“Words” are an important bridge connecting people.
However, when you start living abroad, you may encounter situations where you cannot cross that “bridge” as you wish. Whether it’s shopping at the supermarket, visiting a hospital, communicating with your child’s school, or conversing at work, it is not uncommon to feel confused by differences in language and culture, even in everyday trivial interactions.
In recent Japan, as the population is aging and declining, the presence of foreign workers has become increasingly familiar. While diverse cultures and values intersect within the community, there are also many foreigners who become isolated due to differences in language and lifestyle.
In response to this situation, the Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association was established in Kurashiki in 1987, and in 1990, the “Japanese Language Salon” started as a place for foreigners to connect with the community while learning Japanese.
The author, who is from China, naturally empathizes with the anxieties and expectations of foreigners, recalling their own feelings from over a decade ago when they studied abroad in Japan.
To ensure that foreigners living in Kurashiki can live comfortably in the community, I covered the Japanese Language Salon, a place where they can learn “Japanese for daily life” and “Japanese Language Proficiency Test preparation.”
What is the Japanese Language Salon?
The “Japanese Language Salon” is organized by the Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association and is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM in the Art Room on the 3rd floor of Kurashiki City Art Museum.
At the Japanese Language Salon, participants practice Japanese at their own pace and learn expressions useful for daily life.
There is also warm interaction with volunteers, making it a learning space that supports foreigners who wish to “speak more Japanese” and “become friends with local people.”
What is the Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association?
The Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association is an organization that operates on three pillars: “Tourist guidance in foreign languages,” “Support for foreigners learning Japanese,” and “Exchange activities between Japanese and foreigners.” While conveying the charm of Kurashiki through tourist guides, it also expands the circle of multicultural coexistence in the community through the Japanese Language Salon and exchange meetings.
The activities are divided into five main departments.
- Reservation Guide and Interpretation Activities
Primarily responds to tourist guide and individual/group interpretation requests in the Bikan Historical Area of Kurashiki. - Exchange Activities and Events
Conducts social events for members and includes foreigners and citizens. - Japanese Language Salon
The venue is the Art Room on the 3rd floor of Kurashiki City Art Museum, held every Wednesday and Saturday. - Publication of the Newsletter “Amigo”
Issues six times a year, disseminating information and activities in the community. - Study Sessions
Tourist guide training, Japanese language instruction training, and problem-sharing meetings.
Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association - The Journey of the Japanese Language Salon
The activities of the Japanese Language Salon began in 1990.
Initially, it was a small daily conversation class for foreigners working in companies and universities. As a result, there were many participants from English-speaking countries, and it seems that Westerners were prominent in Kurashiki as well.
Over time, the nationalities of the learners expanded to include those from China, India, Brazil, Vietnam, and more.
Currently, there are about 23 participants from 8 countries.
People living in Kurashiki for various reasons such as work, research, and marriage are blending into the community while learning at the Japanese Language Salon.
At the Japanese Language Salon, instruction focuses on practical Japanese related to life and work (shopping, hospitals, workplaces, etc.), and the teaching materials are tailored to the learners' levels.
Several times a year, presentations of learning outcomes and exchange events are held, bringing learners and local people, as well as volunteers, closer together.
The Day of the Japanese Language Salon
I visited the “Japanese Language Salon” held on November 1, 2025.
At the salon venue, scenes of smiling faces exchanging words were abundant.
Learning takes place one-on-one or in small groups, allowing for instruction tailored to each individual’s pace.
In the classroom, Japanese volunteers and foreign learners pair up to enjoy conversations in Japanese while studying. Notebooks and handouts are spread across the tables, and the cheerful atmosphere of the classroom is naturally conveyed through the smiles and interactions.
For a learner from Nepal, a Japanese volunteer is carefully teaching Japanese, creating natural exchanges through language. The brightness spreads throughout the classroom, and the warm atmosphere of mutual learning is impressive.
Even if there are parts that are unclear in Japanese communication, they are understanding each other while mixing in English, creating warm communication that transcends language barriers.
Learners come from diverse backgrounds, including those from Asian countries and Western nations, and through interactions with Japanese volunteers, their connections to the community deepen.
It truly is a warm learning space where people support each other across nationalities and cultures.
I spoke with members of the Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association who have been involved for many years about the fulfillment and joy they feel from their activities.
Data on the Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association - Japanese Language Salon
| Name | Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association - Japanese Language Salon |
|---|---|
| Date of Event | Japanese Language Salon Schedule: Every Wednesday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 11:45 AM |
| Location | Art Room on the 3rd floor of Kurashiki City Art Museum |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Membership Fee: 3,000 yen/year *However, if you join from January to March, the fee is 1,000 yen |
| Homepage | Kurashiki Volunteer Interpreters Association |
