Dispatch of medical interpreters

We dispatch medical interpreters to interpret at hospitals and medical institutions.

Interpreters for children with foreign backgrounds

We send interpreters to help facilitate conversation among children, parents, and school officials when communication in Japanese is difficult, as well as for the mental support of the child.

Multilingual Call Center (medical institutions)

There is a telephone interpretation service that can be used at medical institutions (hospitals and health centers) in Saga Prefecture.

Multilingual Call Center (local governments)

There is a telephone interpretation service that can be used at local governments (city halls, town halls and such) in Saga Prefecture.

Interpretation / translation requests

If you are in need of an interpreter or a translation, but your request does not fit any of the above, a volunteer registered with our association (SPIRA) might still be able to help you. (Please note that, depending on the content, we may not be able to accept your request.)

Consultations regarding daily life

You may consult with a counselor of the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga about all sorts of aspects of your life. This service is free of charge.
We accept consultations not only from foreigners but also from Japanese people and companies.

Legal Consultations

You may consult with a lawyer, to whom you may make inquiries regarding the Japanese law. This service is free of charge.

Consultations with an administrative scrivener

You may consult with a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist about your status of residence or visa.

• You can consult with a Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialist individually at the center. This service is free of charge.
• ”Kurashi Support Saga” is a group of Certified Administrative Procedures Legal Specialists who take on consultations for free on every third Saturday of the month. This service is free of charge.

Consultation on Immigration Procedures

The Center holds a consultation meeting on immigration procedures once every one to two months. You can consult and ask questions directly to the immigration officials. The service is free of charge.

Consultations regarding employment (Saga Prefecture Employment Consultation Office)

Every Thursday an advisor from the Saga Prefecture Employment Consultation Office is available for consultations at the Saga International Plaza. You may consult with them whether you are looking for employment or looking for employees. This service is free of charge.
*The Saga Prefecture Employment Consultation Office can be consulted on other weekdays at their main office on the first floor of the Saga Prefectural Government Office (new building).

Health Consultation for Foreigners

We offer free health consultations about three times each year. You can talk to nurses and social workers about hospitals, medical care, and your own personal health. (The time and place for these consultations change every year)

Japanese language classes in Saga Prefecture

There are various Japanese language classes in Saga prefecture, which are run by volunteers. In these classes, volunteer teachers will teach you Japanese.(SPIRA currently does not directly run any language classes.)

Dispatch of Japanese language supporter for children

We dispatch Japanese language supporters to children with roots in foreign countries who need support in their school life in Japan. Applications for this service can be submitted by the school. If you are interested in this service for your child, please inquire at the school which your child attends.

SPIRA Guest Teacher

- Guest lectures on multicultural coexistence and cross-cultural understanding (by foreign lecturers or SPIRA staff members)

Lecturers from various countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America are registered with the association (SPIRA). These foreign lecturers can be dispatched to talk about their home countries. Furthermore, staff members of SPIRA can provide lectures on Simple Japanese or disaster prevention.

- Guest Lectures on international cooperation understanding

There are many CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) in the prefecture that actively promote all sorts of international exchange and international cooperation. In collaboration with these CSOs, we also dispatch and provide introductions to Japanese lecturers who have abundant overseas experience, for the purpose of deepening the understanding of multicultural coexistence and international exchange/cooperation among the citizens of the prefecture.

Guest Lectures and Guidebook on Working with People From Other Countries During a Disaster

We have created a guidebook for Japanese people who may have something to do with foreigners in the event of a disaster. This guidebook summarizes how Japanese people who normally have few interactions with people from other countries can together overcome a disaster, without unnecessary confusion. Staff members of SPIRA can make a visit and use this guidebook to explain how you can approach foreigners in the event of a disaster.

Orientation on Daily Life in Saga for Foreigners

Counselors from the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga can give orientations on daily life at companies that employ foreigners. We can prepare materials and give a talk in accordance to your preferences.

Volunteer registration system

The Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA) recruits the following types of volunteers.

• Multilingual Volunteers
• Japanese Language Volunteers
• Homestay Host Families
• Guest Lecturers

Japanese Language Volunteer Training Courses

Medical Interpreter Training Courses & Skill Improvement Courses

Official LINE of the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga

Facebook of the Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (Spira Saga)

Multilingual Support Center in time of disaster

We send out important information in time of disaster. Please register with SPIRA’s Facebook page, or the LINE account of the Center for Multicultural Society in Saga.

”Hello Saga” (Information Magazine on International Exchange and Cooperation)

E-mail Magazine

Ebisu FM “Earth Discovery Corps On-Air”

• Every first Wednesday of the month: JICA九州+佐賀県海外協力協会『Jump to the World』
• Every third Wednesday of the month: Saga Prefecture International Relations Association『SPIRA多文化わいわいわい』