Newcomers to Tokyo get a Welcome Furoshiki

In most small-town societies, it’s common courtesy to pop by and visit new neighbors. Some of you, in fact, may have been lucky enough to receive a “welcome wagon” from friendly locals, which helps to get you and your family acclimated to life in the new community.

But what happens when you move to a big city and that neighborly personal welcome is lost? What if you can’t even communicate with them if you tried?

When Charlotte Kennedy Takahashi arrived in Japan 30 years ago, she was dismayed that there was no such welcome extended to her. Limited English information existed, and members of the foreign community were often isolated from one other. So in 1983 she decided to develop her own greeting service to help people get the information they need when they first arrive, and to provide an opportunity for newbies to ask questions. Over the past 25 years, Welcome Furoshiki has helped some 15,000 families settle into life here by providing a personal welcome visit and a packet of useful information. The organization makes about 500 house calls per year.

Welcome Furoshiki’s package contains a range of publications: The Daily Yomiuri, Economist, International Herald Tribune/Asahi Shimbun, Outdoor Japan and Metropolis. Most of the organization’s sponsors have included a pamphlet, brochure or catalogue, some of which contain discount coupons or other special offers. Newcomers receiving the kit also get earthquake preparedness information, including a map identifying evacuation sites, a safety checklist, and details of radio stations and TV channels that provide English broadcasts in the event of an emergency.

The package is hand-delivered by a volunteer representative who is familiar with the city, and comes wrapped in a furoshiki. These Japanese cloths have traditionally been used to wrap bathing items, but these days are more commonly employed as a way to carry personal effects or to wrap a special gift.

The visit lasts about an hour, and during this time the rep can answer questions about living in Tokyo, as well as offer personalized advice about the local neighborhood. “Each newcomer comes with a different set of experiences, support system and family situation, which determines the kind of information they are looking for,” says Michelle May, one of Welcome Furoshiki’s directors. “The needs change from visit to visit. But what doesn’t change is newcomers’ need to connect and feel comfortable in their fresh surroundings, and tips for surviving in their new home.”

May has one piece of advice for all newcomers: “Get involved! The more activities, clubs, organizations you jump into, the more people you will meet and very quickly you will find out where you want to direct your time and talents. You will quickly make friends who share those common interests; by reaching out, joining others and sharing feelings about your new home, you can connect with people and start to feel like you belong in your new surroundings.”

As the welcoming service is nonprofit, it relies on sponsors to keep things running. Currently, 36 supporters ranging from department stores to newspapers are represented in the Tokyo pack. Recruitment company Oak Associates is the backbone sponsor of the NPO, but many others help keep things running, including The Daily Yomiuri, Foreign Buyer’s Club, Drs John & Maori Kaku Orthodontics, Allied Pickfords, Occidental Corporation and Isetan Department Store. The money donated is used for advertising, materials, transportation and other similar expenses.

If you’re interested in being greeted by a friendly face or want to know more about sponsorship, call 03-5472-7074 or complete the online form at http://www.welcomefuroshiki.org.

This story originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp)

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