This ERIA report is based on an AHWIN-supported study which aims to establish a “Standard Japanese Language Proficiency  Can-Do List for Care Workers.” The goal of the study was to establish a list that shows the standard of required language and basic vocubulary for care workers.

While Japan has developed an effective long-term care (LTC) system for older people, the system is under pressure due to steadily increasing demand and a shortage of care workers. One practical policy solution to this issue is to promote the cross-border circulation of the LTC care workforce in East and Southeast Asia, to both address Japan’s care worker shortage and to create opportunities for skill transfers and fostering of the care industries’ of countries in East and Southeast Asia, which are also experiencing rapid population aging.

One barrier to this policy is the lack of Japanese language education and  Japanese proficiency tests that are specifically catered to the language skills required by LTC care workers. This study contributes to addressing this gap in Japanese language education by identifying a list of specific linguistic activities that are required for LTC personnel in a variety of workplaces in Japan.