Participating in the 21st NAGOMi Forum in Tokyo

Celebrating the 5th Anniversary of NAGOMi

On November 14, 2024, Peerapat Srisukha, Managing Director of NA BANGKOK RECRUITMENT CO., LTD., a member of the NAGOMi Association Japan, and a Board Member of the Thai Overseas Manpower Association (TOMA), participated in the 21st NAGOMi Forum held in Tokyo.

This forum was organized to commemorate the 5th anniversary of NAGOMi and welcomed over 240 participants from across Japan, including representatives from government agencies, private companies, educational institutions, and international organizations.

Forum Theme

“Turning Anxiety into Hope - Revitalizing the Japanese Economy through Foreign Human Resources”

The forum emphasized the growing importance of foreign workers as key contributors to Japan’s future society and highlighted policy directions toward building a sustainable multicultural and inclusive workforce.

Key Highlights

The forum opened with remarks from the Chairperson of the Kanto–Koshinetsu Regional Block, followed by the introduction of a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, reaffirming the Japanese government’s strong commitment to foreign human resource policies.

A keynote speech titled“The Basic Act on Permanent Foreign Residents for Regional Revitalization”was delivered by Mr. Koji Kunimatsu, former Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission and former Ambassador to Switzerland.The session was moderated by Mr. Kunio Umeda, Vice President of NAGOMi and former Ambassador to Vietnam and Brazil.

Distinguished panelists included:

• Takashi Yamashita, Member of the House of Representatives (Former Minister of Justice)

• Monte Kaseem, President of Akita International University

• Ichiro Matsuoka, Former Mayor of Higashikawa Town, Hokkaido

• Yasuhisa Shiozaki, Former Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare

The discussion focused on Japan’s need to proactively accept foreign workers and develop a new labor model based on multicultural coexistence.

Panel Discussions & Baton Session

Subsequent sessions addressed:

• Expanding opportunities for foreign workers

• Japanese language education and human resource development

• Creating fair and transparent working environments

• Regional revitalization through multicultural communities

The “Baton Session – Messages from the Field to NAGOMi” featured representatives from corporations, technical intern organizations, and academia, sharing real-world challenges and policy recommendations for improving foreign worker acceptance systems.

The forum concluded with an announcement of the 2nd NAGOMi Awards (2026) and recognition of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the organization.

Exchange Reception

The post-forum reception was attended by distinguished guests including:

• Satsuki Katayama, Minister of Finance

• Seiko Hashimoto, Member of the House of Councillors and JOC President

• Katsuei Hirasawa, Member of the House of Representatives

• Regional block leaders of the NAGOMi Association

In a warm and open atmosphere, participants exchanged views on human resource development across caregiving, manufacturing, agriculture, and other sectors, as well as future cooperation between Thailand and Japan.

Through this forum, we strongly reaffirmed that:

• Foreign workers are not merely labor resources, but essential partners in Japanese society

• Japan is earnestly seeking high-quality foreign human resources

• Thailand is capable of developing talent that meets Japan’s evolving needs

• International networks and cooperation will become increasingly important

NA BANGKOK remains committed to building a sustainable, fair, and safe human resource sending system, enabling Thai youth to work in Japan with pride. As a member of both NAGOMi and TOMA, we will continue serving as a bridge between Thailand and Japan, contributing to the future of international human resource exchange.