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The Asahi Shimbun
National Report
article
By AYAMI KO/ Staff Writer
September 13, 2025 at 07:00 JST
Aline Yukihara talks about her goals at a scholarship ceremony in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Aug. 20. (Ayami Ko)
Major trading house Mitsui & Co., continuing its support for the Brazilian community in Japan, has started a scholarship program for Brazilian college students in hopes of broadening their career options.
Each student under the grant-type scholarship system receives between 1 million yen ($6,700) and 1.2 million yen per year. They are not required to repay the money.
The students selected for the scholarship attended a ceremony at the company’s Tokyo main office on Aug. 20 to talk about their experiences and wishes and goals.
“I want to be a counselor to support children with foreign roots,” said Aline Yukihara, 21, a third-generation Japanese-Brazilian who lives in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture.
Mitsui started providing educational assistance to Brazilians living in Japan in 2005 as part of its contributions to the South American country, where it operates various businesses.
In 2009, the trading house established a scholarship program for children attending Brazilian schools in Japan up to senior high school age.
And last year, it established the program for college students, with Yukihara and three others being the first recipients.
Yukihara was born in Brazil and has been living in Japan since she was 4 years old.
She initially attended public school, but she felt out of place because of the environmental and cultural differences.
She transferred to a Brazilian school when she was a second-year junior high schooler.
After graduating from high school, Yukihara worked at an auto factory and as an assistant care worker while studying for her college entrance exam.
After passing the exam, she entered college and is studying psychology and social welfare.
“I could have a go at studying Japanese again thanks to the fact that I was accepted by a Brazilian school,” Yukihara said.
Drawing from her own experience, she said she wants to emotionally support children who have the same worries as her. She is thinking about continuing her studies at a graduate school.
The scholarship program has reduced her financial burden.
“I can rest assured because there is a company that supports and believes in us,” Yukihara said.
210,000 BRAZILIANS IN JAPAN
According to the Immigration Services Agency, around 3.77 million foreign residents were living in Japan at the end of 2024, including about 210,000 Brazilians, making up the sixth-largest group.
Kumiko Sakamoto, president of Aidensha, a Mie Prefecture-based nonprofit organization that helps foreign residents, said many children of Japanese-Brazilians grew up without receiving enough education.
However, the number of those receiving higher education has increased.
After graduating from high school, many of them choose similar jobs performed by their parents and other community members, including factory work and nonregular employment.
But the Mitsui scholarship system opens more opportunities by helping them move to higher education.
“There had been no scholarship funding foreigners of Japanese descent living in Japan, but it’s so moving to see the new system introduced, and I’m happy,” Sakamoto said.
In addition, a growing number of foreign workers have decided to live in Japan.
“After becoming accustomed to life in Japan, many people find it attractive here because their children can receive education,” Sakamoto said.
She said when their children settle in Japan, they can also contribute to Japanese society, which is supported by foreign workers from all walks of life.
Sakamoto added that the scholarship program will be “a big step forward” for both Japanese and non-Japanese people.
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