Japan Immigration News

Immigration in Japan: Can Foreigners Live Here?

Release Date: 2025-06-14
Media: JAPAN Forward
Summary: Japan is facing a demographic decline and labor shortages, making foreign workers essential to its economy. Historically a country that sent emigrants abroad, Japan began accepting foreign laborers in the late 1980s, particularly from Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, to fill labor gaps in sectors considered undesirable by local workers.

Although the Japanese government has repeatedly stated that it does not pursue an “immigration policy,” it has implemented systems that allow foreign nationals to work, study, and eventually apply for permanent residency. These include various visa categories, the Technical Intern Training Program, and pathways to permanent residence for those who live and work in Japan for several years. In 2019, Japan established the Immigration Services Agency and expanded support for multicultural integration through multilingual consultation centers.

Despite these developments, political and societal resistance to the term “immigration” remains strong. The ambiguity and sensitivity surrounding the word have hindered open debate. Rather than focusing on whether Japan is an immigration country, the real issue is how to practically and effectively integrate and support foreign residents. A new, more appropriate terminology may be needed to reflect the current realities of Japan's approach to migration.
Tags: Immigration Policy

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

Immigration Policy

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

2024-05-03

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

2023-10-14

Number of foreign residents in Japan rises to record 3.2 million(KYODO NEWS)

Immigration Policy