Japan Immigration News

(JAPAN Forward)Japan's Foreign Worker Debate Still Lacks a Blueprint, Economist Warns

Release Date: 2026-08-05
Media: JAPAN Forward
Summary: Tomohisa Ishikawa, Chief Economist at the Japan Research Institute (JRI), argues that Japan should first decide what kind of immigrants it wants before debating how many to admit. He says the country's foreign labor policy suffers from three major weaknesses: the lack of a shared vision, an ineffective coordinating body, and insufficient data on foreign residents.

These shortcomings contributed to the government underestimating the sharp rise in foreign residents in 2024, when net inflows exceeded 330,000—about twice the official forecast. Ishikawa warns that migration pressure on Japan is likely to increase as populations grow in developing countries and other advanced economies tighten immigration policies.

While Japan has raised residency-related fees and may increase them further, Ishikawa believes fees have little influence on migration. Instead, he advocates clear admission caps, defined skill requirements, better Japanese-language education, and stronger public understanding of multicultural coexistence. He also calls for improving recruitment systems in sending countries and establishing a long-term immigration policy based on mutual benefit rather than ideology.
Tags: Immigration Policy

News Articles including "Immigration Policy"

1
2
3
4

Released on

Article Title

Tags

2025-07-20

Japan: Far-right parties play immigration card ahead of vote(DW)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-19

Japan’s minority gov’t faces election setback over inflation, immigration(ALJAZEERA)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-19

Ishiba walks a political tightrope on immigration(EAST ASIA FORUM)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-18

“Japanese First” politics creates fears for Indonesians(New Mandala)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-16

Japan said at a ‘crossroads’ over party policies on foreign residents(The Asahi Shimbun)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-16

'Japanese First' party shakes up election with alarm over foreigners(Reuters)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-15

Japan’s right-wing fringe is no MAGA or reform movement(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-15

Immigration becomes election issue in Japan amid tough economy(NIKKEI Asia)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-13

Foreigners at center of debate in Japan's tense election campaign(The Mainichi)

Immigration Policy

2025-07-08

The Rising Force of Japan’s Ultra-Nationalist, Anti-Immigration Sanseito Party(The Diplomat)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-16

Immigration in Japan: Accepting Foreigners to Secure a Workforce(JAPAN Forward)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-12

Cultural anxiety and Japan's immigration pains(Japan Times)

Immigration Policy

2025-06-12

‘Invasive Species’? Japan’s Growing Pains on Immigration(Bloomberg)

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