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    Issues surrounding foreigners: LDP calls for "zero illegality," CDP calls for further acceptance; Ishin calls on restricting number
    Japan

    Issues surrounding foreigners: LDP calls for “zero illegality,” CDP calls for further acceptance; Ishin calls on restricting number


    As more foreign workers and tourists come to Japan, problems involving foreigners—like bad behavior or crime—are becoming a bigger concern. Issues also include abuse of the refugee system, foreign ownership of land near sensitive sites, and improper use of Japan’s social programs. In places like Kawaguchi City, Saitama, there are even tensions between some local residents and Kurdish people from Turkey.

    Political Parties Divided: Stricter Rules vs. Coexistence

    With the Upper House election coming up, major political parties are offering different ideas on how to handle these issues. Some focus on stricter controls, while others support better integration and coexistence.

    Parties Calling for Stricter Rules:

    • Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), and Democratic Party for the People (DPP) all want tighter enforcement and are cautious about accepting more foreigners.
    • The LDP aims for “zero illegal immigrants” and wants stricter rules on switching foreign driver’s licenses to Japanese ones and on foreigners buying property. They also want tougher action on people overstaying visas while waiting for refugee decisions.
    • LDP leader and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said in a debate, “We do not accept illegal foreigners.” However, he was criticized online for saying Japanese language and customs are "a pain" when discussing how to help foreigners adjust.
    • Ishin wants to control the total number of foreigners in Japan and restrict land purchases by foreign investors near national security zones.
    • DPP also supports a law to regulate foreign land ownership and wants to review the tax-free shopping system for tourists. The party later softened its campaign wording after being accused of promoting anti-foreigner views.

    Parties Supporting Coexistence:

    • Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) and Japanese Communist Party support creating a multicultural society where locals and foreigners respect and help each other.
    • CDP proposes a new law to promote multicultural living. Party leader Yoshihiko Noda said Japan should welcome more foreigners to help with the country’s labor shortage.

    Other Positions:

    • Reiwa Shinsengumi opposes immigration policies.
    • Sanseito promotes a “Japan First” policy, is against increased foreign immigration, and wants to ban foreigners from voting or buying property in Japan.

    In short, Japan’s political parties are split—some push for tighter controls, while others support more open policies for foreigners to live and work in Japan.

    https://www.sankei.com/article/20250704-MYG7EKDUMRN5VFJWDSUASUOQXU/?outputType=theme_election2025

    View 7 Comments

    7 Comments

    1. Freak_Out_Bazaar on

      I would imagine stricter enforcement of laws and creating a multicultural society are not mutually exclusive

    2. lalabera on

      DPP doesn’t really seem that far right in its approach. It mentions foreign land ownership and tourism but not immigration.

      Sounds less right wing than most of europe’s center right when it comes to immigration 

    3. KaleidoscopeFuzzy422 on

      Instead of kicking us more can they stop creating line groups where they share naked photos of elementary school girls please.

    4. Background_Map_3460 on

      Changing the Duty free shopping system to give refunds at the airport, instead of at the shop, is in line with many other countries and will help reduce fraud. No issues with that on my end

    5. GlobalTravelR on

      Japan – Our population is in decline, we have a labor shortage, our tax revenue is decreasing, and there are too many dilapidated abandoned houses (Akiya)!

      Also Japan – There are too many foreigners coming to our country, filling in our labor shortage, adding to the tax revenue, and visitors buying abandoned properties and fixing them up!

    6. SillyLiving on

      im guessing four newish factors are coming into play:

      1. the highly visible and viral “pranks” by a plethora of shit influencers taking advantage of japans cultural adversity to direct conflict and generally unwritten social contracts has severely impacted the general image. yes its ignorant and racist but its the nature of those things and populist parties will cash in on it.

      2. the significant online campaign to spread paranoia and disinformation as well, ive seen significant increase of a number of these disinformation ads on youtube over the last year or so, same playbook as in the west and with the same russian sources ill bet.

      3. the general economic downturn is hitting people pretty hard, lack of confidence in the future as well as limited option s of what japan can actually do about it. the world is on fire.

      4. the usa and trump makes no sense. the closest military ally is behaving like a mobster, this greatly erodes confidence in the west as a whole.

    7. Comprehensive_Mud803 on

      Correct me if I’m wrong, but “foreigners” can’t vote anyway in Japan, unless they get naturalized, at which point they are Japanese citizens. So wtf is the Sanseito going on about?

      As for property acquisition, it’s usually extremely hard to get a loan, especially as a foreigner, as the vetting also takes visa/residency status into consideration.

      Looks like all those rightwing nutjobs trying to make an issue of the current status quo. (I mean, that’s the thing rightwingers do anywhere, so no exceptions here).