On March 18, JCIE USA co-organized a private roundtable discussion in Tokyo to share the results of our 2025 project on “Foreign Residents in Japan and the Role of Japanese Nonprofit Organizations (NPOs).” The hybrid event was co-organized with the United States-Japan Foundation (USJF) and brought together approximately 30 representatives from nonprofit organizations and foundations as well as a couple of immigration policy experts from Japan and the United States.

The 2025 project explored the roles of Japanese NPOs in facilitating the successful integration of foreign residents into Japanese society. Through background research and interviews with a select group of Japanese NPOs, the project identified their key challenges, how they collaborate with other stakeholders, and the insights they are seeking from the experience of other countries. The results also informed the need for a future program providing opportunities for Japanese NPOs and their counterparts in the United States to engage with one another for mutual learning.

Following the presentation by JCIE USA Executive Director Kazuyo Kato on the project’s key findings, participants provided feedback through a discussion moderated by USJF’s Japan Representative Haruto Okabe. Participants then divided into smaller groups to discuss three topics regarding their work, including the impact of new policies, impact of recent trends in public opinion, and areas for cross-sectoral collaboration.

The event became an opportunity for the participants to develop a sense of community and facilitate greater reflection about the evolving environment surrounding their work.