OPINION: Japan Should Embrace Inclusive Policies for Foreign Workforce

By Nobutoshi Kobayashi Commentary Writer Tokyo, Nov. 19 (Jiji Press)–Foreign residents are now a permanent fixture of Japanese society, evident in workplaces and neighborhoods nationwide. The reality is confirmed by data. The number of foreign residents in Japan rose by 354,089 year on year to approximately 3.68 million as of January 2025, accounting for nearly 3 pct of the national population, according to the Basic Resident Register. Foreign residents increased in every prefecture, and only two villages reported none. Rather than treating such people as a temporary inconvenience, Japan should adopt policies that make workplaces and communities more welcoming and supportive. This is not merely a matter of goodwill. Inclusive measures will help build a more cohesive society, boost economic resilience, and strengthen national capacity. Off the Map Amid severe labor shortages, many workplaces across Japan are already relying on foreign workers, while the number of people seeking to come here continues to rise. Once seen as an unattractive destination because of low wages and a weak yen, Japan is now expected to register net migration inflows of roughly 300,000 people per year for the foreseeable future. Although Japan ranks outside the world’s top 20 by per capita gross domestic product, it remains an appealing destination for people from countries with lower incomes, including China, Vietnam and Indonesia, said Tomohisa Ishikawa, head of research at Japan Research Institute Ltd. Geographical proximity to those countries also helps draw migrants, Ishikawa told reporters at the Japan National Press Club. The presence of foreigners in Japan became a flash point in the July election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, fueling a rise in anti-foreign sentiment. Claims that foreigners receive preferential treatment lack evidence, yet public anxieties and suspicions must be addressed and alleviated. The government of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, inaugurated in October, has announced plans to develop a policy regulating foreigners’ acquisition of real estate. Since many countries impose restrictions on foreign property ownership, it would not be inappropriate for Japan to set reasonable limits. Such issues, however, are clearly different from the broader debate over whether foreign workers should be excluded from Japan. The real problem is that the government has no clear immigration strategy beyond a general statement that it will not pursue large-scale immigration for permanent settlement. As a result, ministries and agencies have responded to each new issue involving foreigners on an ad hoc basis. This situation is compounded by a lack of reliable statistics on foreign residents, which undermines reasoned, evidence-based debate. Accurate data are urgently needed so authorities can identify where problems exist and design appropriate policy responses. Focus on Coexistence The government seems to be promoting the idea that “foreigners are not immigrants but temporary residents who will eventually return home.” Whether that perception serves Japan’s long-term interests is doubtful. Yu Korekawa, director of the Department of International Research and Cooperation at the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, suggested, “One reason many foreigners choose Japan is a distinctive employment practice of accepting and training workers in ways that are less common in the West.” Some foreigners who acquire skills in Japan later move abroad for higher wages. If Japan is content to serve primarily as a training ground and supplier of skilled workers to other countries, that would be generous to a fault. It is desirable that talented foreign nationals be encouraged to continue working and building their careers in Japan. Viewing foreigners only as a source of labor is far too narrow. When they work in Japan, they pay taxes and social insurance premiums, so calling them “free riders” is inaccurate and misleading. They are also consumers who help sustain the domestic economy. For these reasons, proposals such as imposing a strict cap on the total number of foreign residents should be rejected. The government should prioritize coexistence policies that promote the integration of foreign residents into Japanese society. It must also recognize that experience in such policies varies by region. For example, the city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, has welcomed people of Japanese descent from South America since the early 1990s and has accumulated more than 30 years of practical experience in implementing coexistence measures. Many other municipalities, by contrast, are only now beginning to address these issues in earnest. This unevenness in experience points to a need for a central coordinating authority for policies affecting foreign nationals. Ishikawa has proposed creating a multicultural coexistence agency to lead cross-ministry coordination and adapt national initiatives to local conditions. This proposal deserves serious consideration. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]