OSAKA -- A reference book has been published to help the many Vietnamese people in Japan who want to drive a moped, drawing praise for its clear explanations of the information necessary to qualify for a license.
The book was mainly planned by Masahiko Yanai, 49, an executive at Works-one, an architectural design firm in Nishi Ward, Osaka. Works-one introduces Vietnamese people to workplaces and is also involved in publishing books.
Mopeds are commonly used in Vietnam, and many Vietnamese living in Japan want to obtain a license to use one. However, according to Works-one, a great many such people have commented in recent years that it is difficult to learn Japanese and they can't prepare for the test.
In addition, there were almost no reference books available in the Vietnamese language.
Yanai took his idea to Kobunsha, a publishing company in Higashi-Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, which offers textbooks aimed at acquiring various qualifications. With the number of Vietnamese people in Japan increasing, they decided to put out the book.
Yanai and Nguyen Huong Hai, a 29-year-old Vietnamese employee at Works-one, came up with the content, with the right-hand pages written in Vietnamese, and the left-hand ones in Japanese. Traffic rules in Japan are explained with the help of illustrations.
In addition to basic rules such as no riding in tandem and having to stop before train crossings, they carefully translated details such as "a moped must not be driven at speeds over 30 kph," so that exam takers would not make a mistake and think a moped can't be driven at 30 kph or more.
The translations were completed last summer.
Vietnamese became one of the languages in which people seeking a moped license in Osaka Prefecture can take the test last October. The exam environment has improved, but Hai said: "There are many differences in the rules between Vietnam and Japan, such as driving on the right side of the road. People need to study sufficiently. I think this book will help a lot of people."
About 2,000 copies have been published so far. Users have written to express their thanks, with such comments as "I passed the test on my first try."
Yanai said, "I'm so happy if we can help improve the lives of Vietnamese people in Japan."
The book is 256 pages long, with A5-sized pages, and priced at 2,300 yen excluding tax.
-- Increased support
According to the Justice Ministry, there were about 420,000 Vietnamese residing in Japan as of last June, 3.3 times the level five years before. The total number of foreigners in Japan was 2,886,000, or a 1.3-fold increase.
Although future trends are uncertain due to the pandemic, local governments plan to improve living environments in keeping with the increase.
The Osaka Foundation of International Exchange, a public interest incorporated foundation, has created a communication sheet in foreign languages for use in case of a disaster. People can communicate with each other by pointing at the sheet, which is available in 10 languages and distributed to organizations and companies.
The Osaka Prefectural Board of Education developed a video conference system and is helping foreign students at prefectural high schools learn Japanese. Kobe City, where 7,800 Vietnamese were living as of the end of December, has set up a website in Vietnamese on its Facebook page explaining how to dispose of garbage.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
