The world cannot get enough of Japan. The feeling is not exactly mutual. Amid a surge in arrivals of both migrants and tourists, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has made rethinking the agenda around foreign nationals one of her top priorities. A full plan is to be announced this month, set to include stricter conditions for permanent residency and citizenship, pricier visa renewals, a tougher review of property purchases and a higher departure charge.
Since the issue first reared its head in last year’s elections, when a fringe party espousing “Japanese First” policies captured headlines, there have been cries that a nation that once shut itself off to the outside world for centuries is retreating to xenophobia, but Takaichi’s approach, far from cutting Japan off, is a necessary step to a future in which foreign labor would only become more important. By acknowledging now the reality of public unease over change, and formalizing systems that are far too ad hoc, the nation can avoid the divisive about-faces on immigration that have caused ructions in many Western nations.
Japan has an image as a place that is nigh on impossible to move to, but in reality, its approach is often incredibly lax. Until last year, “business manager” visas allowing multiyear stays required seekers to have just US$30,000 in capital. Naturalization applications are almost always granted, with just 5 percent rejected in 2024. There is no requirement to speak the native language to become a citizen or permanent resident; to naturalize in the US, you must not only pass an English test, but also be able to answer questions including the date income taxes must be filed by and the names of the original 13 states.
This did not matter much when absolute numbers were low, but in the past decade, arrivals have surged as the population ages. The number of foreigners has doubled since 2012 to top 4 million. While it is still just 3 percent of the population overall, in some municipalities it is above 10 percent.
The issue has come to a head post-COVID-19 pandemic as, combined with increased numbers of tourists, the public began to notice the change, and with arrivals only likely to increase — some suggest that one in 10 of the population could be foreign-born by 2040 — this is a chance to discuss how the nation should look.
The slowly-does-it approach has allowed Japan to observe the mistakes of other nations that flew headlong into mass migration and are now having to reverse course. The UK’s Labour government has been forced to adopt far more aggressive language than Takaichi in an attempt to head off the threat of Nigel Farage’s Reform. Germany, too, has been tightening its immigration framework in the face of the electoral threat from the Alternative for Germany, while the EU has adopted a stance on illegal immigration closer to what was once the province of the far-right.
A decade ago, Japan was frequently criticized for “pulling up the drawbridge” by declining to accept large numbers of asylum seekers. Now, many of those same critics say that the global refugee system itself must be scrapped. Mass migration has also not proved a panacea for a declining birthrate.
The reality is that large-scale immigration is rarely popular with the electorate. A recent NHK poll found that 70 percent approved of Takaichi’s steps. The prime minister has a chance to reshape policies to avoid a whiplash of an overly loose approach followed by a stringent crackdown.
Japan undoubtedly needs workers from abroad. I myself am an immigrant to the nation, and recognize the need to supplement labor shortfalls; I also want to see it welcome more tourists — while charging them appropriately.
It is reasonable to ask that immigrants obey the law, and set some limits to long-term residence in a wealthy nation. Parties like the UK’s Reform might cynically exploit public unease, but not every policy that reduces friction to immigration should be immediately labeled as racist. Increased visa fees are in line with peers, and a tool for a government that needs to increase revenue. Takaichi is smart to acknowledge public concern on the subject given voters in other parts of the world, disenchanted with dawdling centrist politicians, have drifted toward far-right parties promising tougher measures.
At the same time, Takaichi’s policy bundle must include efforts to make it easier for foreigners to assimilate into society. It is all well and good to link language requirements to longer visas, but the other side of the ledger must include Japanese training and schooling.
Foreigners in Japan often find they are exempt from many of its unwritten societal rules, but as the makeup of the nation changes, it is no harm to codify things a little more clearly.
Gearoid Reidy is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Japan and the Koreas. He previously led the breaking news team in North Asia, and was the Tokyo deputy bureau chief. This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.
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