Dear Members of the Society for Multicultural Community Studies,
We are pleased to announce the 203rd Multicultural Co-Creation Forum, to be held as follows.
The theme of this forum is “Toward an Endogenous Approach to Social Integration Policy.” Through two presentations—one focusing on the experiences of Vietnamese migrant workers under South Korea’s Employment Permit System, and the other examining social inclusion and social integration—we will explore possible directions for social integration in increasingly diverse societies.
In South Korea, migrant workers admitted under the Employment Permit System (E-9) may, under certain conditions, become eligible to transition to a residence status that offers greater possibilities for longer-term residence, family life, and occupational mobility. Drawing on interviews with Vietnamese migrant workers, Kato’s presentation examines how such “status upgrading” reshapes migrants’ range of choices. An expansion of institutional opportunities does not necessarily translate directly into greater freedom. The presentation therefore focuses on migrants’ agency: how they envision their futures, make choices, and organize their lives within institutional constraints.
Akashi’s presentation will reconsider the relationship between social inclusion and social integration. Viewing social inclusion as a means of moving toward social integration, she will raise the broader questions of what kind of social integration we should seek and what it means to build a society that respects diversity.
Building on the two presentations, the general discussion will consider how institutions and social environments in receiving societies might be designed by taking migrants’ own choices and agency as a point of departure, and will explore the possibilities of an endogenous approach to social integration policy.
We look forward to your participation.
■ The 203rd Multicultural Co-Creation Forum “Toward an Endogenous Approach to Social Integration Policy”
Date and Time: Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
MC: Jotaro Kato Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Meiji Gakuin University
【Opening Remarks】10:00–10:05 Jotaro Kato
【Presentation 1】10:05–10:35 “The Paradox of Status Upgrading and Freedom: Agency among Vietnamese Migrant Workers under South Korea’s Employment Permit System” Jotaro Kato
Q&A: 10:35–10:50
【Presentation 2】10:50–11:10 “Social Inclusion and Social Integration: Envisioning a Society that Embraces Diversity” Rumiko Akashi Professor, Department of Social Work, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, Meiji Gakuin University
Q&A: 11:10–11:20
Break: 11:20-11:25
【General Discussion】11:25–11:55 “How Can We Develop an Endogenous Approach to Social Integration Policy?” Facilitator: Rumiko Akashi
【Closing Remarks】11:55–12:00 Chizuko Kawamura Professor Emerita, Daito Bunka University President, Society for Multicultural Community Studies
＊フォーラム ① 日本の制度と統計の概要（5分） 三谷純子「家族滞在と就労に関する日本の法制度と統計の概説」 ② Aさんの背景と経験（15分） 三谷純子とAさん、アフガニスタンの状況の概説と、来日前後のAさんの状況、将来への希望、就職に向けた努力、家族の意見など ③ 支援の経緯と課題（3分） 三谷純子「Aさんへの支援を通して見えてきた課題」 ④ 質疑応答・意見交換（30〜40分）
At the 201st Multicultural Co-creation Forum, held on Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the Tokyo Volunteer and Civic Center, Dr. Hiroaki Ito of the Faculty of Economics at Teikyo University delivered a presentation titled “The Return of Syrian Refugees to Their Homeland Following the Fall of the Assad Regime,” which proceeded as follows.
Introduction 1. On the Return of Refugees 2. The Multilayered Structure Surrounding the Decision to Return 3. Fieldwork: A Recap of the Fieldwork Survey in Turkey Conclusion
In the “Introduction,” the background for addressing the return of Syrian refugees and international norms regarding return were confirmed. The subsequent section, “On the Return of Refugees,” explained the scale of the Syrian refugee population, the historical trends of Syrian refugees residing in Turkey, and the trends in return following the collapse of the Assad regime. In the following section, “The Multilayered Structure Surrounding the Decision to Return,” the presentation examined how refugees make decisions regarding their return. The presenter noted that this suggests refugee decision-making is embedded in a multi-layered structure viewed from the perspectives of (1) the home country, (2) the host country, (3) international politics, (4) reintegration, and (5) the individual and family, and an analysis of these factors was conducted. Following a break, the second half of the forum featured an overview of the presenter’s fieldwork conducted in Turkey. Maps, photographs, and other materials were used to allow the audience to follow the presenter’s research journey and relive the fieldwork experience. The session concluded with a summary of the presentation, and the presenter answered questions from participants throughout the event.
プログラム： ① 日本の制度と統計の概要（10分） 三谷純子さん「家族滞在と就労に関する日本の法制度と統計の概説」 ② Aさんの経験（15分） Aさん「来日前後の状況、将来への希望、就職に向けた努力、家族の意見など」 ③ 支援の経緯と課題（5分） 三谷純子さん「Aさんへの支援を通して見えてきた課題」 ④ 質疑応答・意見交換（30〜40分）
