‘I’m in Survival Mode’: Japan Changes Laws, Puts Immense Pressure on Foreign Residents

The Japanese government is taking decisive action to manage the nation's growing foreign resident population, a key promise from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's election campaign. With over 4 million foreign nationals now living in Japan, representing a significant 3% of the populace, the administration is prioritizing national security and social cohesion through enhanced regulatory measures.

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I am in survival mode.

These new policies, enacted in April, are designed to streamline and fortify the processes for obtaining visas, permanent residency, and naturalization. This initiative is partly a response to the increasing political influence of the far-right Sanseitō party, which has made the integration and control of foreign residents a central tenet of its platform. Their message is clear: respect the rules or risk your place in Japan.

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She promised to better control the 4 million foreign nationals – a record – who live in Japan and represent 3% of the country's population.

From our perspective at Le Temps, these developments signal a significant shift in Japan's approach to immigration and foreign residents. While Western nations often debate the economic benefits of immigration, Japan appears to be prioritizing a more controlled and assimilationist model. The emphasis is on ensuring that foreign residents integrate fully into Japanese society and adhere strictly to its laws and customs. This move reflects a national conversation about identity and belonging in an increasingly globalized world, a conversation that resonates deeply within Japan but may be viewed differently through a purely economic lens abroad.

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Foreign residents must be more closely monitored so as not to be too numerous and must be required to 'respect the rules' if they want to live in the Archipelago.