Policymakers are failing to help foreign residents in Japan integrate by emphasizing order over harmony, says Toshihiro Menju, a visiting professor at Kansai University of International Studies. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/25/japan/society/menju-interview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #expats #foreignworkers #immigration #ldp
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s headquarters on foreign national policy has compiled an interim draft of recommendations to submit to the government in January. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/24/japan/politics/foreign-national-measures-ldp-meeting/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #immigration #expats #foreignworkers #ldp
Japan’s government is to set the number of foreign workers accepted under the Specified Skilled Worker program and the new “employment for skill development” system at a combined total of 1.23 million. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/23/japan/society/foreign-worker-cap/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #foreignworkers #foreigntrainees #jobs #immigration #expats
With Japan having experienced 40.34 million foreign entrants in 2024, an advisory council for immigration policy called for digital border controls to be rolled out faster and for tighter residency management controls. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/22/japan/society/foreigner-policy-report/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #immigration #expats #foreignworkers
Government experts and lawmakers are discussing possible changes to policies concerning foreign nationals, including those on real estate purchases and visas, to recommend to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/04/japan/explainer/explainer-japan-foreign-nationals/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #explainer #sanaetakaichi #foreignworkers #tourism #taxes #nationalhealthcare
Aonishiki, a 21-year-old Ukrainian, won his first Emperor’s Cup at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament and was promoted to ōzeki, highlighting his rapid rise and Japan’s growing acceptance of foreign wrestlers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/editorials/2025/11/28/japans-real-feelings-about-foreign-sumo-champ/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #editorials #sumo #aonishiki #ukraine #kyushugrandsumotournament #expats #foreignworkers #foreigntrainees #immigration
Japan is looking to raise the fees paid by foreign residents to remain in the country to match those charged by Western nations in fiscal 2026. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/21/japan/higher-fees-foreign-residents/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #visas #foreignworkers #immigration
Japan’s government will soon hold the first meeting of a new panel of experts to discuss ways to realize orderly coexistence with foreign nationals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/20/japan/politics/japan-foreign-nationals-policy/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #foreignworkers #immigration #reikohayashi
Economic security minister Kimi Onoda has shared her commitment to implementing stricter management of non-Japanese workers and land acquisitions by foreign nationals. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/18/japan/politics/japan-economic-security-minister-onoda-interview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #kimionoda #economicsecurity #foreignworkers #immigration
Japan is addressing challenges with tourism congestion, foreign real estate purchases and visa and other exploitation by nonresidents, which has become a hot-button political issue. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/11/11/japan/roots-of-japans-foreign-national-problem/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #expats #foreignworkers #immigration #sanaetakaichi
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government plans to compile a revised version of policies regarding foreign nationals by January, aiming to enforce stricter measures against violators of Japan’s laws and regulations. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/11/04/japan/society/japan-immigration-ministerial-meeting/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #expats #foreignworkers #immigration #sanaetakaichi
The government is considering holding as soon as early next week a ministerial meeting to discuss policy regarding foreign nationals, including tightening rules regarding land acquisition. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/31/japan/politics/policy-foreigners-discussion/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #foreignworkers #tourism #taxes #immigration
I’d love dual citizenship, but the reality is that permanent residency just isn’t enough for this naturalized Japanese citizen. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2025/10/17/japan/choosing-japanese-citizenship/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #visas #immigration #expats #foreignworkers #immigrationservicesagency #immigrationbureau #citizenship
The requirements for foreign nationals seeking business manager visas will become stricter starting next Thursday, such as requiring visa applicants to now have ¥30 million in capital, up from ¥5 million. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/10/japan/stricter-business-management-visa/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #immigrationservicesagency #immigration #visas #foreignworkers
The number of foreign residents in Japan as of the end of June rose 5% from the end of 2024 to a record high of 3,956,619, Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki said Friday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/10/japan/foreign-residents-record/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #foreignworkers #justiceministry #immigration
Japan will be the most impacted by a global tourist-service labor shortfall, according to a new report, with a 29% gap forecast in the country in 2035. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/10/10/toursim-labor-shortage/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #business #tourism #foreignworkers #hotels #restaurants
The government's revised plan for preventing human rights violations linked to corporate activities is set to designate human rights due diligence at small companies as a "priority area" for the first time. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/07/japan/society/japan-corporate-human-rights-action-plan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #humanrights #foreignworkers
Adding to the shock of this year's Upper House elections was the surge in votes for Sanseito, a far-right populist party that campaigned on a mix of tax cutting, vaccine skepticism and restrictions on immigration. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/03/japan/politics/sanseito-foreigners-populist/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanseito #ldp #socialmedia #foreignworkers #soheikamiya
The number of foreign residents in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker visa status, meant to fill severe labor shortages in certain sectors, reached a record high as of the end of June. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/30/japan/japan-skilled-foreign-workers/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #foreignworkers #immigration #visas #justiceministry #immigrationservicesagency
All five Liberal Democratic Party candidates have taken a hard-line stance on immigration-related issues. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/09/26/japan/politics/foreigners-policy-ldp-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #foreignworkers #immigration #shigeruishiba #ldp #sanaetakaichi #shinjirokoizumi #yoshimasahayashi #toshimitsumotegi #takayukikobayashi
