Over 4,000 Filipinos in Hokkaido: Philippine Embassy and prefecture discuss support for residents
The Philippine Embassy in Japan and the Honorary Consulate in Sapporo met Hokkaido Prefectural Government officials on 16 October to discuss support for Filipino residents, who number over 4,000, including a support center that takes consultations in Filipino.
The Philippine Embassy in Japan and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Sapporo met with officials of the Hokkaido Prefectural Government on 16 October 2026 to reaffirm their shared commitment to promoting the welfare of Filipino residents in the region, the Embassy said on October 28.
The prefectural government highlighted a two-fold increase in the number of foreign residents within the last five years, with over 4,000 Filipinos constituting 5.3 percent of the prefecture's total foreign population of more than 77,000 as of 2025.
Help in Filipino
The delegation visited the Hokkaido Foreign Resident Support Center in Sapporo, which accommodates inquiries and consultation requests in Filipino and other languages, according to the Embassy. The prefecture says the center provides multilingual consultations regarding residence procedures, employment, medical care, welfare, childbirth, child care and education.
The center can be reached on 011-200-9595, Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, closed from 12:00 to 13:00 and on weekends and public holidays.
Domestic violence support
The two sides also discussed existing support mechanisms for Filipino and foreign residents who are victims of domestic violence. These include protection and temporary shelters, consultations and psychosocial services, and employment assistance.
Community ties
The delegation learned about a Filipino resident in Kushiro City who has been conducting cooking classes for local residents for more than a decade, introducing them to dishes such as tinolang tahong and lumpia. The visit coincided with the Embassy's Consular Outreach Mission in Sapporo on 17 October, and Embassy offices also took part in the inaugural "Pistang Pilipino sa Hokkaido" on 17-18 October, organized by One Network, Co. Ltd.
Read the web like we doTurn any page into clean, ready-to-use data with FirecrawlKey facts
- Over 4,000 Filipinos make up 5.3 percent of Hokkaido's foreign population of more than 77,000 as of 2025.
- The Hokkaido Foreign Resident Support Center in Sapporo accommodates consultation requests in Filipino and other languages.
- The Embassy and Honorary Consulate met Hokkaido Prefectural Government officials on 16 October 2026.
Official sources
Kislap reports this story for general information only. Nothing here is immigration, legal, financial, tax, medical, employment, or other professional advice; check official sources and speak with a qualified professional before acting.