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Chie Matsumoto

Chie Matsumoto

Chie Matsumoto is a journalist and an adjunct media instructor in the Faculty of Law at Hosei University. She was previously one of the editors at Rodo Joho (Labor Notes) and a Tokyo correspondent at

Tokyo 2020 GamesBlind musician’s tribute to athletes

Tokyo 2020 GamesBlind musician’s tribute to athletes

Ryota Kuriyama couldn’t care less about winning or losing, let alone athletic competition. But he does believe in fair play, in recognizing effort, in people. However, the blind musician and acupuncture instructor from Yokohama City came to understand the struggle and determination of Paralympians and Paralympic hopefuls when he

rainbow painted hands

Japan's LGBTQ members suffer discrimination, abuse

Legal framework, welfare networks failing to meet needs Ray Tanaka’s high-pitched giggle is infectious, an endearing mixture of unbridled fun and the timid titter of those who are somehow short on confidence. Yet there are visible hints that the perky 51-year-old has endured many less humorous times. Scars peaking

Living and dying on the streets in Japan

Living and dying on the streets in Japan

The murder of an elderly homeless woman in Tokyo in November was another reminder of the vulnerability of people living on the streets, even in one of the world’s safest cities. Misako Obayashi, 64, was hit on the head, apparently with a bag of rocks, while sitting at a

Media industry triggers #MeToo movement in Japan

Media industry triggers #MeToo movement in Japan

Japan’s #MeToo movement was sparked by a television reporter who said she was sexually harassed by the country’s highest-ranking finance ministry official. “Can I touch your breast?” “Can I tie you up?” The voice of the man’s relentless sexual advances was heard on a tape that ran

On Being a Vietnamese Lifeline in Japan

On Being a Vietnamese Lifeline in Japan

Born in Vietnam, Takayama Yuki overcame her own struggles as a refugee in Japan and now spends her life helping others. In a still largely homogenous country, Japan is home to about 412,000 Vietnamese, the third largest ethnic group behind Chinese and Koreans. About 2,316 Vietnamese were working

難民としての苦難乗り越えいま同胞たちに手をさしのべる

難民としての苦難乗り越えいま同胞たちに手をさしのべる

日本の企業で技能実習を受けるベトナム人は、２０２０年３月末、２,３１６人にのぼり前年比５８％を超える増加率となった。在留外国人数では中国、韓国の次に多く、およそ４１万２０００人。日本語学習のために留学する学生も多く、それに伴って労働問題も多発している。各地の労働組合にはこうした外国人実習生や留学生からの相談が相次いでいるが、スムーズな対応に欠かせないのが通訳者の存在だ。ベトナム生まれの高山ユキさん（５９）は、ベトナム語の通訳として全統一労働組合と二人三脚で問題解決に取り組んできた。高山さんのフェイスブックには日々、ベトナム語で相談メッセージが全国から届く。実習生からは、成田空港から強制帰国させられそうだとのSOSや職場で日本人の同僚に殴られたので訴えたいなど、急を要する連絡も多い。はじめはとても緊張高山さんは和食レストランの厨房でパートの仕事をしながら、外国人労働者弁護団で川越法律事務所の樋川雅一弁護士からの依頼を受けて、入国管理局や警察とトラブルに遭うベトナム人を支援していた。その中で、職場で問題を抱える技能実習生の話を聞き、ちょうど４年ほど前に全統一労組