Japan Immigration News

Nishiyama Immigration Service
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Ignore the election hype, foreign residents are here to stay

Release Date
2025-07-23
Media
Japan Times
Summary
In the lead-up to Japan’s 2025 Upper House election, foreign resident issues became a focus of political and media attention. The conservative Sanseito party, which ran on a “Japanese first” platform, won 14 seats, raising concerns of xenophobia. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also emphasized controlling crime and misuse of public systems by foreign nationals, though critics noted a lack of distinction between short-term tourists and long-term residents.

Japan has seen a sharp rise in foreign residents, with the number reaching a record 3.77 million in 2024—a 10.5% increase over the previous year. Most come from Asian countries under work or study visas. Foreigners now make up just over 3% of the population, while Japan’s total population continues to decline.

Tourism, with nearly 4 million visitors per month, has brought economic benefits but also overcrowding and localized problems. Some short-term visitors have exploited systems like health care or licensing, prompting legal reforms.

Despite public concerns, serious crime has declined, and foreign residents overwhelmingly contribute through employment and taxes. However, challenges remain in education, cultural integration, and housing—especially in areas with growing immigrant populations. Foreign student enrollment has also sparked debate over access to universities and subsidies.

Overall, while integration issues exist, the data does not support the narrative that foreign residents are a burden. Experts argue that Japan must continue carefully managed immigration while providing better support systems to ensure mutual benefits for both newcomers and citizens.
Tags
Immigration Policy

News Articles including "Immigration Policy"

Released on
Article Title
Tags
2025-07-25
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2025-07-23
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2025-07-16
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Immigration Policy
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Immigration Policy
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Immigration Policy
2025-07-13
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Immigration Policy
2025-06-12
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Immigration Policy
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Immigration Policy
2025-06-06
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Immigration Policy
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Immigration Policy
2024-06-14
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Immigration Policy
2024-06-07
Japan to enroll all foreign residents in national pension system(NIKKEI Asia)
Immigration Policy
2024-05-27
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Court,Immigration Policy,Immigration Law
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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
Biden's labeling of Japan as xenophobic 'regrettable,' gov't says( KYODO NEWS)
Immigration Policy
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
2024-05-03
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Immigration Policy
2024-05-02
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2024-04-11
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2024-04-08
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