February 11, 2023 - 8:00am
Tokyo
Has Japan, a country with one of the world’s most notoriously strict immigration policies, finally begun to open its doors to outsiders? That would seem to be the conclusion from the latest figures for migrant workers, which stand at the highest in history.
A record 1.82 million foreign nationals were working in Japan at the end of October 2022. This constituted a rise of 5.5% on the previous year and marked the tenth consecutive annual increase. The figures would likely have been even higher had it not been for the strict border controls imposed as part of Japan’s response to Covid-19.
The new intake comes mainly from Vietnam (25.4%), China (21.2%) and the Philippines (11.3%) and most seem to be working in the manufacturing or care sectors. The number of Indonesian technical trainees has also risen in recent months, up 56.7% from the end of 2021. Tokyo, unsurprisingly, has seen the biggest influx, with 500,000 foreign workers now resident in the capital. Aichi and Osaka prefectures now have large foreign worker communities as well.
This suggests that a significant shift is underway in Japan, where ethnic homogeneity has long been seen as not just desirable but essential for the preservation of a complex and unique culture. The country has long had a reputation for being unwelcoming to migrants, with political scientist Jun Saito going so far as to describe Japan’s historical attitude as “aggressive”.
Saito suggests that an origin for this exclusionary position can be found in the immediate post-war period, when the final ordinance issued by Emperor Hirohito — before the new US-imposed constitution came into force — redefined citizenship to exclude naturalised Koreans and Chinese, and introduced tight controls over new entrants. This was done out of fear of an exodus from war-ravaged Asian countries, ironic since much of the ravaging had been done by Japan.
For decades entry was difficult, and for the unskilled nearly impossible. There was a lingering belief that newcomers posed a serious threat not only to the labour market — taking jobs from local people and forcing a downturn in wages — but also to culture and social harmony.
Things started to change in the 1990s when a consensus emerged that, in order to revitalise the economy, more skilled workers were required. Restrictions were accordingly loosened. Significantly, though, while the official policy to resist unskilled entrants was retained, they too could gain backdoor entry through the creation of a new ‘long term resident’ visa category and through the vaguely titled ‘Technical Intern Training Program’. At this point, the Japanese government policy was one of increased immigration by stealth.
Crucially, Japan was then facing a demographic crisis. Due to a steadily declining birthrate, the working age population began to decrease in 1996 and the total population in 2008. This has not since been arrested, and some estimate that by 2060 the country will lose a third of its population. Those who remain will likely have the highest average age in the world, meaning a dearth of young workers to power the economy and care for their geriatric compatriots.
In 2022 births fell below 800,000 for the first time. This provoked Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to declare that Japan was on the brink of “social dysfunction”. He announced plans to vastly increase spending on social programmes setting children as top priority, but a possible subtext of the speech was the implicit need to further relax immigration restrictions.
Will this mean the end of Japan as we know it? It is certainly a less distinct country than when I arrived 24 years ago, partly because of increased immigration which has diluted its culture. Gone, or rarely glimpsed now, are most of those bizarre Japanese fashion trends, like the grotesque panda-eyed ‘gyaru’ look or the vaguely creepy Gothic Lolita tribe. The kanji skills of the smartphone-dependent, cosmopolitan young decline yearly. I am no longer the subject of intense curiosity. English-language signage is everywhere. Woke culture has arrived.
For better or worse Japan is becoming less ‘Japanese’, and further immigration can only accelerate that trend. Perhaps it is for the best, but if you want to experience that unique and complex culture, you had better visit soon.
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Subscribe“Japan, where ethnic homogeneity has long been seen as not just desirable but essential for the preservation of a complex and unique culture.”
Interesting, if saddening, to note that many ‘western’ commentators seem to support Japan’s stance on ethnic and cultural homogeneity (because that is what makes them special), but preach ‘diversity’ for our own society, as if it were a good thing for us.
just what I was thinking, inconsistent thinking
just what I was thinking, inconsistent thinking
“Japan, where ethnic homogeneity has long been seen as not just desirable but essential for the preservation of a complex and unique culture.”
Interesting, if saddening, to note that many ‘western’ commentators seem to support Japan’s stance on ethnic and cultural homogeneity (because that is what makes them special), but preach ‘diversity’ for our own society, as if it were a good thing for us.
All will be on short-term work visas without access to citizenship.
The author may just remember the influx of a large number of Iranians, possibly as part of an oil arrangement. They were pretty much all gone in under a year.
I hope so. It is such a sensible approach. In Singapore, if you’re a foreign worker who loses your job you have three days to find a new one or you have to leave the country. If you don’t, your old employer is liable for people smuggling. As a result, usually when sacking a foreign worker, the employer takes them to their home, helps them pack and escorts them to the port/airport to make sure they leave.
I hope so. It is such a sensible approach. In Singapore, if you’re a foreign worker who loses your job you have three days to find a new one or you have to leave the country. If you don’t, your old employer is liable for people smuggling. As a result, usually when sacking a foreign worker, the employer takes them to their home, helps them pack and escorts them to the port/airport to make sure they leave.
All will be on short-term work visas without access to citizenship.
The author may just remember the influx of a large number of Iranians, possibly as part of an oil arrangement. They were pretty much all gone in under a year.
One of the most intriguing and enjoyable reason to travel, was to see places where the inhabitants were what you came to see. Their customs, language, currency, history and of course the countries marvels and scenery. Japan held my fascination because it was both indigenous and accommodating to westerners.
Now they will just become another country filled with refugees (whether, political or economical), all quite sad.
I don’t really need to travel in “my” Africa, as I have every African fully represented here – thus we are sadly known as a xenophobic country due to open borders.
Hopefully, as a commentator, pointed out being there does not necessarily mean that citizenship is a given and that Japan remain one the few bastions of homogeneous peoples.
One of the most intriguing and enjoyable reason to travel, was to see places where the inhabitants were what you came to see. Their customs, language, currency, history and of course the countries marvels and scenery. Japan held my fascination because it was both indigenous and accommodating to westerners.
Now they will just become another country filled with refugees (whether, political or economical), all quite sad.
I don’t really need to travel in “my” Africa, as I have every African fully represented here – thus we are sadly known as a xenophobic country due to open borders.
Hopefully, as a commentator, pointed out being there does not necessarily mean that citizenship is a given and that Japan remain one the few bastions of homogeneous peoples.
There’s a reason the Japanese have been the world leaders in robotics for decades. They decide a long time ago that they would rather be cared for by an android than a Korean. Unfortunately, android technology isn’t quite ready to fully repalce the Koreans.
Indeed, I don’t see population decline as necessarily being a problem. Why don’t we see it as a challenge and opportunity to do some things differently ? As long as we can finally get people to save for their own retirement rather than expecting the next generation to pay for it, population decline need not be a problem.
And the Japanese are certainly well ahead of us in adapting to this (though they also need to be).
The situation is just the same in Korea – a country with a very low birthrate and almost zero immigration.
But I still wonder, as I journey ever closer to the “geriatric age” with no children, who is going to care for all the elderly if there not enough younger paying in to the system or available to care for their elders. The only solution I can see (other than state mandated euthanasia after a certain age) is immigration. (I think the Filipino people are the best bet—they are wonderful.)
But I still wonder, as I journey ever closer to the “geriatric age” with no children, who is going to care for all the elderly if there not enough younger paying in to the system or available to care for their elders. The only solution I can see (other than state mandated euthanasia after a certain age) is immigration. (I think the Filipino people are the best bet—they are wonderful.)
Indeed, I don’t see population decline as necessarily being a problem. Why don’t we see it as a challenge and opportunity to do some things differently ? As long as we can finally get people to save for their own retirement rather than expecting the next generation to pay for it, population decline need not be a problem.
And the Japanese are certainly well ahead of us in adapting to this (though they also need to be).
The situation is just the same in Korea – a country with a very low birthrate and almost zero immigration.
There’s a reason the Japanese have been the world leaders in robotics for decades. They decide a long time ago that they would rather be cared for by an android than a Korean. Unfortunately, android technology isn’t quite ready to fully repalce the Koreans.
Insightful article overall, though I think a decent chunk of the reason demographically isolated countries have drifted towards the global consumerist monoculture is smartphone apps and youtube. The social media audience is so much bigger if you reach English speakers that most kids are now learning at least some English if they want to market themselves online.
I’m also not buying the so-called “demographic crisis” which the globalists always reference when discussing the need for mass immigration. If there is one, then why is universal income needed? If all the jobs will soon be taken by robots and AI, a transformation which seems to be underway in Japan, then caring jobs should be well-paid and shouldn’t require importing foreigners.
I have never seen an adequate explanation of this either Jay.
We are told automation and AI will reduce the need for manual and administrative workers. Remote working no allows your co-workers to work as easily from abroad as being sat next to you in the office.
And yet we are also told that we have massive labour shortages and need to increase immigration.
I think the situation might be like the Lancashire and Yorkshire mill towns in the 1950s and 60s. Industries that were in decline hired tens of thousands of workers from India. The mills still went out of business but the immigrants stayed.
you’re not an employer, are you? Unfortunately, you can’t just magically create money (I can’t anyways, that is a skill reserved for private banks and the Fed) – therefore, wages represent a portion of the revenues a business derives from prices set by the market.
Interesting thought.
I have never seen an adequate explanation of this either Jay.
We are told automation and AI will reduce the need for manual and administrative workers. Remote working no allows your co-workers to work as easily from abroad as being sat next to you in the office.
And yet we are also told that we have massive labour shortages and need to increase immigration.
I think the situation might be like the Lancashire and Yorkshire mill towns in the 1950s and 60s. Industries that were in decline hired tens of thousands of workers from India. The mills still went out of business but the immigrants stayed.
you’re not an employer, are you? Unfortunately, you can’t just magically create money (I can’t anyways, that is a skill reserved for private banks and the Fed) – therefore, wages represent a portion of the revenues a business derives from prices set by the market.
Interesting thought.
Insightful article overall, though I think a decent chunk of the reason demographically isolated countries have drifted towards the global consumerist monoculture is smartphone apps and youtube. The social media audience is so much bigger if you reach English speakers that most kids are now learning at least some English if they want to market themselves online.
I’m also not buying the so-called “demographic crisis” which the globalists always reference when discussing the need for mass immigration. If there is one, then why is universal income needed? If all the jobs will soon be taken by robots and AI, a transformation which seems to be underway in Japan, then caring jobs should be well-paid and shouldn’t require importing foreigners.
God help them
God help them
‘This was done out of fear of an exodus from war-ravaged Asian countries, ironic since much of the ravaging had been done by Japan.’
Not very ironic since it makes no sense to import millions of aggrieved immigrants.
‘This was done out of fear of an exodus from war-ravaged Asian countries, ironic since much of the ravaging had been done by Japan.’
Not very ironic since it makes no sense to import millions of aggrieved immigrants.
Japan has always had a few more immigrants than popular mythology – c3million legals, many Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean, plus a smattering of many others. The illegals unknown of course.
It’s aging population and reducing working age population and tax take is year on year creating every greater challenges for the Japanese economic model. Even the most extensive long term care insurance system in the western world coupled with a significantly higher pension age runs out of road eventually. Much is made of AI and robotics but there are limits and as yet no machine shown the adaptability of a human. No robot yet visits an elderly person to help them wash, dress and feed themselves.
But also Japan increasingly recognises the threat from China (which of course has it’s own demographic timebomb of a different sort). Defence spending needs to rapidly rise and growth rate needs to lift to fund this. The population demographic has greatly limited Japan’s growth rate. Some injection of immigrant worker therefore plays to this need.
Lesson for the West – we will have the same pattern in due course. It does not mean mass, uncontrolled immigration, but rather well considered and managed policy adaptations will be needed.
Japan has always had a few more immigrants than popular mythology – c3million legals, many Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean, plus a smattering of many others. The illegals unknown of course.
It’s aging population and reducing working age population and tax take is year on year creating every greater challenges for the Japanese economic model. Even the most extensive long term care insurance system in the western world coupled with a significantly higher pension age runs out of road eventually. Much is made of AI and robotics but there are limits and as yet no machine shown the adaptability of a human. No robot yet visits an elderly person to help them wash, dress and feed themselves.
But also Japan increasingly recognises the threat from China (which of course has it’s own demographic timebomb of a different sort). Defence spending needs to rapidly rise and growth rate needs to lift to fund this. The population demographic has greatly limited Japan’s growth rate. Some injection of immigrant worker therefore plays to this need.
Lesson for the West – we will have the same pattern in due course. It does not mean mass, uncontrolled immigration, but rather well considered and managed policy adaptations will be needed.
The collision between the famed Japanese ethnic homogeneity and demographics has been inevitable for some time – aided by the traditional burden on women in Japanese society (not that they are uniquely guilty in that).
It will be interesting to watch this collision of the irresistible force and the immovable object. But the import of this story seems to be that the force has already won.
The collision between the famed Japanese ethnic homogeneity and demographics has been inevitable for some time – aided by the traditional burden on women in Japanese society (not that they are uniquely guilty in that).
It will be interesting to watch this collision of the irresistible force and the immovable object. But the import of this story seems to be that the force has already won.