Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Jesuit Social Center Tokyo

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Purpose
  
Human development

Staff
  
Two Jesuit, two lay

Affiliations
  
Jesuit, Catholic

Established
  
1981; 36 years ago (1981)

Location
  
Kibe Hall, Kojimachi 6-5-1 Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Main organ
  
Social and Pastoral Bulletin

Jesuit Social Center Tokyo was established in 1981 by the Jesuits in Japan as a networking center on issues of socio-economic development and human rights. It serves as a liaison office for Jesuit social commitments and collaborates across Asia in pursuit of its vision. It sponsors lecture series and conferences and publishes the bimonthly Social and Pastoral Bulletin.

Activities

Jesuit Social Center Tokyo publicizes social problems and citizens’ movements through its bimonthly journal and sponsors lectures related to the Center's commitment. Its bimonthly Social and Pastoral Bulletin is published in Japanese and in English. It helps with legal issues, as for migrants; does editing and translation work; organizes study groups, seminars, and conferences; and looks to conscientize especially among Jesuit and Catholic groups. Its concerns include the spectrum of human development issues, human rights, peace, ecology, and Catholic social thinking.

Its networking within Japan includes the following organizations.

  • JAPA Vietnam: its members give private assistance to Vietnam.
  • CANBOREN. Since 2003 this group has assisted Jesuit Service Cambodia with a variety of human development programs for the people of Sisophon in northwest Cambodia.
  • Adachi International Academy(AIA). This pilot program provides education to children of foreign parents in the Adachi region of Tokyo. It also familiarizes migrant workers with the Japanese system and culture.
  • Migrant Desk coordinates the center's efforts with refugees and foreign workers in Japan and throughout Asia. It published Unwelcome Nationals in 2007, visits deportation centers, and supplies free legal services.
  • Ecology a Bit Late: a Catholic network on environmental issues.
  • RASA: a youth group that supports living experiences in rural Thailand, and offers scholarships for Asian students in Japan.
  • Tabiji no Sato (Jesuit Center for Homeless Workers) for homeless workers in Kamagasaki, Osaka.
  • Shimonoseki Labor Education Center in Shimonoseki has since 1966 offered training seminars for workers. The facilities are also available to citizens’ groups.
  • Catholic Tokyo International Center (CTIC) since the centenary of the Archdiocese of Tokyo in 1990 has fostered in Catholic churches in Japan a welcoming and helpful atmosphere for migrants.

    • References

    Jesuit Social Center Tokyo Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA