Chinese Migrants in Japan: Will They Heal the Japan Syndrome?

Abstract

A book entitled ”Japan as Number One: Lessons for America,” written by Professor Vogel in 1979, discusses the miracle of Japan in the post-war period. After the burst of its bubble economy in the 1990s, however, Japan has suffered from long-term recession for decades. Although Japan is still one of the main economic powers, its national power is declining quickly. Since 2010, China has exceeded Japan and become the second largest economy in the world. Japan's bad economic conditions are also destroying its stable and rich society. The so-called ”100 million middle class people,” the symbol that a majority of Japanese people share most Japanese wealth, are disappearing. Instead, the increasing gap between rich and poor causes a large amount of poverty.The worsening situation of Japan's economy and society is called ”the Japan syndrome,” which has become a popular term in the world. Many reasons contribute to the Japan syndrome, such as an overvalued Japanese currency retarding exports and acceleration in its industrial hollowing-out. But one of the most important factors is the decline of birth rate, along with the aging society. The Japanese government has tried its utmost to increase the birth rate, but the effect has been limited. The expansion of migration has become the most effective way to resolve this issue. As a result, the number of migrants has been increasing quickly in recent years.Like other western countries, Japan, the nearest developed country to China, attracts many Chinese migrants. Although a rising China offers its people many opportunities and Sino-Japanese relations have worsened in recent years, a large number of Chinese people want to move to Japan for work, marriage, and study, because they regard Japan as providing them with a better living and studying standard. Many of them get permanent residency or are naturalized and, thus, abandon their Chinese nationality.At present, Chinese migrants make up about one third of migrants in Japan. Some Chinese migrants may disturb Japanese peaceful society due to their misbehavior or Chinese unique customs. Most of them do their best in their provinces and make great contributions to Japan, as well as healing many symptoms of the Japan syndrome, particularly the shortage of youth. However, many Japanese people deny their contributions and discriminate against them. Particularly in the period when Sino-Japanese relations have worsened, Chinese migrants always become the target of criticism due to the increase of Japanese people's anti-Chinese sentiments. Those who oppose immigration insist that the reexamination of Japan's birth policy and the uses of the elder and female labor forces are much better than the expansion of immigration for Japan to treat the Japan syndrome. However, their suggestions have little effect. Japan continues accepting more migrants, particularly Chinese migrants. Otherwise, Japan has no other way to heal the Japan syndrome and stop the decline in its national power.