In recent years, Japan has been increasingly leaning towards Anti-Foreigner sentiments as the Japanese government seeks to solve the country’s population crisis with foreign immigration.
For years, Japan has been struggling with a population crisis. The population of Japan has been declining over time, with last year having two citizens die for every child born. Marriage rates are down; the work culture keeps citizens busy and unable to mingle, combined with the natural culture of Japan, leads to a severe disinterest in children. This lack of people to work in the workforce has resulted in issues across the country.
Nearly every sector of Japan has seen issues due to the lack of workers. Even the military is suffering, with the military getting half of the people it needed last year. To solve this issue in the workforce, the Japanese Government decided they would allow African immigrants to move to Japan to fill in the holes in the economy.
Initially, immigration worked well for the nation, alleviating the pressure on the economy. However, as time went on and more immigrants came to Japan, the native Japanese people felt that their culture was fading as more foreign beliefs and customs became commonplace.
With the Japanese people already feeling broken down by salary cuts, increased prices, and with no hope of advancement, having foreigners appear and profit from the system frustrated the people.
The Japanese people have no issue with foreign immigration so long as the immigrants respect and adapt to the “Japanese way” of life. However, these new immigrants do not all respect the Japanese way and keep their own customs. This has caused tension and anger from the Japanese, which has led to an increase in anti-immigration support.
Japan has always been an isolationist nation and has required any immigrants to adapt to Japan’s culture. Hopefully, over time, this rise in anti-foreigner sentiment will fade as the immigrants gradually assimilate into the culture of the country.
