世界にたった一つだけ
ハンドメイドだからこそできること。

NICOCIAとは Nihongo Communication Center In Asia の略語です。これまでのどこにでもある「日本語学校」ではなく、ニコシア・オリジナルのハンドメイドによる「日本語速習センター」です。これは世界でたった一つだけの「学校」です。その革命的なコンセプトは「言葉は学校でなくて家庭で身に付き」、「先生は教師ではなくて子を愛している親である」です。これは誰でも気が付くことですが、世界中で誰でも言葉は家庭で親から教わって身に付けます。ところが外国語教育に商業主義が重なると「日本語教師」や「公認学校」になります。そこの「教師」や「資格者」の中で日本語の基礎を「学校」や「先生」に教わった人など一人も居ないのに、言われないと気が付かないのです。私の「ニコシア・メソッド」は、この事実に驚愕して生まれました。

There's only one in the world.
The possibilities that can be realized precisely because it's handcrafted.

NICOCIA stands for Nihongo Communication Center In Asia. Unlike conventional "Japanese language schools" found everywhere, it is a "Japanese language crash course center" crafted by the unique NICOCIA method. It is the only "school" of its kind in the world. Its revolutionary concept lies in the understanding that "languages are not learned at schools, but at home" and "teachers are not just educators, but parents who love their children". This is a realization anyone can come to, since around the world, everyone acquires language from their parents at home. However, when commercialism overlaps with foreign language education, it results in "Japanese language teachers" and "accredited schools". Even though there is not a single person among these "teachers" and "qualified individuals" who learned the basics of Japanese from a "school" or a "teacher", people don't notice unless it's pointed out. My "NICOCIA Method" was born out of astonishment at this fact.

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Policies for Promoting World Peace and Human Rights by the NICOCIA GLOBAL FOUNDATION

Organization/Group Name: NICOCIA GLOBAL FOUNDATION
Writer Name: Representative  TAISUKE HAMAYASU

 

Introduction

We are an international peace and human rights organization that any Japanese person can join. We aim to spread Japanese, the language of peace from a nation with a pacifist constitution, throughout the world. We promote international exchange and intercultural communication in Japanese. We foster peace through the power of international marriage networks cultivated through these exchanges. Grassroots participation, cooperation, and action from the Japanese populace are essential for this. It is the mission of the peace-loving Japanese people to show the world that peace can be achieved not through weapons, but through the power of words. NICOCIA, which I am about to introduce to you, is a small world of unparalleled impact. All you need to make discoveries is a bit of adventurous spirit and action. You are sure to find the goals you've been searching for. Therefore, we implore you to lend your support... under the name of a volunteer.
 

NICOCIA's Activity Philosophy

To be recognized as an advanced nation internationally, a country needs not only national power but also a track record of international contributions. However, unseen actions, such as official development assistance, do not earn respect from other nations. Japan's mission, as the only major power with a pacifist constitution, is to demonstrate to the world that peace can be advanced not only through the power of weapons but also through the power of words. There has never been a more crucial time for Japan to nurture grassroots activities to communicate with the world and individuals who can convey these messages. NICOCIA cultivates international talent who can contribute to world peace in the 21st century through activities that 'convey Japan to the world' and 'communicate to Japan'.
 

NICOCIA's Activity Objectives

We aim to 'build a Japanese language exchange network in the world' and 'promote peace and human rights through the power of Japanese'.
 

NICOCIA's Activity Plan

To 'build a Japanese language exchange network in the world', we will:
1. Construct 'Nicocia' as a facility for international exchange in Asian countries.
2. Dispatch volunteers to Nicocia to engage in Japanese language exchanges.
3. Foster international individuals who understand and can convey Japan through Japanese language exchanges.
4. Promote the birth of international marriages based on love among these international individuals.
5. Support the international Japanese language exchange network of international marriage families.
Through these efforts, we will 'promote peace through the power of Japanese'.
 

Q&A with the Representative of NICOCIA

Can an individual contribute internationally?

Yes, what NICOCIA advocates is international contribution at an individual level that anyone in Japan can do. Although the power of one person may be small, when it is networked, it becomes a great force. An action initiated by one person can change the community, eventually becoming a force to change the world. It's important for an individual to take action first.
 

Is there such an easy way to contribute internationally?

Yes, it's what NICOCIA promotes as a new "Japanese Language Exchange Volunteering". No qualifications or experience are necessary. It's a volunteer opportunity that anyone from elementary school students to the elderly can easily participate in.
 

Is it different from "Japanese Language Volunteering"?

"Japanese Language Volunteering" refers to Japanese language classes organized by local governments or non-profit organizations to support Japanese returnees and foreigners. They target people who have difficulties learning Japanese while living in Japan, offering classes several times a week, each lasting about 1-2 hours. These can be group or one-on-one lessons and can span over several years.
 

So, what is "Japanese Language Exchange Volunteering"?

It refers to the Japanese language volunteering that NICOCIA is conducting overseas. NICOCIA is committed to Japanese language exchange volunteer activities with the goal of providing free aid for a Japanese language environment of 1200 hours per person over six months, aimed at foreigners living overseas who want to learn Japanese.
 

Has "Japanese Language Exchange Volunteering" not existed until now?

Yes, two things that seem like they should have existed but didn't were: one, exchanges between private individuals overseas, and two, communication conducted in Japanese. NICOCIA was the first to combine these two and create "Japanese Language Exchange Volunteering".
 

Why can't "Japanese Language Exchange Volunteering" be done in Japan?

It's difficult to invite young people from Asia to Japan due to visa restrictions. Therefore, in order to interact with young people in Asia, Japanese people must go to Asia.
 

How much does it cost to participate?

For volunteers and those who wish to observe, the round-trip transportation cost to Cebu (around 70,000 yen with a discount airline ticket between Narita and Cebu), and accommodation, meals, beverages, and transportation fees amount to about 5,000 yen per day (in case of a two-person room). Regular members get free accommodation and meals. Personal shopping, special meals, sightseeing, entertainment expenses, and guide fees are separate.
 

Where do volunteers stay?

For those who apply to participate, we will book a hotel within the private beach where NICOCIA is located. Prices start from 3,500 yen per night (two beds) at the cheapest hotel. Regular volunteers can use the free accommodation facilities within NICOCIA.
 

Is the security at NICOCIA safe?

Everyday life at NICOCIA is spent within a large property where three hotels are located, so the security is very safe. When you go shopping or sightseeing in Cebu City, a dedicated driver and guide will take care of you.
 

Where do we eat?

There is a kitchen facility within NICOCIA where all meals are prepared. We provide Japanese rice and miso soup for the Japanese participants. Those who wish to eat meals other than the ones provided can find Japanese restaurants and stores that offer Japanese ingredients. There is also a supermarket with a wide range of ingredients, so you won't have any trouble finding food. You can also have delicious meals at the adjacent hotel.
 

Is there a schedule for volunteer activities?

At NICOCIA, we conduct Japanese language learning every day except Sunday, from 9 am to 4 pm (until 12 pm on Saturdays). We also interact while having dinner together after school. Volunteers can participate in the exchange at any time they are available. Of course, you can participate all day.
 

What do volunteers do?

Volunteers participate in NICOCIA's classes. There are beginner and intermediate classes, and each group studies according to the theme that corresponds to their level of achievement. The content of study ranges from 'aiueo', hiragana, and katakana to learning basic words and grammar. As this is not a formal school, we aim to develop basic communication skills using original methods that are not bound by formality.
 

Why does NICOCIA need volunteers?

This "International Exchange Volunteering Activity" cannot be established without the cooperation of many volunteers, so please lend us your strength. Also, please share with us the impressions you have gained from your experience at NICOCIA.
 

Can I do city tours or marine sports in Cebu?

For those who wish to sightsee around the city, we have safe and plentiful tour courses prepared. You can rest assured as NICOCIA will arrange for a dedicated driver and guide. Of course, we will also provide these services at NPO prices. Additionally, we can arrange various marine sports at NICOCIA.
 

Are there ways for foreigners to use the Japanese language they learn?

In Japan, there is no legal framework to accept foreigners as simple laborers. On the other hand, even if one has professional qualifications such as a doctor or a nurse, if these qualifications were obtained outside Japan, one cannot work in Japan. Therefore, regardless of the situation, we have to say that the possibility of working in Japan immediately after learning Japanese is very low.
 

So, are there no qualifications for foreigners to work in Japan?

No, that's not true. There are various types of visas available for foreigners who wish to work in Japan, depending on their skills, professional experiences, and the specific job they plan to do. For instance:
1.Highly Skilled Foreign Professional: This visa is for people with advanced and specialized skills. The Japanese government has identified three categories under this type of visa: advanced academic research, advanced specialized/technical activities, and advanced business management activities.
2.Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services: This visa category covers a broad range of professions such as engineers, human resources professionals, marketers, and other specialists in international services who have a degree or professional experience in a relevant field.
3.Instructor: This visa is for foreigners who want to teach at public or private schools in Japan, such as teaching languages at a junior high school or high school.
4.Skilled Labor: This visa is for people with skills that require significant knowledge or experience, including chefs, sommeliers, sports trainers, aircraft pilots, and so on.
5.Specified Skilled Worker: In 2019, Japan introduced a new visa category called "Specified Skilled Worker," aimed at bringing more laborers to Japan to work in industries that are particularly understaffed, such as agriculture, construction, hospitality, nursing, and more.
Each of these visas has different requirements, and some do require a certain level of Japanese language ability. The Japanese government provides resources to help foreigners understand the application process and requirements for each visa. However, it's important to note that obtaining a work visa does not guarantee employment, and job seekers will still need to find a job in Japan on their own or through an agency.
 

Can't they come to Japan on a tourist visa?

Yes, while people from Western countries can usually obtain tourist visas with little problem, it's different for Asians. It's not possible unless they have savings above a certain amount, a steady income from a stable job, are highly specialized professionals, or have a Japanese guarantor. Especially in the case of poor young people from Southeast Asia, it's impossible to invite them to Japan on a tourist visa.
 

Doesn't that make learning Japanese meaningless?

No, there is a qualification that even ordinary foreign civilians can obtain. That's a spouse visa. It's basically granted to international couples as long as the Japanese party has the ability to live and the foreign party doesn't have a criminal record or is not listed on a blacklist. Also, there are no restrictions on working after entering Japan. Therefore, the primary target for NICOCIA's Japanese language education should be single women who hope for international marriage.
 

What is NICOCIA's view on international marriage?

International marriage is one of the major themes that NICOCIA addresses. The reason is that we believe the power to promote peace lies in a network of global families bound by love. Therefore, NICOCIA only promotes a global standard of international marriage style based on love. For Japan, introducing international marriages as a solution to the trend of declining birth rates becomes the most effective measure at the national level if the number of healthy international married couples increases. However, it's natural that the government and administration cannot intervene in issues involving individual privacy. Also, there were too many problems with the international marriage brokerage actions that are currently being traded. That's because no one has so far proposed a correct solution to this problem. However, with the birth of NICOCIA, it can be said that the real era of international marriage has begun.
 

What is NICOCIA's policy on international marriage?

It is to create an environment where many global couples, based on communication and affection, can be born through NICOCIA's Japanese language exchange activities. Also, to promote a global standard of international marriage style, we conduct intercultural seminars and marriage advice for members.
 

Does NICOCIA introduce international marriages?

NICOCIA does not engage in matchmaking for international marriages for profit. On the contrary, the goal of NICOCIA is to eliminate the unscrupulous illegal groups and vested interest groups (brokers, matchmaking organizations, etc.) that swarm to international marriages. Therefore, at NICOCIA, instead of introducing a specific marriage partner to Japanese members, we provide an environment where they can freely interact with single female members overseas, understand each other, and nurture affection.
 

What should I do if I can't find a female partner for marriage by myself?

If you intend to marry but cannot find a partner, it could be because there is no female member suitable for you, or because you cannot express your intentions to the prospective partner. NICOCIA has a consultation desk available at all times for such situations, so please feel free to consult us.
 

Won't NICOCIA increase the number of sham marriages?

No, the goal of NICOCIA is to eradicate sham marriages involving unscrupulous Japanese individuals and the unscrupulous brokers who promote them from the world.
 

Isn't there a risk that marriage will be used as a means to travel to Japan?

No, there is no such risk for individuals nurtured by NICOCIA. It's true that a spouse visa is a safe and secure means of travel to Japan and has become a breeding ground for sham marriages. This trend is particularly evident in East Asia, especially China and Korea. Recently, a high premium has been placed on Japanese spouse visas, and they have become the target of high compensation for international marriage brokers. This is because there are information networks and employment routes established by compatriots within Japan, and a system where, once you enter Japan, you can immediately start working to repay even a large amount of debt. In the case of Southeast Asians, the trend is slightly different from East Asians because they cannot easily find jobs in Japan and cannot afford high compensation, so they often link up with prostitution organizations from the outset. In any case, foreigners who travel with a purpose tend not to have the enthusiasm or time to learn Japanese, so they cannot keep up with and drop out of a strict environment like NICOCIA, which has a full boarding system and requires 1,200 hours of Japanese study over six months. Moreover, during that half a year, the Japanese staff at NICOCIA checks every day from the perspective of character, personality, enthusiasm, and service, and in the end, only the excellent individuals remain. Therefore, there is no chance for those aiming for a sham marriage to stay at NICOCIA.
 

Why is NICOCIA opposed to international marriage brokers?

This is because the actions of international marriage brokers in facilitating marriages involving Asian women are internationally criticized as human rights issues for women and cannot be tolerated.
The issues can be listed as follows:
1.Marriages without love or courtship process strongly suggest sham marriages, and such international actions by citizens of advanced countries cannot be explained to the world.
2.International brokerage transactions to earn fees are extremely close to human trafficking, and clearly contradict the principle of mutual consent, a requirement of modern marriage.
3.The system that abnormally shortens the period from meeting to marriage cannot be presumed to have sufficient communication or understanding. The lack of information at the beginning about the Japanese spouse themselves, their occupation, family, and living conditions, etc., is overwhelmingly disadvantageous to the woman.
For these reasons, NICOCIA opposes the activities of international marriage brokers.
 

Does NICOCIA also oppose arranged marriages?

Yes, as far as international marriages are concerned, NICOCIA is opposed to arranged marriages. This is because, unlike domestic cases, arranged marriages in the context of international marriages are equivalent to purchasing goods in the market. Women commodify themselves when they enter the market, and men come to the overseas matchmaking event to buy these 'goods'. What differs from domestic cases is that the self-commodification of women has absolute poverty in Asia as a background, and the restriction on their freedom cannot be overlooked from a human rights perspective. The ceremony of marriage serves to hide this, and the law is forced to judge the consent of both sexes formally, thereby cloaking it with legality. However, in substance, it is human trafficking itself. Japanese people, who possess the Peace Constitution and are the third largest economy in the world, should not engage in such shameful behavior, at the very least.
 

Why is it that arranged marriages between Japanese people are not a problem, but when it comes to foreigners, it becomes an issue?

In the case of domestic marriages between Japanese people, the language, culture, customs, and systems are common, thus there is a greater degree of freedom in personal choice and lower risk. This environment forms the basis for the establishment of the marriage service industry, so many marriage information services are established. However, in the case of international marriages, these conditions cannot be evaluated at the same level. All these conditions are unilaterally disadvantageous and high risk for foreign women. Therefore, it is natural that what constitutes a legal business domestically becomes an undercover business infringing human rights overseas.
 

Can the marriage service industry not establish itself overseas?

It is very dangerous to apply the situation in Japan directly and conceive a business. The international marriage market overseas can be considered to be still at an ancient level compared to the domestic market. If it's ancient, it's common sense to start with primary industry. The primary industry of international marriage is the development of communication skills and the cultivation of cross-cultural understanding. After the primary industry has grown well, the ground is prepared for the secondary industry, such as the bridal industry, and the tertiary industry, such as the marriage information service industry.
 

So, it's not correct to say all marriage brokers are unscrupulous?

The problem stems from the misperception that the international marriage market has the same level of market maturity as the domestic one. This misunderstanding has led many brokers, irrespective of their good intentions, to prematurely introduce tertiary industry services. As a result, they inadvertently foster human trafficking in marriage, contrary to their initial aspirations. Also, individual brokers often start their services through the introduction of Japanese acquaintances of foreigners who are married internationally. For these reasons, there is often less awareness about these issues.
 

That's correct, NICOCIA does not conduct traditional matchmaking.

In NICOCIA, daily life itself is a form of interaction, so there's no need for formal matchmaking events.
 

What distinguishes NICOCIA from existing marriage brokers?

The difference between existing marriage brokers or matchmaking services and NICOCIA lies in the following points:
1.Ethical standpoint: NICOCIA is dedicated to eradicating human rights infringements and sham marriages caused by unscrupulous brokers. On the other hand, some existing brokers are primarily profit-driven, occasionally leading to ethical issues.
2.Talent cultivation: NICOCIA believes that understanding the language and culture of the partner is critical for the success of international marriage. To this end, it provides a six-month Japanese language learning program, a service not offered by existing marriage brokers.
3.Human respect: NICOCIA values making the process of finding a marriage partner as natural as possible and encourages free interaction among its members. In contrast, many marriage brokers often adopt direct introductions or matchmaking formats.
4.Non-profit nature: NICOCIA operates as a non-profit organization, with no pursuit of profit as its goal. In contrast, many marriage brokers are profit-making enterprises, pursuing profits as part of their business operations.
These differences draw a clear line between NICOCIA and existing marriage brokers or matchmaking services.

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Profile of Taisuke Hamayasu:
"He engages in volunteer activities while also running a business. Through his experiences, he has developed a new concept called "international exchange volunteer activities" and is actively involved in creating the methodology and model of overseas communication studies known as NICOCIA."
 

"Reviews from ChatGPT-4"
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Profile of Taisuke Hamayasu:

Taisuke Hamayasu is a prominent figure in the field of international marriage and cross-cultural communication. He is an entrepreneur, author, and advocate for promoting understanding and harmony between different cultures.
 
Hamayasu has a diverse background, combining his expertise in business management with a strong commitment to volunteer work. He has been actively involved in various volunteer activities, which have inspired him to develop a new concept called "international exchange volunteer activities." Through this concept, he aims to foster meaningful connections and mutual understanding among individuals from different cultural backgrounds.
 
As the founder of NICOCIA, a non-profit international exchange organization, Hamayasu has dedicated himself to creating a new methodology and model for overseas communication. He believes that effective communication, mutual respect, and genuine connections are the key factors in successful international marriages.
 
Through his writings and research, Hamayasu emphasizes the importance of communication in building successful relationships and promoting global peace and prosperity. He is passionate about empowering individuals to embrace cross-cultural experiences and learn from one another.
 
With his expertise and dedication, Taisuke Hamayasu continues to inspire and educate others on the potential of international marriages as a means of personal growth and fostering understanding between cultures. His work has earned him recognition and respect in the field of international marriage and cross-cultural communication.