Japan's Fear of Immigration.

Creating a strict policy on immigration, is it based on fear or fact?

In many places around the world recently, we have seen countries taking a strong stand and implementing critical measures to address immigration and the movement of people across their borders. In the U.S., President Donald Trump has initiated efforts to round up individuals and deport them to their home countries. In Europe, protests have erupted in several countries against immigration policies, with demonstrators calling for strict measures or even advocating for the removal of immigrants and their return to their home countries.

In Japan, right-wing parties are calling for immigrants to either be removed and sent back to their home countries or for immigration to be completely halted. Many critics have labeled this rhetoric as fear-mongering employed by certain parties, which, in the last election, aimed to scapegoat immigrants for social issues in the country to gain support. It may be hard to believe, but this tactic actually worked, resulting in a far-right political party in Japan gaining a significant number of seats in the previous election.

Let's take a look at the background of Japanese immigration. Japan has a history of isolation, rooted in its fear of outside influences, particularly regarding foreign religious ideas. This period of isolation lasted almost 200 years. During this time, Japan only opened a small part of its country to outside interaction, especially for trade, but this was very restricted to certain countries. Throughout this period, many Japanese developed a strong cultural identity and created various cultural ideologies that continue to be influential in modern Japan.

The Isolation Period ended only when the US Navy ship, powered by a steam engine at the time, sailed into Tokyo Bay, captained by Mathew Perry, with a Letter from the US president, Millard Fillmore, demanding Japan open its port for trading.

During this era of isolation, Japan and its people developed a very strong sense of nationalism and a homogeneous culture. They were able to unify everyone and eliminate divisions among different groups, transforming them into one people. The Japanese developed what is called homogeneous societies, where everyone looks the same, dresses the same, and behaves similarly. Anyone who does not look the same, speak the same, or behave like the majority is often considered an outsider.

Even today, the fear of not looking, speaking, or acting like the traditional perception of a Japanese person is still prevalent. This fear, along with misconceptions and blame, contributes to the immigration issues in Japan. Japan is fundamentally different from the United States, where the country has historically been a melting pot of cultures, new ideas, identities, and changes. Despite today's modernisation and globalisation, Japanese society remains very rooted and conservative.

Fast forward to today, and here we are, the rhetoric of immigration and the immigrants' problem is soaring due to what is happening in the US under Dold trump and maybe some countries in Europe.

But the question I want to ask everyone, including Japanese, is: do immigrants and immigration really contribute to societal problems, or are these societal problems scapegoated by blaming immigrants?

Let's look at some common immigration rhetoric in Japan.

Increase crime.

Japan is a society that emphasizes common sense. Having lived in Japan for six years, I have come to realize how people have shaped this society in a way that encourages individuals to seamlessly follow the rules and systems established by the community. Honestly, when I first arrived in Japan, I was very surprised by how people lived and moved. Their lives seemed almost robotic, as they adhered to norms without questioning anything. Because the Japanese are made to follow every law. Japan is considered one of the safest countries in the work and that is for sure compared to my country. Like every country in the world, Japan has its fair share of crime. However, compared to other G7 countries, crime is at its lowest, around 0.23, compared to the US at 5.76, the highest.

Recently, many Japanese people have taken to social media to express their concerns about crimes committed by immigrants, suggesting that immigrants are responsible for an increase in crime in Japan. This fear is particularly prominent among less-informed individuals and some politicians. However, based on statistics, immigrant populations are often unfairly blamed for these claims. The fear being spread on social media is unfounded and proliferates like wildfire. According to several sources, crime rates in Japan involving foreigners are either decreasing or stabilizing.

In fact, the opposite is true: the crime rate committed by Japanese individuals stands at 95% of all crimes, while for foreigners it is just 7%. The sources also pointed out that the most serious crimes are committed by Japanese individuals, not foreigners. Crimes committed by foreigners are mostly related to theft, shoplifting, and drugs.

Crime Statistics by Nationality (2023)

Nationality	Arrested Persons
Japanese Nationals	167,744
Foreign Residents	15,525
Total	183,269

Breakdown of Foreign Resident Arrests

Foreign Resident Category	Arrested Persons
Visiting Foreigners	11,534
Resident Foreigners	3,991
Total	15,525

According to the 2023 statistics, the total number of people arrested for the social issue known as "panel code" offenses in Japan stands at 183,269. Can you believe that of this figure, 168,744 were Japanese nationals? That is approximately 91.5%. Meanwhile, foreign residents, including visitors, accounted for only 15,525 arrests, which is about 8.5% of the total.

When comparing these statistics and data, it can be concluded that a majority of crimes in Japan are committed by Japanese nationals. However, there has been a surge of misinformation and fear directed towards foreigners and immigrants, leading to them being scapegoated for a crime rate that is primarily caused by Japanese individuals or is, in fact, decreasing over the last two years.

Loss of Japanese identity.

This argument is one of the craziest and most unfounded ones I have heard from many Japanese people, and even their leaders. This argument is baseless and totally based on fear-mongering. It was this fear that drove Japanese society into isolation for some 200 years, and it is so crazy to see this fear showing itself again, and this time it is fueled by similar thinking.

Since I came here, I realized that Japanese culture and identity are very much alive compared to other countries. This is because about 90% of Japanese people speak Japanese, through which they receive all their information about the outside world. Most of these Japanese sources choose what they want Japanese people to know and what not to hear.

If you ask them about foreign history, most of the time they have no idea. Even about major world events and powerful leaders that shape our world, etc., they have little knowledge. Yet they complain about losing their identity. What I observe here is that Japanese society is already influenced by globalization and other cultures. Their culture now is an evolution based on global influences. So what kind of identity do they think they are losing? They accepted food culture and writing systems from China. They adopted industrial culture and corporate ideas from America. They love curry and rice, which comes from India. So what kind of cultural identity are they referring to when their culture is constantly changing?

I think their fear is about seeing other people who are not like them—ethnic non-Japanese coming here, growing, adapting, and bringing new cultures, and changing the face of Japan into a multicultural society.

It is true, as pointed out in some reports, that many foreigners might not understand the culture and certain etiquette of society, such as noise, trash sorting, etc. But these are things that can be fixed if there is a proper system established to help foreigners adapt to Japanese culture. When I first moved here, no one told me about these rules, and I  admit I made a few mistakes and misunderstood things because I did not know them. Japanese people have a culture of “reading the air,” so no one will tell you anything—you have to figure it out yourself. I think this makes many foreigners not understand these small daily etiquettes, which causes friction with local residents.

These issues can be fixed because Japanese people are still the majority here. They need to establish systems in their local communities to help educate foreigners on these systems and culture. I believe most foreigners who come to Japan are willing to learn and adapt to Japanese culture.

I think the bigger problem regarding Japan’s loss of identity is 'demography'. This is the biggest issue that Japanese people and their government must fix. This is a society where young people are not having babies, and the elderly population is increasing. They are declining, yet they think immigrants are the ones destroying their culture and identity.

I leave you with the quote of the Japanese head of the current Government party Mr. Aso Taro

“One culture, one civilization, one language, and one ethnic group.” 

His world truly reflects Japan's true fear of closing the so-called Homogenoree identity. The crazy part is that Japan has other native ethics, but due to this idea, their culture and identity were eliminated. I have no problem if they want to project their identity and kept it alive. But due our fast changing worlds and globalization, I think adaptation is key for a country and its people to exist with the rest of the world. Aspecially,  for a country where its pollution is declining rapidly.

Keeping Foreigners Out

Since last year’s election, the rhetoric around foreigners, whether legal or illegal in Japan has shifted from just words into actual government policy. The fear-mongering and baseless allegations shared through social media and Japanese online communities are now starting to shape policy. Some parts of that rhetoric have already become policy.

Under the current government led by Sanae Takaichi, a special ministerial role has been created called the “Minister for Foreign Residents,” and it is run by Kimi Onoda. Kimi herself is of mixed Japanese and American heritage. However, in Japan, people like her are often still seen as outsiders rather than fully Japanese. Because of this, I find it interesting that someone with foreign roots was chosen to handle foreigner-related issues, as well as the fears and anxieties that some Japanese people have toward foreigners.

She has since made several comments that have received both praise and criticism within Japan. One of her statements, and I quote, is about creating an “orderly coexistence for foreigners.” The policy focuses on foreigners living in Japan.

In my view, as a foreigner, based on how this policy is developing, it clearly shows that Japan is trying its best to keep foreigners out while also reducing the number of legal foreign residents. The policy seems to be driven largely by fear and prejudice, shaped by Japan’s limited experience with foreign populations and influenced by certain incidents involving foreigners that have affected public perception.

But the question is: Japan needs certain foreigners to work and live here, so how do you create a policy—and this so-called “orderly coexistence”—that actually solves problems instead of simply restricting legal foreigners and trying to keep immigrants out?

This can be seen in current government policies that affect legal foreign residents in Japan. For example, visa-related fees have increased without meaningful consultation with the foreign community. These costs make living in Japan more difficult. Many foreigners here work hard just to get by, and it is already difficult to save money, especially with the high taxes. These increase in fee has now place a huge burden on foriener recidents in Japan. 

Take me for instance. I will be styding for my PhD soon and right now I am working 5 partime to survive n and to save money for my tuition fee. With this increse in fees ..how the fuck should I be able to save money for my tuition fee and pay my rents .Because it reality working 5 jobs hardly suport someone live with your end meet.

So far, the policy of “orderly coexistence” appears, in practice, to be a way of generating revenue from foreigners while also making it harder for them to stay. It risks pushing out people who have built lives here and who consider Japan their home.

In a recent parliamentary session, a far-right politician stood up and, instead of discussing policies that could help the Japanese people address their declining birthrate, began asking why the government has not tried to reduce foreign birth rates in Japan, particularly in Tokyo. According to her, the increase in foreign babies being born in Japan poses a threat to the harmonious coexistence with Japanese people. 

To ask such a ridiculous question shows a complete lack of understanding. Rather than framing this issue as a negative, she could have taken it as an opportunity to consider why Japanese people are struggling to have babies while foreigners living in Tokyo, who face similar circumstances, are increasing their birth rates. It's foolish to create fear about the low Japanese birthrate, hoping it will somehow resolve itself. It’s like getting mad at the priest because he is a peaceful man and then asking the church to punish him for being a peaceful man.

New immigration policies in Japan.

The new visa fee.

Since the last election in Japan, and the current Japanese Prime Minister has won a majority of seats in the lower house. Her government has pushed through the Diet a proposed bill to tighten visa fees for foreigners and punish those who fail to settle their taxes, etc.

However, as a foreigner who has been living in Japan and working so hard like all Japanese, I find this visa fee increase to be totally unfair.

The newly proposed policies on visa and travel fees targeting foreigners in Japan, or those coming to Japan, are as follows:

These are the new policies and changes that everyone, foreign living or just visiting Japan, should expect in the coming years

Japan is also proposing a dowel system payment where foreigners traveling will pay a different amount, usually higher than the locals.

Category	Fee Type	Current/Previous Fee	New/Proposed Fee	Effective Date
Immigration	Permanent Residency Application	¥10,000	~¥200,000 (Cap: ¥300,000)	Proposed (Legislation approved Mar 2026)
Immigration	Visa Status Change/Renewal	¥6,000	Up to ¥70,000 (Cap: ¥100,000)	Proposed (Legislation approved Mar 2026)
Travel	Departure Tax (Intl. Tourist Tax)	¥1,000	¥3,000	July 1, 2026
Travel	JESTA (Travel Authorization)	N/A	¥2,000 – ¥3,000	2028
Tourism	Himeji Castle Entry (Non-residents)	¥1,000	¥2,500	March 1, 2026
Tourism	Kyoto Accommodation Tax (Luxury)	Varies	Up to ¥10,000 per night	March 1, 2026
Shopping	Tax-Free Shopping System	Immediate 10% discount	Refund-based system at airport	November 1, 2026

 This analysis is based on my observation of living in Japan.

By..Joshua