Introducing IM Japan

We have come to see many foreign nationals working in various fields in Japan. In May 1993, IM Japan accepted 161 young people dispatched by the Indonesian government as technical interns. Since then, the total number of outstanding technical interns that IM Japan has accepted has reached 60,000, who have come to Japan from countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Under the guidance of the receiving company, the technical interns have acquired techniques, skills and knowledge and then return to their home countries, where they are contributing to the local economic development.

Up until now, the technical intern training program may have been regarded negatively because the name may cause unfavorable impressions such as low wages, hard labor, and disappearances due to the intervention of some companies and mediators that are not always honest and sincere. However, most technical interns return home while appreciating the fact that they have been able to work in Japan. In fact, many of the technical interns, who had been accepted by IM Japan and have returned to their home countries, have started their own business or are playing an active role in Japanese companies there. They are proud of having been able to work in Japan.

There are 400,000 technical interns in Japan, who are now indispensable to the Japanese society. I think Japan will be required to accept them as members of the Japanese society and create a society in which Japanese and foreign nationals coexist in harmony.

The spread of the coronavirus has had a significant impact on both Japan and the countries that dispatch technical interns to Japan. Staff members at the local offices of IM Japan in those countries have been discussing with the representatives of governments to find ways to dispatch technical interns normally as before.

Under these circumstances, the year 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of IM Japan's establishment. This year will be an important year because new training programs for specified skilled workers will be launched, in addition to the existing Technical Intern Training Program. IM Japan will work with host companies, industry associations, and related organizations to accept a large number of foreign people from developing countries, and make efforts to develop human resources.

IM Japan aims to promote mutual understanding between Asian countries and peoples, and create a symbiotic society through the interaction of local communities. Also, IM Japan will do its best to contribute to the economic growth of developing countries and the sound development of the Japanese society and industries, through the development of human resources.

Public Interest Foundation International Manpower Development Organization, Japan
Hitoshi Kanamori, President

Foreign technical interns and foreign specified skilled workers are indispensable in today's Japanese society. It is necessary to accept them as members of society and treat them properly, not as special beings. When host companies or communities wish to accept them, just providing a workplace is not enough for success.

It is important to mutually understand the differences in culture and values and to interact as members of the same community. This spirit of coexistence supports the activities of IM Japan, then resulting in the human resource development.

Human resource development will not be achieved just by teaching techniques, skills and knowledge. Rather than looking down on foreign technical interns when teaching or training, respecting their personality, accepting different cultures and customs, and understanding their thoughts and minds is what the human resource development that IM Japan aims for.

As a pioneer of the technical intern training program for foreign nationals, and as a model for other supervising organizations, IM Japan will continue to contribute to the economic development of developing countries, the internationalization of Japanese companies, and the sound development of the Japanese society and industry by promoting the program and maintaining its proper operation.