There is a persistent claim circulating through global media: Japan is hostile toward outsiders. Headlines often suggest that the nation is anti-immigrant and xenophobic. Yet, when examined closely, the situation is more complex than the narrative implies. Anti-immigration sentiment has surged worldwide—from the United States to the United Kingdom, across Europe, and even in South Korea. Both sides of the debate present evidence to support their convictions. Japan appears to be part of this wider wave, with political campaigns centred on “Japan-first” ideas and footage of street demonstrations circulating online.
The Kutchan Case: Local Resistance vs Economic Reality
A striking example emerged in October 2025. Residents of Kutchan, a well-known ski town in Hokkaido, gathered over 4,000 signatures to prevent the construction of a dormitory intended to house 1,200 seasonal foreign workers.
These individuals, largely from Southeast Asia, were essential to running ski resorts and construction projects. Locals expressed concerns about noise, garbage disposal, and nighttime safety. One organizer argued that introducing 1,200 foreign workers into a town of roughly 12,000 people would make locals feel like strangers in their own community.
Yet, Kutchan itself has been grappling with shuttered shops and an aging population for years. Even the local convenience store struggles to remain open due to labor shortages. The contradiction is striking: residents resisting the very workers needed to support the tourism that sustains their town.
Japan’s Demographic and Cultural Context
Japan’s social landscape differs fundamentally from many Western societies. Roughly 97% of its population is ethnically Japanese, and its cultural values have long been shaped by centuries of insularity. To understand Japan’s modern stance on immigration, emotion and political rhetoric must be set aside.
The realities of legal versus illegal immigration, the distinctions between high-skill specialists and low-skill labourers, and the divide between temporary visas and permanent residence all matter.
All of this unfolds while ordinary citizens confront rising living costs, an ongoing housing crunch, and the stark demographic reality that the country loses around 900,000 Japanese nationals each year. It has experienced population decline for 16 consecutive years.
Foreign Influence in Japan’s Early History
Understanding Japan’s current posture requires a review of its history. Centuries ago, Japan’s connection with foreign cultures was anything but closed. Samurai leadership, contact with Christianity, and internal conflict defined an era that feels as dramatic as fiction.
William Adams and the Samurai Era
In 1600, an English navigator named William Adams reached Japan after a shipwreck. He later became a samurai—the only Englishman to hold such a position. This remarkable story reflects a moment in time when Japan saw value in knowledge from abroad. But to see how Adams even arrived in Japan, one must rewind further.
The Arrival of the Portuguese and the Birth of Japanese Firearms
On September 23, 1543, a typhoon struck off the coast of southern Japan. A Portuguese trading vessel was pushed off course and destroyed near Tanegashima Island. When the local lord arrived at the shore to investigate, he encountered three strange foreigners carrying unfamiliar weapons: matchlock guns. The weapons fascinated him so deeply that he purchased them at a massive cost and ordered his craftsmen to replicate them. Within a year, Japan was manufacturing firearms. This unexpected encounter opened a gateway for future Europeans—merchants first, then missionaries.
Christian Missionaries Enter Japan
In August 1549, Spanish priest Francis Xavier stepped ashore in Kagoshima. He had learned about Japan through a wandering samurai he met in Southeast Asia and believed the country was fertile ground for Christianity. He was correct. Within two years, Xavier had helped convert hundreds of Japanese citizens and built the first Christian church. By 1600, as many as 300,000 Japanese were practicing Christianity. Some influential warlords supported it—not out of spiritual conviction, but because missionaries often preceded lucrative Portuguese trade.
Ideological Conflict and Rising Tension
The harmony did not last. Christian doctrine conflicted with core Japanese values. Rejecting ancestor worship challenged foundational cultural beliefs. The idea that all individuals were equal under God undermined rigid social hierarchies. Allegiance to God above one’s feudal lord bordered on treason. What began as tolerance became a perceived threat.
The Ban on Christianity
In 1614, the ruling shogunate banned Christianity. Priests faced expulsion or death, and Japanese believers were forced to renounce their faith. The situation intensified further in 1637, when famine, brutal taxation, and religious persecution ignited the Shimabara Rebellion.
Roughly 37,000 people—peasants, ronin, and Christian families—seized a fortress under the leadership of an 18-year-old named Amakusa Shiro. Initial government forces failed to defeat them, prompting a massive military response.
More than 125,000 troops from across Japan, supported by European artillery, besieged the castle. After four months, starving rebels were overwhelmed. On April 12, 1638, the fortress fell, and every person inside was executed. Christianity was crushed and forced underground.
The Sakoku Era: Closing Japan to the World
A year later, in 1639, the shogunate issued the Sakoku Edict—the “closed country” policy. All Portuguese were expelled. Foreign literature was restricted. Only one port, Nagasaki, was allowed limited contact with Dutch and Chinese traders, heavily controlled and confined to a tiny artificial island.
For the next 214 years, Japan isolated itself from the world. During this time, the United States was founded, Europe industrialised, and revolutions reshaped nations—but Japan remained largely isolated from external influence.
Commodore Perry and the End of Isolation
This isolation lasted until 1853, when four American steam-powered warships arrived in Edo Bay. Commodore Matthew Perry delivered a letter demanding that Japan open its ports. He returned eight months earlier than promised, with double the fleet, and Japan capitulated. The Convention of Kanagawa signalled the end of isolation.
Cultural Identity as a Historical Legacy
Here lies a key insight: Japan’s tight cultural identity and ethnic homogeneity are not accidental. They are the legacy of centuries of deliberate policy aimed at shielding society from foreign influence, particularly religious interference that once threatened the social order.
Defining “Anti-Immigration” in Modern Japan
Whether Japan is truly anti-immigration depends entirely on definitions. Illegal immigration in Japan differs profoundly from countries like the United States. Japan has no land borders; one must arrive legally by air or sea.
Most “illegal migrants” are not people who slipped in undetected—they are individuals who entered lawfully and then overstayed visas.
As of mid-2025, roughly 71,000 people fall into this category, the majority originally admitted on tourism, student, or technical trainee visas. This figure represents only 0.058% of Japan’s population—far below the nearly 5% unauthorised immigration seen in the United States.
Crackdowns on Overstayers and Legal Residents
Despite these tiny numbers, Japan has begun a sweeping crackdown, not only on overstayers but also on legal foreign residents—nearly four million people in total. The roots lie in economic strain and systemic loopholes.
In one fiscal year, legal foreign residents contributed less than half of expected pension payments and only about two-thirds of healthcare premiums. Large segments of foreign labor, often working part-time or for microenterprises, are not automatically enrolled in payroll deduction systems.
Combined with cash-based wages and paper-driven bureaucracy, compliance collapses. The burden shifts to Japanese taxpayers, amplifying resentment.
Visa Abuse, Real Estate Distortion & High Skilled Hiring
Additional controversy surrounds business manager visas. Thousands of foreign nationals registered companies with minimal capital, using them as vehicles to obtain long-term residency benefits while engaging in little to no real economic activity.
Many of these entities purchased real estate, driving property prices skyward and displacing local residents. In response, regulations were tightened in 2025, rendering most existing holders ineligible going forward.
And yet, these restrictive measures coexist with openness toward a very different demographic: highly skilled specialists. Japan actively recruits advanced engineers, scientists, executives, and innovators.
Through its point-based visa system, professionals with strong qualifications can attain permanent residency within a year—far faster than the standard ten-year path. Fees are minimal, making Japan one of the friendliest developed nations for top-tier talent.
A Dual Approach to Immigration
This duality is often misunderstood. Japan is suspicious of mass, low-skill migration, but eager to attract high-value individuals who can contribute to its economy and ageing workforce. It is restrictive on loopholes but generous to those who meet strict performance criteria.
The Final Conclusion
Understanding Japan’s approach requires looking beyond simplified narratives. It is neither fully open nor uniformly hostile. It is shaped by history, demography, national memory, and the practical pressures of a declining population.
Whether one views this as prudent protection or unfair exclusion depends largely on personal beliefs about immigration, identity, and sovereignty.
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Disclaimer:
The information provided in this content is for general informational purposes only and is based on publicly available sources as of 2025. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, the content may not reflect the most current policies, regulations, or statistics. This content does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Readers should consult official government sources or qualified professionals for specific guidance regarding Japanese immigration, visas, or real estate matters. The creator is not responsible for any decisions or actions taken based on this information.
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