Japan as an Immigration State: Reforming Japan’s Labor Immigration Policy and Combating the Anti-Immigration Sentiment

Abstract

In the age of migration, in order to remain competitive in the global marketplace, states are faced with the need to supplement their domestic labor resources with imported manpower. This whole exchange needs to be regulated accordingly regarding both admission and integration into a new country. Out of the advanced industrial states of the world, Japan is relatively new to the immigration game and its immigration policy is perceived as strict against importing labor from abroad. Recently, however, Japan has been showing promising signs of a shift towards a more open labor market for migrants through various reforms. This paper presents the evolution of the Japanese immigration policy, specifically regarding migrant workers, since it first acquired its status as an “Immigration State”, while it also addresses the public opinion surrounding the matter, which does not seem welcoming of the new additions in the Japanese society.