Japan Immigration News

Foreigners at center of debate in Japan's tense election campaign

Release Date: 2025-07-13
Media: The Mainichi
Summary: In the lead-up to Japan’s July 20 House of Councillors election, immigration and foreign resident policy have become major political issues. Rising support for conservative minor parties—especially the nationalist Sanseito party, which promotes a “Japanese First” agenda and stricter controls on foreigners—has brought the topic to the forefront of national debate. Sanseito has gained notable popularity, ranking second in some polls, and calls for eliminating welfare for foreigners, banning them from public sector jobs, and enforcing stricter cultural conformity.

While mainstream parties like the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito are also adopting tougher stances—such as pledging "zero illegal foreigners"—they attempt to balance this with calls for coexistence. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party promotes multiculturalism, while other opposition groups also advocate stricter regulations, particularly on foreign real estate ownership.

Incidents involving a small number of foreign nationals have fueled negative perceptions, despite police data showing crime rates among foreigners remain low and stable—around 2% of all reported incidents. Experts warn that xenophobic narratives, though often not grounded in fact, could deepen discrimination and social tension. Nonetheless, with Japan’s population shrinking and labor shortages intensifying, many analysts emphasize that coexistence with foreigners is key to future economic vitality. As of the end of 2024, Japan had a record 3.77 million foreign residents.
Tags: Immigration Policy

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