Japan Immigration News

Foreigners at center of debate in Japan's tense election campaign

Release Date: 2025-07-13
Media: The Mainichi
Summary: In the lead-up to Japan’s July 20 House of Councillors election, immigration and foreign resident policy have become major political issues. Rising support for conservative minor parties—especially the nationalist Sanseito party, which promotes a “Japanese First” agenda and stricter controls on foreigners—has brought the topic to the forefront of national debate. Sanseito has gained notable popularity, ranking second in some polls, and calls for eliminating welfare for foreigners, banning them from public sector jobs, and enforcing stricter cultural conformity.

While mainstream parties like the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito are also adopting tougher stances—such as pledging "zero illegal foreigners"—they attempt to balance this with calls for coexistence. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party promotes multiculturalism, while other opposition groups also advocate stricter regulations, particularly on foreign real estate ownership.

Incidents involving a small number of foreign nationals have fueled negative perceptions, despite police data showing crime rates among foreigners remain low and stable—around 2% of all reported incidents. Experts warn that xenophobic narratives, though often not grounded in fact, could deepen discrimination and social tension. Nonetheless, with Japan’s population shrinking and labor shortages intensifying, many analysts emphasize that coexistence with foreigners is key to future economic vitality. As of the end of 2024, Japan had a record 3.77 million foreign residents.
Tags: Immigration Policy

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2025-07-15

Japan’s right-wing fringe is no MAGA or reform movement(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-13

Foreigners at center of debate in Japan's tense election campaign(The Mainichi)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-08

The Rising Force of Japan’s Ultra-Nationalist, Anti-Immigration Sanseito Party(The Diplomat)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-16

Immigration in Japan: Accepting Foreigners to Secure a Workforce(JAPAN Forward)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-14

Immigration in Japan: Can Foreigners Live Here?(JAPAN Forward)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-12

Cultural anxiety and Japan's immigration pains(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-10

Immigration Agency to Tighten Visa Requirements for Foreign Entrepreneurs; Move Eyed as Chinese Nationals Increasingly Obtain Status(Japan News)

Immigration Policy,Business Manager

2025-06-09

Japan to Tighten Immigration, Welfare for Foreigners, and Land Rules(JAPAN Forward)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-06

Japan to Deny Entry of Foreigners with Unpaid Medical Bills(nippon.com)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-05

Japan’s Immigration Policy and the Kurdish Population(Foreign Policy Research Institute)

Kurdish,Immigration Policy

2025-05-28

Institutional barriers hinder the integration of Japan’s foreign population(EAST ASIA FORUM)

Immigration Policy

2025-04-25

Associations voice greater need to recognize Japan’s foreign residents(KYODO NEWS)

Coexistence,Immigration Policy

2025-01-28

Immigration Systems in Labor-Needy Japan and South Korea Have Evolved—but Remain Restrictive(Migration Policy Institute)

Immigration Policy

2024-12-29

Breaking Down Japan's Immigration System From a Former Insider's Perspective(JAPAN Forward)

Immigration Policy

2024-12-15

Indian-born CEO of Japanese company says nation needs immigration to thrive(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy

2024-11-23

Japan Job Market Points to Shift on Immigration(Newsweek)

Immigration Policy, Specified Skilled Worker

2024-11-14

Opening Borders For Workers: Abe’s Profound Influence On Japan’s Immigration Regime(eurasia review)

Immigration Policy

2024-11-08

Local approaches to Japan's immigration challenges(EAST ASIA FORUM)

Immigration Policy

2024-10-30

Improved Immigration: Japan’s Solution to Its Population Crisis(Harvard International Review)

Immigration Policy

2024-09-30

FY2024 International FPCJ Webinar: Population Decline and Immigration Policy: How Can Japan Become a Country To Be Chosen?(Foreign Press Center Japan)

Immigration Policy,Technical Intern Training,Training employment,Specified Skilled Worker

2024-09-15

For investors, intellectuals leaving China, it's Japan -- not US -- that's the bigger draw(The Mainichi)

Immigration Policy,China

2024-07-28

Less than half of foreign workers want to remain in Japan's countryside(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy

2024-07-04

Japan headed for shortage of 970,000 foreign workers in 2040(NIKKEI Asia)

Population,Immigration Policy

2024-06-21

Japan to launch online travel authorization system for visitors(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy,Temporary Visitor

2024-06-15

On topic: Japan's challenges in boosting immigration(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy

2024-06-14

Japan's new foreign worker program sets off scramble for talent(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy

2024-06-07

Japan to enroll all foreign residents in national pension system(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy

2024-05-27

Yoroku: Can Japan keep saying immigration rules trump foreigners' constitutional rights?(The Mainichi)

Court,Immigration Policy,Immigration Law

2024-05-15

No, Japan’s actually not a xenophobic country(Asia Times)

Immigration Policy

2024-05-14

Foreign workers in Japan climb the ladder at smaller firms(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy,Population

2024-05-07

Japan tells U.S. that Biden’s ‘xenophobia’ comment is regrettable(The Asahi Shimbun)

Immigration Policy

2024-05-07

Biden's labeling of Japan as xenophobic 'regrettable,' gov't says( KYODO NEWS)

Immigration Policy

2024-05-07

Japan defends its immigration policy, amid Joe Biden's accusations of xenophobia(Le Monde)

Immigration Policy

2024-05-03

Joe Biden calls US allies India and Japan 'xenophobic'(BBC)

Immigration Policy

2024-05-02

Biden Calls Japan and India ‘Xenophobic’ in Defending U.S. Immigration(The New York Times)

Immigration Policy

2024-05-02

Biden calls US ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with India, Russia and China(CNN)

Immigration Policy

2024-04-11

Japan targets India and Southeast Asia to recruit tech workers(Nikkei Asia)

Immigration Policy

2024-04-08

Indian business leader hopes more young Indians work in Japan(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy

2024-03-30

News in Easy English: Japan ready to accept many more foreign workers(The Mainichi)

Immigration Policy,Specified Skilled Worker

2024-03-19

Japan to help employers spot labor issues faced by foreign workers(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy,Training employment

2024-03-17

Cabinet OKs new foreign trainee program to promote longer stays(Japan Today)

Immigration Policy

2024-03-16

Japan battles Taiwan and South Korea for foreign workers(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy

2024-03-06

Opinion: Japan must reform its refugee and immigration system to avoid further tragedies(The Mainichi)

Immigration Policy

2024-02-07

Japan bets on tech, immigration as labor crisis worsens(DW)

Immigration Policy,Specified Skilled Worker

2024-02-07

Record 2 million foreign workers are changing the face of Japan(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy

2024-01-16

Immigration consultations to be held in Kanazawa on Thursday(NHK)

Immigration Policy

2024-01-09

Japan’s Immigration Agency Eases Entertainment Visa Rules; Application Process Streamlined, Maximum Stay Increased(The Japan News)

Immigration Policy,Status of Residence

2024-01-07

Is Japan finally embracing immigration?(The Spectator)

Immigration Policy

2024-01-04

2023 Rewind: Is Japan ready to accept foreigners as part of its society?(The Mainichi)

Immigration Policy

2023-12-26

Japan could relax immigration policy as Abe faction wanes in LDP(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy