A message from volunteer

Hello,

My name is Theo. I am coming to APFS as a volunteer since April 2012.

I want to study about the migrations to Japan, so I came here as an exchange student. Spending time, talking, working together with the people of APFS, who try to find solutions for the foreigners living here, it is a very rich experience. Whether they have the right visa or not, foreigners are treated not as such but as human beings, and I feel it is a very good thing.

There are many legal regulations. But if you try to hold together with the foreigners that can be lost in the maze of the laws, regulations, and a sometimes very unfriendly society, we can make a better society !

If you don’t have the right paper, I realized daily life can become extremely difficult. I never had trouble with getting a cell phone, getting registered or daily life matters, thanks to my foreign student visa. But, listening to the stories of people in different situations, I realized that it was not so easy for other people. Finding an apartment, a job, divorce, cellphone, a lot a things of very difficult.

While I’m in Japan, I don’t want to do research in an office. I want to be on the field, to grasp the situation.

So, as much as I can, I want to participate in finding solutions with this association, and with the people living here.

The second trial on Mr. Suraj's case

 The second trial on Mr. Suraj's case (claim for damages against the Japanese government) was held on January 16 at 2 o'clock at courtroom 705 at Tokyo District Court.

 The response of the government was exactly the same as the last trial: the judgment should be suspended until the criminal punishment is decided. We were disappointed at the government's insincere attitude toward the case. To this statement, the chief justice stated that the government must consider the case along with criminal punishment. From the next trial, we expect that the government make clear the problems of the case, and that we see some progress.

 The next trial (the third trial) will be held on March 12 (Mon.) from 2 o'clock at courtroom 705.

 Please continue to support us by observing the trial at court!

Exibition of Mr. Suraj's paintings

We are going to hold the exibition of Mr. Suraj's paintings!

Mr.Suraj's paintings are going to be exibited at the cafe near Nishi-Ogikubo station for 2days
You can see what kind of person Mr. Suraj was and feel his heart through his works.


Also, you can enjoy African cuisine made by Mr. Suraj's wife. The profit made by African cuisine is going to be donated to Suraj Foundation.
Please join us and enjoy his works and African cuisine.

Date： 12/10（Sat）・11（Sun）

Place：KISSCAFE (5 mins walk from Nishi-Ogikubo station）

　　　　http://www.kiss-cafe.jp/

Getting to know their real aspect.....

I’m Chika, a new volunteer. I joined APFS from this October as I was interested in problems of irregular immigrants in Japan. Also, I am writing a senior thesis on this topic now. Though I am new to APFS, I am always surprised at the variety of people coming here to talk and variety of problems they have.


Along with volunteering, I am conducting interviews to irregular immigrants with them face to face, I realized how inaccurate images most people have on them. They are far from the ‘criminal image’ portrayed on the media. Most people live without knowing what kind of problems those foreigners have, even though we are all living in the same community. I can’t help but wonder how we can tackle this reality.

Bangladesh concert

Hi, I’m Ikeda as a volunteer for A.P.F.S. On November 6th I went to a concert with the representative Mr. Kato. The concert was held by Uttoron, a Bangladesh culture group in Japan.


Most of the audience was Bangladesh. I felt as if I were in a foreign country because of some women with the beautiful ethnic costumes or the speaking voice in a foreign language. On that day it was an Islamic holiday, so I often heard people said “Eid Mubarak!” (the greeting for the holiday).

The concert was consisted of Bangladesh ethnic songs, dances, and a drama. They showed Japanese translation on the screen. It helped us easily to understand the lyrics. They sang various songs from a famous singer’s song in Bangladesh to a Japanese traditional song “Yagi-bushi”. Not only the traditional dances and instruments of Bangladesh, but also surge of excitement coming from the audience gave a tremendous boost to the concert.

In this year, Uttoron has their 23rd concert. I am really amazed at knowing it. I hope the concert to continue into the future.

The first trial hearing is fixed!

The date of the first trial hearing is fixed.

On October 31, 2011
In No. 705 law court room of Tokyo District Court

Your participation as courtroom audience is a power to determines truth.
We ask for your cooperation

An assembly to report the case of Mr.Suraj

Yesterday an assembly to report the case of Mr.Suraj was over. A talk by attorney at law took place in front the audience of slightly less than 50 persons. The talk included progress report, problems of the case such as use of instrument of restraint out of court, intentional interruption of videography to record enforcement and outlook of the case.

Cousin of Mr.Suraj from Osaka, friends of Mr.Suraj, supporters were gathered and talked about memory before his death and thoughts of the case. His illustration displayed made his character recalled.

From now truth hunting in the suit against the Japanese government is expected. Timing of trial hearing can be seen in the latest website of APFS. Your participation as courtroom audience is highly appreciated.