If people and countries around the world could achieve win-win relationships, a happier world would be realized. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan have accepted large numbers of foreign workers. These countries and regions have reaped great benefits. For example, the South Korean government has established a policy of attracting international students from high school onward. They are quickly integrated into the local community and accepted as valuable “human resources.” By building deep relationships with local residents, they hope to learn Korean language and culture and become a driving force for regional revitalization. This scene was taken at a tourist seafood market near Kyungdong University in Gangwon Province, northeastern South Korea. International students were attracting customers at food stalls. Many international students were seen cooking and serving at the tourist seafood market. To borrow a student’s words, they feel positive about earning their tuition and living expenses while also learning business. South Korea receives 25 million tourists annually. Due to the aging workforce, these tourist destinations are said to be at risk of disappearing. In rural areas, essential infrastructure such as daycare centers, hospitals, and supermarkets is collapsing. International students have become a kind of savior, filling the labor shortage. Some believe that international students can “kill three birds with one stone” by studying business, Korean language, and Korean culture.
Meanwhile, the majority of foreign workers eventually return to their home countries. A system is needed to help these people live fulfilling lives after returning. Pasona Group’s “Okaeri Job” program, launched in Vietnam in 2024, is a model for this. Many Vietnamese who have lived in Japan find employment at local companies after returning. The more than 2,000 Japanese companies operating in the country were concerned that they were overlooking “immediately effective” talent. Human resources with experience living in Japan are an immediate asset to Japanese companies in Vietnam. Japanese companies are well aware that personnel familiar with Japanese etiquette and business practices are an effective asset. “Okaeri Job” is limited to Vietnamese job seekers who have lived in Japan for at least one year through technical internships or study abroad. It takes time for a country’s economy (such as Vietnam or Indonesia) to develop. Japanese companies can shorten this time. To shorten this time, talent with experience living in Japan is essential. Companies seem to prioritize understanding of the Japanese workplace, such as punctuality, over Japanese language proficiency. “Okaeri Job” serves as a bridge connecting Vietnamese job seekers with Japanese companies.
It’s also fun to prepare now for a win-win relationship with the future. One way to do this is by recycling solar panels. In Japan, solar power generation systems will reach the end of their lifespan annually, with 500,000 to 800,000 tons of solar panels expected to reach the end of their lifespan in the late 2030s. Panel recycling technology is currently evolving. Niimi Solar Company in Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture, has developed a new technology. This company uses a pyrolysis furnace to recycle solar panels. The panels are heated for 15 to 20 minutes in a pyrolysis device filled with steam exceeding 600°C. The adhesive and plastic backing sheet vaporize and peel off. The adhesive and plastic are then collected along with the steam, separating them into water and organic matter. After decomposition, only glass fragments, copper wire, and solar cell fragments remain, completing the process without emitting carbon dioxide. This new method increases the recycling rate, which previously hovered around 70%, to approximately 95%. This company is also considering not only disassembling solar panels but also developing a process for their regeneration. The entire process, from collecting and disassembling used panels to recycling silicon and other materials, will likely be further streamlined. However, there is a shortage of personnel capable of smoothly carrying out this recycling process.
The collection and recycling of used panels will be a global issue in the future. Japan is currently building a model for this. However, there is a shortage of personnel. This shortage has led to the idea of relying on overseas personnel. They will receive training in Japan at panel repair and recycling companies, that they will acquire the necessary skills. It is beneficial to invite and develop the human resources that will be needed in the future. The skilled workers who have received training in Japan will then be involved in waste panel recycling businesses in their home countries, creating a system that will contribute to their respective home countries. During the training period, Japanese companies will also have access to manpower. A win-win relationship for the future will be built through the reuse of solar panels.
