Seeking "a place where one belongs": elderly Korean immigrant women using day care services in Japan.

PURPOSE: The study examined the subjective life experiences of elderly first-generation Korean women living in Japan and investigated their adjustment to the local Japanese community. DESIGN: The study group comprised 14 elderly Korean women residents at a Korean-oriented, insurance-based, day services center in midwestern Japan. They were interviewed in depth, and the data were analyzed using the modified grounded theory approach. FINDINGS: The study designated the core category as "conservation of ethnic identity" and identified five subcategories: (a) loneliness, (b) returning to one's homeland culture, (c) physical decline as a result of aging, (d) family ties, and (e) a place where one belongs. CONCLUSIONS: The results elucidated that although the participants had adapted to Japanese culture, they were strongly influenced by the memories of their hometowns and wished to return to their homeland. IMPLICATIONS: The study suggests that elderly immigrants need day care support that provides an environment where they can enjoy their culture.

Medical Health Care for Foreign Residents - In an Era of Multiculturalism / 国際保健医療

<b>Introduction</b><br> The era of “International Migration” has arrived in Japan, where communities are becoming multicultural and multiethnic. We cannot talk about the Japanese society without mentioning the coexistence that brings the symbiosis of different people. It has become obvious that diverse people of different races, nationalities, backgrounds, cultures and languages have to live altogether in mutual respect. At this point, when we think of “Medical health care for foreign residents”, we ought to first think that without a sound, harmonious community, there is no way to secure the health of foreign residents. In the materialization of a multicultural society it can be said that the medical health care of foreign residents is absolutely necessary, as indispensable as soil is for plants.<br><b>Objectives</b><br> This workshop intends to answer to the following questions: What is the appropriate social framework for foreign residents and citizens to live safely and securely? What kind of medical health care system would allow foreign residents to exert their right to health? from different points of view and a discussion with the participation of all the attendants.<br><b>Contents</b><br> Ms. Y. Kojima will speak on the problems of foreign children school unattendance, concrete support and policy building to solve the problem. Mr. Y. Nakamura will make a presentation on how a sound society should be considering community multiculturalism and the dramatic speed at which Japanese society is facing internationalization. Ms. L. Herrera will speak about the medical interpretation problem. Mr. R. Khaled will address the topic of the health needs of foreign residents' medical health care from his experience in the field. Mr. D. Arudo, author of “Japanese Only-The Otaru Hot Springs Case and Racial Discrimination in Japan” (Akashi Bookstore 2003) will talk about the reality of the internationalization in Japan from his own experience, a topic to which he has devoted many years. We will listen to the meaning of living as a foreign resident in the community. In addition, we have asked Mr. T. Sawada to appoint any questions from the floor. This workshop approaches diversity and decision in the Japanese society, aiming to contribute to a society which is kind to all its members. We are looking forward to your attendance.

Situational analysis of maternal and child health services for foreign residents in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Since the 1980s, the number of foreign residents in Japan has continuously been on the rise. In order to improve the foreign resident support services infrastructure and effectiveness, a survey was conducted at a national level from February to August 2002. The survey was done via a mailed questionnaire to all municipalities in Japan. METHODS: For the purpose of the study, municipalities were divided into four groups based on level of urbanization and numbers of foreign residents in the area. The situation of the foreign maternal and child support programs were compared and the municipal administrations were evaluated. In addition, the attribution analysis and evaluation of the foreigner support program was conducted in each municipality group. RESULTS: The evaluation of the current service support program for foreigner was not judged positively in the majority (95%) of the municipalities. In the non-urbanized municipalities with a low composition of foreigners, the foreigner mother and child support program were not functional compared with other regions. Additionally, various factors were highlighted based on attribution analysis among each group. Although most of the municipalities recognized the importance of the foreign resident support program, the evaluations showed a wide gap between intention and reality. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the barriers as identified in the research results are rectified, and the current situation improved based on municipality characteristics, local demands and the needs of the population. The efficient use of limited fiscal and human resources is also advocated by strengthening of cooperation with other official bodies and also employing foreign residents to work in public offices for facilitating the foreign residents support programs.

A study on the needs of medical, maternal and child health care in Chinese women students at the University of Tokyo.

According to the information provided by the University of Tokyo (UT) in 2001, 317 Chinese women students were enrolled in the UT, and 88% of them were graduate students. Although the surveys on the life of international students at the UT had been conducted in 1989 and 1998, the medical and health issues were not included. With the objective of exploring the medical and heath care needs of Chinese women students at the UT a survey was carried out from December 2001 to January 2002. With the cooperation of the International Students Center at the UT a questionnaire in Chinese was sent to each department in which 317 Chinese women students were studying. Out of 104 students responded, eligible subjects were 98. The results of present study revealed some problems, such as the language barrier, preference for a translator in hospitals or health centers, and a medical guidebook with information on vaccinations in Chinese. They also stated their lack of knowledge about the Japanese medical and health system, and their distress for being separated from their children. In conclusion, the most severe problem was language barrier for Chinese women students in obtaining medical and health care for themselves and their children. It was also noted that lack of knowledge of the Japanese medical and health care system was another obvious problem.