Tokyo English Life Line, a telephone counseling service for non-Japanese that celebrated its 30th anniversary this month, sees a need for such services increasing in line with the growing number of foreigners living in Japan.
Justice Ministry officials said the number of non-Japanese citizens registered in the nation totaled about 1.78 million as of December 2001. That represented a rise of more than half a million in 10 years.
The growing number of foreigners means a corresponding increase in the problems they encounter over lifestyle differences, relationships and language.