Japan Immigration News

(The Conversation)Japan’s economy needs foreign workers, not the nationalist approach pushed by its new leader

Release Date: 2025-10-22
Media: The Conversation
Summary: Sanae Takaichi has become Japan’s first female prime minister, but her rise does not signal a shift toward progressive or feminist politics. A staunch right-wing conservative, Takaichi emphasizes nationalism, traditional values, and strict immigration control—policies that critics say could worsen Japan’s demographic and economic challenges.

Japan faces a severe population decline and aging crisis: its population has fallen from 128 million in 2008 to about 124 million today, with projections of only 63 million by 2100. Despite severe labor shortages, immigration remains politically sensitive. While the number of foreign residents has reached a record 3.6 million (around 3% of the population), this remains far lower than in other advanced economies.

Takaichi, who won leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party after complex coalition negotiations, has built her political base among older conservatives wary of immigration. She supports accepting foreign workers only in sectors with labor shortages and under strict controls, opposing broader immigration or political rights for foreigners.

Her government instead promotes pro-natalist policies encouraging Japanese women to have more children, echoing strategies in other nationalist governments like Hungary’s. However, such measures have shown limited success elsewhere.

Overall, under Takaichi’s leadership, Japan is unlikely to see progress in gender equality, immigration reform, or population recovery—suggesting that its demographic and economic decline will continue.
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