An estimated 5,000 Japanese citizens live in the Las Vegas Valley and nearby communities. They come from all walks of life – business owners, hospitality workers, students, housewives, retirees, and others.  Unlike some large cities, there is no particular area where Japanese citizens tend to live in the Las Vegas Valley. Many Japanese people have reported feeling isolated and unable to access essential community resources for themselves and their families.

 

Nippon Sodan Kai’s non-profit mission is to provide very affordable subscription/ fee-based guidance,  in Japanese,  to Japanese citizens to identify available resources and help increase awareness of and empower Japanese citizens and their families to access such resources. 

 

Examples of guidance to be provided include:

 

• How to get a Nevada Driver’s License, including written test preparation

• Responding to and surviving domestic violence

• Negotiating Clark County Family Court

• Services available through the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco

• Childcare/early education resources

• Common issues when enrolling children in public schools

• Fraud/scam awareness

• Mental health and addiction resources

• US immigration compliance

• How to get US citizenship

• Signing up for and accessing Social Security and other benefits

• Accessing SNAP and other governmental support programs

• Income tax preparation and compliance

• Estate planning resources

• Services for the elderly and disabled, including accessing  Clark County RTC van transportation services

 

Nippon Sodan Kai’s services will take multiple forms.   Classes will be held on the above topics, and related written materials will be created in Japanese.  Classes will be videotaped, and members will be able to access them, as well as written materials,  on the organization’s website.  Some topics will be free of charge to all members of the community, and some will require membership to access.  Individual counsellors will be trained to provide guidance to members of the community on an as-needed basis, including specially-trained rapid response teams where the person is experiencing a crisis or is in immediate danger of injury or death.  (Membership not required for urgent crisis response services.)

 

Ultimately, Japanese-English translation services for everyday issues like medical visits, teacher meetings, and others will be available to members, at a very low, subsidized cost. 

 

The association’s website will feature message boards and chatrooms, where members can communicate and share information with each other.

 

The overarching goal of Nippon Sodan Kai: make Las Vegas a more comfortable and welcoming place to live for the Japanese community, and to improve their quality of life and to help ease the feeling of helplessness and isolation so many Japanese citizens report.