together in harmony with the local Japanese. The guidelines are also designed to help non-Japanese people live and to make it easier for them to get involved in activities. The guidelines were drafted from the perspective of non-Japanese people, including sightseers, who are staying in Yokohama for only a short time.
Since 2003, Yokohama has run a specific committee consisting of Japanese and non-Japanese experts to discuss the coexistence. The committee’s report led to the establishment of the guidelines. ◇A cosmopolitan city where 1 out of 50 residents are non-Japanese Today, nearly 70,000 non-Japanese live in Yokohama. The figure is increasing year after year. Approximately one fiftieth of all citizens are non-Japanese. The increase in Asian residents is most noticeable. Partly because of the trend toward multiculturalism, Yokohama now accommodates people from nearly 150 countries and regions. From an economic perspective, Yokohama is one of the important footholds for international businesses and has long been attracting foreign companies. As a result, 188 companies from 21 countries and regions are currently based in Yokohama. In addition, nearly 500,000 foreigners are estimated to visit Yokohama for business or sightseeing each year. Yokohama provides non-Japanese residents and visitors with many services, such as five community lounge areas for international exchange, multilingual information and multilingual services at the call centers. The recent guidelines define Yokohama’s philosophy of a cosmopolitan city and encourage residents, private entrepreneurs, public utility corporations and administrative organs to help each other as they strive to achieve the same goal. -Outline of the Guidelines for Creating a Multicultural Yokohama Community- The objective of the guidelines is to make Yokohama attractive to non-Japanese residents and visitors in view of the requirements of foreign company employees, researchers and students staying in Yokohama for a number of years, in addition to temporary foreign residents and visitors, including businesspeople and sightseers. A City that Welcomes Non-Japanese Yokohama wishes to create an environment where the non-Japanese residents of Yokohama can live without obstacles or problems. 1. Communication support For greater convenience and to eliminate the concerns of non-Japanese residents, Yokohama provides information that foreigners require in their everyday life, translated into multiple languages. This communication support incorporates multilingual call centers, counselors’ offices and education in the Japanese language. 2. Support for Everyday Living Yokohama helps foreign residents find a job and a place to live. Yokohama offers an improved educational system for foreigners. According to need, improvements have been made in relation to the availability of medical care, health, welfare and disaster prevention. Public notices and displays have also been improved with respect to legibility. 3. Multicultural coexistence Yokohama facilitates exchanges, mutual understanding and cooperation between and within communities through the hosting of exchange events and the fostering of local communities. Yokohama also helps foreign residents become familiar with the Japanese language and customs, achieve independence and deepen their involvements in society. A Place that Foreigners Want to Visit An environment for the non-Japanese visitors and residents of Yokohama to live comfortably and involve themselves in their activities 1. Train future leaders to create a cosmopolitan city Yokohama offers improved English education, an international language in widespread use, and assigns bilingual volunteers. Apart from English, Yokohama supports multilingual education. Residents are provided with opportunities to cultivate multicultural attitudes and perspectives. 2. An environment that supports foreigners’ activities Yokohama is eager to host international academic conferences and conventions and help foreign companies create a business foothold in Japan. Yokohama also encourages the development of a cosmopolitan city by increasing accessibility to airports and striving to preserve the city’s beauty and the natural environment. 3. Creating attractions for foreigners With the aim of attracting visitors from overseas, Yokohama is making an effort to improve the image of Yokohama, encourage people to understanding the local history, create a unique culture for Yokohama, provide tourist attractions, host events and work on other initiatives to making the port more attractive. For more information ： http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/keiei/kokusai/foreigner/machi.html (Japanese only) |
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Inquiries: Office of International Policy, Urban Management & Planning Bureau TEL: 045(671)2078 |
| 2. The Schedule for Yokohama Triennale 2008 determined |
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Details of the third Yokohama Triennale, scheduled for 2008, have been decided. The details are as follows. The first Yokohama Triennale was held in 2001, and it has become a major international exhibition of modern art. About 80 artists are selected from around the world. Exhibits include a variety of images, installations, photos, paintings, sculptures and other works representing the world’s most sophisticated forms of modern art. In addition, a number of site-specific works featuring the attractions and characteristics of the host city will be shown. -YOKOHAMA 2008: International Triennale of Contemporary Art- 【Theme】 “Time Crevasse” 【Duration】 Saturday, September 13th ? Sunday, November 30th, 2008 (open throughout the period) 【Venue】 Central and waterfront sites in Yokohama 【Artistic Director】 Tsutomu Mizusawa, Chief Curator of the Museum of Modern Art, Kamakura & Hayama 【Organizers】 The Japan Foundation, City of Yokohama, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), Asahi Shimbun, The Organizing Committee for the Yokohama Triennale 【Web Site】 http://www.yokohamatriennale.jp/2008/index_e.html (English) |
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Inquiries: Creative City Promotion Division TEL: 045(671)4309 |
| [Yokohama Footnotes] Vol.7 "A Forest Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Opening of the Port(part 2)" |
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The previous edition of Yokohama footnotes vol.7 mentioned the commitment of Yokohama to creating a forest to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the port. Yokohama will plant 1.5 million trees by 2009. Nearly 326,000 trees were planted in 2006. The goal for 2007 is to plant 400,000 trees.
On April 13, Yokohama became the first Japanese municipality to be registered in the Billion Tree Campaign, having planted nearly 52,000 trees. The Campaign was launched by Wangari Maathai, former Assistant Minister for the Environment and Natural Resources in Kenya, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). * “Campaign to Plant a Billion Trees” Individuals and organizations, such as citizens’ groups, business and industry, national governments, local communities and U.N. organizations are encouraged to announce on the UNEP website their intention to participate in the tree-planting program. The objective of the program is to plant at least one billion trees worldwide during 2007 with the aim of enlightening the world about the importance of forests in global ecosystems, climate change, biological diversity, conservation of the air and soil, food safety and other priorities. 【for reference】 UNEP “Billion Tree Campaign” http://www.unep.org/billiontreecampaign/ |
| What's On Events and Info: Seaside events |
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The face of Yokohama as a port town becomes most conspicuous during summer. Many events relating to the sea and the port are held in this season. Why not join in with your family and friends? ◆Port-Opening Festival 〜One of the biggest events in Yokohama commemorates the 150th anniversary of the opening Yokohama Port.〜 The year 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Yokohama. Many residents living in Yokohama look forward to the Port-Opening Festival, a symbolic annual event to express people’s gratitude to the port and to celebrate its birth and continuing existence. A port-opening memorial ceremony will be held at the harbor park of Minatomirai 21 area. Visitors can also board a ship moored offshore. After sunset there will be a firework display. The fireworks will be synchronized with the sound of thunder and a laser lightshow. 【Date】 Friday, June 1st / Saturday, 2nd 【Site】 Minatomirai 21, Yamashita Park 【Inquiries】 Executive Committee TEL: 045(212)5511 |
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◆Yokohama Dragon Boat Race 2007 〜An early summer event that refreshes both competitors and spectators〜 Twenty rowers, helmsmen and drummers ride on boats with a dragon head on the bow. They compete in a 300-meter race to the impassioned beat of the drums. The boats, each designed for international races, row the 260-meter course along Yamashita Park in an effort to achieve the best time. 【Date】 Sunday, May 27th / Saturday, June 2nd / Sunday June 3rd 【Site】 At Sea (in front of Yamashita Park) 【inquiries】 Executive Committee TEL: 045(261)1163 |
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◆Yokohama International Marine Entertainment Show 〜A multi-faceted marine festival with attractions on the ground, in the water and in the air〜 Enjoy riding in a small boat or paddling canoe and viewing demonstrations of marine sports and a rescue team. The festivities are also held on the ground, with a samba carnival, street performances and many other diversions and attractions. Visitors are sure to find something to entertain tehm, whether they are on sea or on the ground. 【Date】 Friday, May 25th/ Saturday, 26th/ Sunday, 27th 10:00am-19:00pm (10:00am-17:00pm on May 27th) *May 25th Opening ceremony 9:50- / Press Hour 10:00- / Party for event associates 18:00-19:30 【Site】 Aka-Renga Park Area 【Inquiries】 Executive Committee TEL: 03(3440)4416 【Web Site】 http://www.yme.gr.jp/2007/eng.html (English) |
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◆Hawaii Festival in Yokohama 〜Enjoy authentic Hawaiian music and dances〜 The Hawaii Festival is held in Yokohama to commemorate the historical relationship between Yokohama and Hawaii and to share moments of warm-hearted exchanges with participants and visitors. The festival is based on the Hawaiian Aloha spirit of tolerance, love and respect for strangers, and mutual help. In addition to the Hawaiian music concert and hula show, there will be many stalls selling Hawaiian food, Aloha shirts, kilts, ukuleles, Hawaiian jewelry and many other authentic items. Visitors can also enjoy a 1000-performer ukulele show and a 1000-dancer hula show. 【Date】 16:00pm to 21:00pm on Friday, July 27th / 11:00am to 21:00pm on Saturday, July 28th/11:00 am to 18:00pm on Sunday, July 29th 【Venue】 Yokohama International Passenger Terminal (main venue) 【Inquiries】 Executive Committee TEL: 045(664)6633 |
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◆Fireworks! ★Minato Matsuri International Fireworks Show (7000 fireworks） 【Date】 From 19:30pm on Sunday, July 15th 【Venue】 Yamashita Park (launched from the bay) 【Inquiries】 The Yokohama Chamber of Commerce and Industry TEL: 045(671)7423 ★Kanagawa Shimbun Fireworks Show (8000 fireworks) 【Date】 From 7:15 P.M. on Wednesday, August 1st 【Venue】 Rinko Park area (launched from the bay) 【Inquiries】 Executive Committee TEL: 045(227)0744 |