Issues for first generation refugees
As mentioned previously, when Vietnamese refugees’ arrived, Japan had no
“know how” as how to provide assistance to refugees that suddenly arrived on
their land. In a way this is quite predictable, since a ‘passive’ posture toward
acceptance of people from outside Japan had already taken root historically in
the national administration as well as in the common perceptions of many
Japanese. Furthermore, there had been few previous opportunities for people
in Japan to meet with refugees.
The refugees from Vietnam were almost 100% supported by humanitarian or
religious, faith-based organisations (such as Caritas Japan, Japan Red Cross etc)
from the time of their arrival in 1975, and until at least 1979 (Tanaka 1994:150).
Then the government established the Settlement Promotion Centers in Himeji
city in Hyogo in 1979. This was followed by the one in Yamato city in Kanagawa
in 1980, and an International relief center in Shinagawa in 1983 in Tokyo.
Japanese language education, vocational training, job placement and financial
assistance were provided. After spending three to four months here, refugees
had gone into Japanese communities.