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About ALECE

ALECE offers educational and information support to empower Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) youth to achieve their goals, such as continuing their education. We aim to help them become key contributors to local society and active bridges between Japan and their root countries.

Realizing a multicultural society—where diverse values, cultures, and traditions are embraced to drive mutual growth—is vital to revitalizing rural areas challenged by aging, depopulation, and economic stagnation. ALECE strives for regional revitalization driven by the education of CLD youth.

Origin of "ALECE"

Organization name before becoming a non-profit organization
Association for Language and Academic Achievement of Foreign Children
↓In Portuguese
Associação de Apoio Linguístico e Educacional para Crianças Estrangeiras
The acronym ALECE TAKAOKA was formed from the initials.

What We Do

Since starting our learning support program for CLD youth aiming for higher education in 2010, ALECE has continually expanded its scope. Today, our work centers on three core pillars: academic support, educational information access, and citizenship education.

学習支援事業

1. Learning Support Program

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Learning Support Classes

Every Tuesday: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Every Saturday: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM / 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Designed for junior high and high school students, around 30 students with diverse linguistic repertoires—including Urdu, Portuguese, Chinese, and English—participate in these classes. (As of December 2025)

Multilingual Educational Video Project
(Since May 2017)

In collaboration with the Takaoka Koryo High School International Club, we create multilingual math learning videos.

Currently available on ALECE’s YouTube channel:

  • Video 1: "Positive and Negative Numbers" (Available in Japanese, Portuguese, Chinese, and English)

Information support project

2. Educational Information Support Program

High School Entrance Guidance

We have been co-hosting high school guidance and consultation sessions for foreign students and their parents/guardians in collaboration with other organizations. Since 2025, ALECE has also co-organized the "High School Entrance Guidance" hosted by the Toyama Prefectural Board of Education.

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Information Sharing & Support for Foreign Residents

We create and distribute multilingual resources related to parenting, education, and career design.

(Commissioned by Toyama Prefecture's International Affairs Division for the "Career Design Support Project for Children with Roots Abroad" from 2014 to 2016)

COVID-19 Emergency Support (Concluded)

In fiscal year 2020, we held counseling sessions and seminars for Brazilian residents in Japan.

Seminar Videos (Portuguese) – 6 Episodes Total

Citizenship education projects

3. Citizenship Education Program

Citizenship Education Activities

We organize events such as workshops (held four times a year), as well as New Year and graduation parties. Through student-led workshops and events, we create opportunities for multicultural youth to connect with the local community while strengthening our academic and career support. We aim to help CLD youth broaden their horizons, build self-esteem, and establish a foundation for actively engaging in community issues.

Project to create diverse learning options
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Creating Diverse Learning Opportunities

Toyama Prefecture is home to people of diverse nationalities, languages, cultures, religions, values, and backgrounds. To ensure that residents from all walks of life can pursue learning without giving up, we identified their educational needs through surveys and interviews, submitting a formal policy proposal to the prefectural government in December.

Our History

2010.04

Established ALECE Takaoka

2010.05

Launched the Learning Support Program (Ongoing)

2014.05

Commissioned by Toyama Prefecture's International Affairs Division for the "Career Design Support Project for Children with Roots Abroad"; created multilingual educational materials (Through 2016)

2014.11

Received the Toyama International Grassroots Exchange Award

2017.05

Launched the Educational Video Project (Ongoing)

2020.04

Launched the Citizenship Education Program through the "Citizenship Education Program for CLD Youth" (Dormant Bank Account Utilization Project, through Mar 2023)

2021.09

Incorporated as a Non-Profit Organization (NPO)

2021.10

Received the Takaoka City Council of Social Welfare Chairperson's Award

2022.11

Awarded the Grand Prize at the Toyama Hometown Creation Awards

2023.02

Awarded the Japan Foundation Citizen Award for FY2022

2023.04

Conducted research and policy proposal under the "Creating Diverse Learning Options in Areas with Scattered Foreign Residents Project" (Dormant Bank Account Utilization Project)

2025.01

Received the 18th Kamenori Award (Kamenori Grand Prize, Grassroots Category)

2025.04

Certified as a "Specially Certified NPO" (Tokurei Nintei NPO)​

2025.11

Received the Toyama Prefectural Governor's Commendation for Distinguished Service in International Exchange

理事・スタッフ

Board Members & Staff

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Yuka Aoki

Representative

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Masahiro Karaki

​Director

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Katsutoshi Okazaki

Vice representative

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​ Takao Ikehara

Auditor

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Hiroko Hasuma

​Director

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Eikichi Sasajima

Auditor

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Keiko Himi

​Director

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Noriko Takishita

Secretary General

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Kaho Mizuta

​Director

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Yukie Shimizu

Secretariat staff

視察について

Study Visits & Site Tours

情報公開

How to Request a Visit

If you wish to conduct a study visit, please email us at info@alece.org with your preferred date and time, group size, and specific requests.

Please note that we may not be able to accommodate all requests depending on our schedule.

Study Visit Fee

Thank you for your interest in ALECE Takaoka.

Due to our limited staff and operating budget, we kindly ask visiting organizations for a fee of 11,000 yen per group.

The funds received will directly support ALECE Takaoka’s ongoing programs and operational costs.

We truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

If your organization faces financial constraints, please feel free to consult with us.

We would deeply appreciate any support you can offer, such as a donation or by becoming a supporting member.

 INFORMATION DISCLOSURE 

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