We held the 5th meeting of the “The Giving Back Project by People from Overseas” on Thursday, June 18.

In this meeting, we focused on public housing complexes (danchi) to discuss how we can better support local communities. Many complexes are experiencing an aging population while welcoming more foreign residents. Amid concerns that language barriers are causing difficulties between elderly residents and foreign neighbors, our conversation centered on how we can foster meaningful connections and support one another in daily life.

Participants pointed out that a major barrier is often just “not knowing,” which can create unnecessary anxiety for both sides. For instance, many foreign residents may unintentionally break unspoken cultural rules simply because they are unaware of them, which can lead to negative perceptions among local residents. The group agreed that a crucial first step is creating spaces where people can openly share what is considered “normal” in their respective cultures.

The discussion also highlighted situations involving discriminatory behavior toward foreign residents. A major issue is that perpetrators or bystanders are often unaware of the impact of their actions, sometimes mistakenly believing their behavior is friendly or harmless. The conversation brought us back to the fundamental importance of mutual respect and holding positive expectations for one another as fellow human beings.

Moving forward, we will keep working to find meaningful paths toward a community where everyone can live harmoniously together.