Japan Immigration News

(Tokyo Weekender)56% in Japan Now Oppose More Foreign Settlement, Up From 36% in 2024

Release Date: 2026-08-10
Media: Tokyo Weekender
Summary: A survey by the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Social Science found that 56.3% of respondents opposed accepting more foreigners for permanent settlement in Japan, up 20.7 percentage points from 2024. The shift was particularly strong among younger generations, while people who felt there was “no hope for Japanese society” were more likely to become opposed to greater foreign settlement.

The change comes as Japan faces population decline and labor shortages while the numbers of foreign residents and workers reach record highs. Economic uncertainty, rising living costs and concerns about the labor market may be contributing to broader anxiety about Japan’s future, although the survey does not establish a direct causal relationship between these concerns and attitudes toward immigration.

Professor Shin Arita suggested that social anxiety and dissatisfaction, combined with greater exposure to negative discussions about accepting foreign nationals, may have intensified opposition. Based on responses from about 3,800 people, the survey suggests that attitudes toward immigration may be closely connected to wider pessimism and uncertainty about Japanese society.
Tags: Immigration Policy

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