The paper examines the challenges faced by the growing population of non-native residents in Japan, with a focus on linguistic issues and communication complexities. The paper references a quantitative analysis conducted by the National Institute for Japanese Language in 2008, which found that 72% of foreign respondents expressed concerns about their Japanese language proficiency, with inadequate language skills being a primary concern. However, subsequent nationwide surveys have been limited, and there has been a shift toward regional assessments targeting foreign residents. To address this research gap, the authors conducted a nationwide survey, focusing on four major groups of foreign residents in Japan: Nepalese, Filipinos, Chinese, and Koreans. A total of 454 individuals were surveyed.

The study investigates language choice in six common daily life scenarios, including interactions at municipal offices, medical consultations, pharmaceutical purchases, hairdressing appointments, religious practice explanations, and mental arithmetic. It explores language barriers and the strategies employed to overcome these challenges. The findings reveal distinct patterns among respondent groups. Notably, all groups tend to use languages other than Japanese when discussing religious customs and performing mental arithmetic. In contrast, Chinese and Koreans prefer Japanese for tasks such as municipal office transactions and medical consultations. Nepalese respondents have a higher preference for Japanese, while Filipinos lean toward using English.

Regarding language barriers and the strategies, Nepalese and Filipinos reported higher levels of difficulty when using Japanese compared to Chinese and Koreans. A significant number of Chinese, Nepalese, and Filipinos actively devise strategies to address language challenges, with a notable reliance on tools like Google Translate. This aspect of problem-solving was not explored in the earlier National Institute for Japanese Language survey, representing a noteworthy discovery.

The paper provides insights into the linguistic dynamics and communication challenges faced by foreign residents in Japan.