Language Difficulties in kyosei (‘living together’) of Japanese and Foreigners

Abstract

This paper focuses on language difficulties in the co-existence of the Japanese and foreigners in Japan. Language is without doubt one of the most important factors in how successfully locals and foreigners live together. The author demonstrates the difficulty of co-existence when foreigners lack Japanese language competence in two areas, housing and medical services. Most publications on co-existence base their arguments on how the Japanese view the issues or how they behave in this area. This paper takes up foreigners’ views, thus examining the issues from an outsider’s perspective.