European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 3, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Car behind struggled through Iho japanese Anthem and a shinto priest blessed the site where an abandoned Ford Plant would become a Mazda la Clory now business is feverish a i a japanese video and grocery store in Flat Rock. The owner. Mitsuhiro Minoa barely has room Lor another Samurai movie. A already stocks Frozen squid and octopus five kinds of Tofu four shelves of soy sauce and japanese videotapes ranging from , Joe to you too can play Golf. I each Day offer a new cultural Puzzle As newly arrived japanese make their Way around the Industrial  since the japanese arc used to full. Service at Gas stations self service signs can Gat confusing. We just Wall and waft and wait at the pump said Tob Hlaiko Fukunaga a manager at Mazda one japanese Mother accustomed to department stores in Japan where Sillers take care of customers children while they shop looked aft Over for the nurseries at american stores. She thought she finally found me right place sheol heyday. She look her child to the service counter Al k Marl where clerks said they did not Lake care of children but would be Happy to refund defective merchandise. Tiera Are so Many differences that a local University started a class to teach new arrivals when and How to give a Toast or How to choose among salad dressings Al a restaurant. What particularly bewilder japanese businessman is How to chitchat Al the cocktail parties they have to attend if they Are asked a question they can answer it said Asae Shichi who teaches the class at Oakland University. But they can t think of any topic to keep the conversation going. It s Cru calling. We Tell them they can talk about their Job in a superficial kind of Way or they can Lalk about a Hobby the food the weather or How they like  their biggest fear is crime and they usually live outside the major cities so avoid in. Most still remember Vincent Chin a chinese american beaten to Detoh five years ago in Detroit by two Lake off automobile workers who thought he was japanese now japanese men Are warned never to Wear business suits in Detroit because they might be identified As japanese Auto executives. But even in Leisure Wear new arrivals say they rarely go into the City. Going into Detroit was a Little scary said Yuri to Ueki. Who moved near Flat Rock four months ago with Hor husband Toshiwo a Mazda worker it was the first Lime i Ever saw bars on  the japanese also worry about image and they scatter themselves across the Region to avoid appearing insular they re wry cautious not to form a japanese settlement,"1 said Jesse smart mayor of blooms ton a. Where the Chrysler Mitsubishi Plant is being built. They work very hard to blend in and not be a  a letting Oversea it one thing Tay Trie japanese but Ming there it another matter. Exporting old timers Japan to urge retirement abroad a Uphou by Steven  associated press Teruhiko Mano is a 50-year-old Tokyo banker who Speaks several languages and has lived in new York London and Switzerland he is an Ideal candidate for a new program encouraging japanese to retire overseas but Mano says he does t intend to leave Japan when he retires. He also says he does t expect Many other japanese to participate in the program offered by the ministry of International Trade and Industry. To visit overseas is one thing but to live there is something entirely different he said what about our friends what about our family the program scheduled to begin in 1992, will urge japanese to retire in such countries As Spain Greece Australia and the United states japanese officials believe the program would Tot japanese enjoy the fruits of Strong currency they have worked to build up and perhaps Creale a new Industry to transport and serve the expatriates. Critics however say Japan would be exporting elderly citizens who might become a health Burden on their adaptive countries. The year lha retirement program will begin is the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by the Christopher Columbus. The program will be known As Silver Columbia to characterize older people As explorers a spokesman for the ministry said. U is the brainchild of Takao Kitahata the ministry s director of service industries. Kitahata says he thought of it while lounging on the coast of Spain when a was working a Road Lor the japanese government. Because of the High Cost of living and because the High value of Japan s currency has made jiving overseas cheaper. Kitahata thought some japanese people might Tike to live in places like Spain. Only 1,200 japanese now live abroad in retirement government figures show. They Are social anomalies in a land where family ties Are cherished and where people lend to Slick together in school and at work. In contrast there Are about 350,000 britons and 580,000 West German retirees Wing abroad lha ministry said. The plan has drawn criticism at Homo and abroad. Foreign countries have complained that Japan in t sending skilled workers but Only its elderly.  the Crinus say they will require substantial service such As medical care Hiat would Pul a heavy Burden on local communities. Critics in Japan said he government would be exporting Ila problems like it exports cars Japan is facing a growing dilemma in How to Deal with an increasingly elderly population. In Japan people Over the age of 65 account for More than 1c percent of the nation s 121 million people. The eld oily population is expected to exceed 20 percent of the population by the year 2000. Kitahata said Japan is not trying to Export its elderly but to help them Benefit from the Strong currency they be spent their lives helping to build the ministry also Hopes Money can be made in whal official say is a new Industry called Trens Border services or providing transportation and goods to japanese who choose to live overseas Takasuke Konewko an economist with the Bank of Tokyo agreed that companies see a possible Industry developing in that area. But they also see limited participation and a lot of problems. Konewko said one potential problem is language. Most japanese elderly people speak no foreign language and would t like to five where there was no one they could talk to he said. Konewko said he expects participation in the program to be Low predicting that Only about 10,000 will choose to retire abroad. He said Japan still will have to build hospitals and retirement Homes even in the program is successful the ministry said some foreign countries such As Spain have expressed interest in the program As a Way of solving some of their Trade problems with Japan. Other countries have said they Are not interested a spokesman Lor the australian embassy in Tokyo who asked not to be identified said an influx of japanese residents could create Many problems especially it they required special care. The embassy spokesman said Australia will review requests from japanese seeking id move to the country on an individual basis to said primary consideration will be Given to reuniting families or to people with work skills Konewko said the program oilers elderly people a Choice. If nothing else it Wal give our elderly people a Choice on where they want to live he said. Ii gives them something to dreary  the stars and stripes Page 15