Toyota International Association (TIA) was moved to the 3rd floor of the Toyota Industry and Culture Center on June 1, 2007, and the “Toyota Global Square” (hereafter referred to, simply, as “The Square”) was opened.

A place for exchanging culture and feeling a sense of familiarity with the world

As of October 1, 2008, there were 16,800 foreign residents living in Toyota City. Furthermore, as a result of (Japanese) corporations making advances into foreign markets, the large number of visitors to Toyota City from abroad or Toyota Citizens returning from having lived abroad (“returnees”) has literally made Toyota City into an “international metropolis.” The Square was born out of an increased need to obtain all sorts of information, not only with regard to local affairs, but from abroad, as well, in order to have deeper exchanges and to facilitate the visits of people from different cultural backgrounds.

New activities are born out of encounters

The first thing that strikes us upon entering “The Square” is the unique arrangement of the space. Approximately 900 square meters of space are not divided into rooms by walls of any sort, and the space is very open and spacious. The space was built with the thought that visitors to TIA events or volunteer activities would feel at home and with the expectation that they would make new friends, observe the activities of other groups, and, thereby, enlarge their own circle of activities.

Further, the “open hours” were extended from 5:45 p.m. until 9 o’clock, so that it would be a place where people returning home from work could casually drop in. The very popular daytime foreign language and Japanese language courses are now also offered in the evenings. Everyone is urged to make use of this new base of internationalization, “Toyota Global Square”!

There is a large-format screen on the east end of the lounge area for use with a projector. The set-up is perfect for holding lectures or seminars.	There are long desks in the lounge area that can be arranged for Japanese language classes. Sometimes the meeting room takes on many different kinds of appearance.

Toyota Global Square
Place	Toyota Industry and Culture Center, 3F (1-25 Kozakahonmachi, Toyota City)
Open Days/Times	Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. through 9 p.m. (Except closing time on Sunday is 5 p.m.) Closed on Monday (except when a National Holiday falls on a Monday, or when Monday fallows a National Holiday Sunday open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Also closed for consecutive days at the Year End/New Year holidays and Golden Week holidays.
Tel	0565-33-5931 (Toyota International Association—TIA)

A place of “back-up” for Citizen’s “Internationalization Activities”

An overview of equipment/resources available at the Toyota Global Square

■Achi 2005 World Expo Memorial Stage—This facility features a stage
equipped with a 103 inch large-format screen. The stage and screen commemorate the World Expo’s “One City/Town/Village—One World” Program, which helped to foster international exchanges among Toyota Citizens and peoples of various countries. It was installed with the hope that the “circle of friendship” between peoples might continue to widen from now on. From now on, beginning with “National Day,” in which
foreign residents living in Toyota City introduce their own countries and regions, it can also be used for a variety of events designed to promote international exchanges. Further, one can simply relax and enjoy the beautiful images on the large screen at any time by viewing DVDs featuring content about world travel or World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites.

■ Coin-operated Internet Terminal (Coin PC)

For 100 yen, one can use a computer terminal for 30 minutes. In addition, the terminal can handle many foreign languages. The Internet browser can handle Portuguese, Chinese, Thai and other languages (a total of 12 languages), with possible input in 20 or more languages, thereby serving as a very useful information tool for people of different countries. Access to information about one’s own country in one’s native language is very reassuring. Of course, the terminals can also handle Japanese, so we can quickly find information about our foreign friends’ country of birth, culture, food, etc.

■ Information Corner

Daily-life information--Many kinds of courses, training guide books, foreign languages, etc., related to international matters, courses of various kinds, guidebooks about training or language are available.		Up-to date magazines and newspapers in many languages are available. Please make use of them while relaxing in the Lounge area of the Square.
One need not know a foreign language to enjoy looking at the photos in foreign language magazines.		There is a bulletin board on which one can read private messages, such as “I teach English.”

International exchanges, guides for various courses, volunteer activities, living in Toyota City or sightseeing information is available in both Japanese and other foreign languages. The latest foreign language newspapers and magazines, which are difficult to obtain in Japan, are also made available. Foreigners who feel daily stress or frustration due to being surrounded by the Japanese language might be able to find relief from these negative feelings by reading magazines or newspapers written in their native tongue.

■ Library

Whether for international exchange or education to gain international understanding, one can either browse through or borrow library materials. Although the number is limited, all the materials have been carefully selected for their usefulness. (However, in order to use the library requires that one register as a TIA Volunteer).

■ Volunteers’ Room

These rooms are used by volunteer groups for holding regular meetings and for various activities. If you are interested in everyone’s volunteer activities, why not inquire about them?

■ Counseling Room

Naturally, foreigners have troubles in daily life, just as Japanese people do. Furthermore, it can be very disheartening not to be able to speak openly and frankly to someone. At TIA, “Multilingual Counseling for Foreigners” is held in English, Portuguese , Chinese (for further details, please refer to this page>>>■). The counseling room is constructed in a manner completely opposite in idea from the “open space” concept of the Global Square, it is completely isolated from the outside and insures privacy, so one can get good counsel with peace of mind.

Using the Global Square Effectively In order to make use of the rich resources of the Global Square in an effective manner by many people, it is necessary that “rules of use” be followed. User’s understanding and cooperation is requested. Above all, no smoking or eating is allowed in the Square, and photographs are strictly prohibited. ≫ rules of use