Japan Immigration News

Japan election debate stalls over definition of 'immigration'

Release Date: 2026-02-05
Media: The Mainichi
Summary: Japan’s growing intake of foreign workers has become a political issue ahead of the general election, with opposition parties criticizing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) over what they call an “immigration” policy. Right-wing opposition groups argue that the increase in foreign workers amounts to immigration, while the LDP denies this, saying it only considers people with permanent residency to be immigrants.

The disagreement stems from different definitions of immigration. The LDP excludes temporary work visa holders from the term, whereas international organizations such as the United Nations and OECD count people who stay for a year or more as immigrants. Experts say meaningful policy debate is difficult without a shared definition.

Opposition leaders claim Japan’s policies have already brought in over one million immigrants and warn that immigration could permanently change society. The LDP counters that it is not pursuing an immigration policy and plans to tighten residence status screening to address public concerns.

Analysts note that while some countries like the United States and Canada also use a narrow definition focused on permanent residents, international statistics use broader criteria. They add that the LDP’s claim that Japan is not accepting immigrants is increasingly out of step with public perceptions as the number of foreign workers grows.
Tags: Immigration Policy

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