Recently, have you been hearing terms like "foreign residents in Japan" or "foreign workers" more frequently?In recent years, there has been an increase in businesses employing foreign workers. As the number of foreign workers grows, so does the number of families and children with foreign roots, necessitating improved reception systems not only at the national level but also in local municipalities.This article will explore the current situation surrounding foreign residents in Japan and consider future responses in medical settings.Background of Expanding Foreign Worker AcceptanceWho are foreign residents in Japan?Foreign residents in Japan are individuals from other countries living in Japan. This includes those who come temporarily for work or study, as well as those who settle permanently, such as through marriage to a Japanese national. They live in Japan with various goals and dreams.Proportion of foreign residents in Japan's total populationBy 2021, the number of foreign residents in Japan reached about 3 million, accounting for approximately 2% of the total population. This means that one in every 50 people in Japan is a foreign resident.Why is the number of foreign residents increasing?The expansion of foreign worker acceptance is driven by the decline in Japan's working-age population (the sum of employed persons and completely unemployed persons aged 15 and over).In 2021, Japan's total population decreased for the 12th consecutive year, with the birth rate reaching a record low for the sixth consecutive year. It is predicted that labor shortages in companies will become more pronounced in the future.The decline in the working population affects the growth of the Japanese economy itself. To address this shortage of workers, a new residence status called "Specified Skilled Worker" was established to invite workers from overseas.Characteristics of Foreign Residents in JapanForeign residents tend to be information vulnerableForeign residents are often considered information vulnerable because they may not know information that Japanese people take for granted or find it difficult to locate necessary information among the vast amount available.Additionally, differences in customs and culture can lead to behaviors that Japanese people might consider impolite, often unintentionally.For these reasons, foreign residents are said to be at higher risk of encountering dangerous situations during disasters compared to Japanese nationals.The most understood language among foreign residents is not EnglishThe nationalities of foreign residents in Japan are diverse, and English-only signage has its limitations.According to a survey conducted by the National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics:44.0% of foreign residents in Japan reported being able to speak English62.6% reported being able to speak JapaneseThis shows that more foreign residents can speak Japanese than English.As of June 2020, foreign residents in Japan came from 196 countries and regions, with the majority from Asian countries.Therefore, it is crucial to provide information in "Easy Japanese" (Yasashii Nihongo) that is understandable to foreign residents to prevent them from becoming information vulnerable.Medical Care and Easy JapaneseWhat is "Easy Japanese"?Easy Japanese is a simplified form of Japanese that is easily understood by everyone, including foreigners, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. It is used nationwide in various fields, including disaster information, administrative information, daily life information, and news.Communication in medical settingsAs the number of foreign residents increases, communication between foreign patients and medical professionals will also increase.However, the Japanese used in medical settings often contains many technical terms that foreign residents are not accustomed to using in daily life.Therefore, there is a need for the use of Easy Japanese in medical settings.Examples of Easy Japanese in medical settings:SituationStandard JapaneseEasy JapaneseReception問診票の記入をお願いします。記入できたらこちらにお出しください。（問診票を見せながら）これを書いてください。終わったら、ここに出してください。Consultation今、使用している市販薬はなにかありますか？今、何か薬を飲んでいますかConsultationご家族で持病のある方はいますか？家族で病気の人はいますか？Consultation喫煙・飲酒はなさいますか？タバコは吸いますか。お酒は飲みますか。Payment保険証をお持ちでないと、自費診療となりますが、よろしいですか？（保険証を見せながら）これはありますか？これがないと、値段が高くなります。大丈夫ですか？Paymentお支払い回数は何回にされますか？１回で払いますか。分けて払いますか？If you find Japanese difficult or interpretation challenging, OHDr. is recommended. OHDr. strives to use Easy Japanese in various situations, including consultations, social media information dissemination, and study sessions. In addition to Easy Japanese, they also offer consultations in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indonesian, with online consultations available from home.If more specialized hospital consultations are needed, medical interpreters can attend online consultations to support the visit.If you have any concerns, please feel free to consult with OHDr.