- 14 Mar 2002
- 21,050
- 18,903
Japan's population is shrinking and ageing, and the country has had to rely more on foreign labour. Over the past decade, the number of foreign workers has nearly tripled. The change shows up in everyday places — streets, workplaces, schools. Things look a bit different now. Even so, unease remains. Some residents say they worry that more foreign neighbours could affect public safety. The concerns vary, but they come up often enough.
Reporters from the Asahi Shimbun visited companies that employ large numbers of foreign workers to see how things are going. In areas with higher concentrations, complaints were heard. People said local rules are not always followed. Others pointed to language barriers, saying communication can be difficult. There is also a sense among some residents that they do not really know who these newcomers are, and that adds to the discomfort. At the same time, it is not all one way. In some places, even limited contact has helped ease tensions. A bit of interaction, people said, can go a long way, even if it starts small.
Foreign residents now make up about 3% of Japan's population. Much of the increase has been driven by workers coming in. As of October 2025, the number of foreign workers stood at a record of roughly 2.57 million.
In February, the NYT ran a piece on Spain's efforts to integrate undocumented migrants. Much of the business community and a large share of the public back the government, having realised that the country cannot function without immigration. Acceptance, it seems, comes down to two things: whether the government can show it has migration under control, and whether people recognise that the economy depends on it. In Japan, the Takaichi administration has done little to ease local anxieties. If anything, its policies may be making it harder for both current and future foreign residents to settle and integrate under the pretext of "orderly coexistence".
www.nytimes.com
Reporters from the Asahi Shimbun visited companies that employ large numbers of foreign workers to see how things are going. In areas with higher concentrations, complaints were heard. People said local rules are not always followed. Others pointed to language barriers, saying communication can be difficult. There is also a sense among some residents that they do not really know who these newcomers are, and that adds to the discomfort. At the same time, it is not all one way. In some places, even limited contact has helped ease tensions. A bit of interaction, people said, can go a long way, even if it starts small.
Foreign residents now make up about 3% of Japan's population. Much of the increase has been driven by workers coming in. As of October 2025, the number of foreign workers stood at a record of roughly 2.57 million.
In February, the NYT ran a piece on Spain's efforts to integrate undocumented migrants. Much of the business community and a large share of the public back the government, having realised that the country cannot function without immigration. Acceptance, it seems, comes down to two things: whether the government can show it has migration under control, and whether people recognise that the economy depends on it. In Japan, the Takaichi administration has done little to ease local anxieties. If anything, its policies may be making it harder for both current and future foreign residents to settle and integrate under the pretext of "orderly coexistence".
How Spain Is Carving a Different Path on Immigration
The country is hoping its new amnesty for undocumented immigrants will avoid a public backlash.
