The author (right) submitting the request on measures to address loneliness and isolation among Japanese nationals abroad, to Foreign Minister Motegi

In February, Japan appointed a Minister for Loneliness and Isolation and launched measures to counter the issue. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan was already facing a serious situation with regard to problems such as suicide, child abuse, and domestic violence (DV). One of the factors behind this situation was the “undesirable loneliness” that came from not having anyone to rely on. However, this problem further manifested when interpersonal bonds were cut off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have set up a chat consultation service that everyone can use free of charge and anonymously regardless of their age and sex, and which offers advice and support around the clock, every day of the year, to those facing “undesirable loneliness.” With volunteer counselors living overseas participating in this activity, we have built a 24-hour consultation support system by having these volunteers respond to consultations during the night and late-night hours when the number of consultations reaches its peak. In March, soon after our proposal for the government to work as one to address loneliness and isolation was accepted and the corresponding measures were launched in Japan, the counselors received a consultation from a Japanese child living abroad who was being abused by a parent. Due to the nature of chat consultations, although we had previously received consultations from Japanese nationals overseas, this was the first time we had received a consultation that called for emergency response (crisis intervention in collaboration with child consultation centers, police and other parties). However, Japan's child consultation centers are unable to respond to child abuse cases involving Japanese nationals overseas, and we were also unable to encourage inquirers who did not understand the local language to approach the local authorities and support organizations for assistance. Moreover, private-sector consultation services like ours did not have a system for communicating with MOFA or diplomatic missions overseas. We were literally at our wits' end.

A 24-hour consultation support center in Tokyo

Of course, problems such as suicide, child abuse, and DV also arise among Japanese nationals overseas. This group is particularly susceptible to loneliness and isolation partly because they face difficulties such as language and cultural barriers as well as differences in lifestyles. In fact, the second most common cause of death for Japanese nationals overseas is suicide (Source: 2020 Statistics on Assistance Provided by MOFA to Japanese Nationals Overseas). MOFA provides various forms of assistance through its diplomatic missions overseas, but it is necessary to further strengthen measures, including cooperation with private organizations, to address the problem of loneliness and isolation among Japanese nationals overseas. In view of that, we submitted a request to Foreign Minister Motegi on measures to address loneliness and isolation among Japanese nationals overseas, and proposed that MOFA commence reviews on concrete measures. As a result, since July, MOFA has been working in cooperation with five domestic consultation services, including “Anata no ibasho,” to provide information on these consultation services to Japanese nationals overseas. Inquirers who require emergency assistance are supported through the use of a communication system established between the MOFA Headquarters and the consultation service providers. There were actual cases in which emergency response was undertaken, and the measures to address loneliness and isolation among Japanese nationals overseas are gradually producing results. Since the launch of this initiative, our consultation service has been responding to consultations from about 200 Japanese nationals overseas every month. There are also cases where calls from Japanese nationals living in the United States are answered by Japanese volunteer counselors living in the United Kingdom, for example. “Undesirable loneliness” is a problem that extends across national borders, so the provision of support is similarly borderless. We will continue to put our best efforts into providing consultation support, so that the cooperation between MOFA and our global network of counselors can be even more effective toward eradicating “undesirable loneliness” among Japanese nationals abroad.