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Immigration Policy in Japan in the 21st Century

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Immigration Policy in Japan in the 21st Century
Immigration Policy in Japan in the 21st Century
Course Title: International Migration
Course Code: BE 22 421
Name: Onyejelem Prince Daniel O.
STUDENT ID: 201118001
Major: Sociology
School of Social and International Studies, G30 program

Introduction
The rapid increase in the number of immigrants to Japan during the Heisei era has raised anxieties among Japanese about the future of their country, national identity, and how to manage the influx. There is a muted public discourse about this politically sensitive subject against the backdrop that it has been examined as a rapidly aging society and a declining workforce tasked with supporting soaring outlays for retires’ pensions and medical care. This problem is looming as the workforce is projected to decline from about 65 million in 2010 to 55 million in 2030. The question of how widely Japan should open its domestic labor market to foreign workers, former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stated in 2005, "If the foreign labor exceeds a certain level, it is bound to cause a clash. It is necessary to consider measures to prevent it and then admit foreign workers as necessary. Just because there is a labor shortage does not mean we should readily allow foreign workers to come in." (Chikako 2006)
Immigration to Japan: Migration is not a new phenomenon. When people believe they can receive higher incomes, better education, better quality of life for themselves and their families, or a leisurely retirement, etc. they may choose to move to another country in pursuit of the happiness they imagine. Some have migrated because they had no choice, displaced by natural and man-made disasters, war, or for their beliefs, and others forced through human trafficking.
According to Mr. Taro Kono, a member of Japan’s House of Representatives, “Illegal workers have violated Japan’s immigration law. The government would never pardon their crime by granting them amnesty. If they want to work in Japan, they should voluntarily


References: 1. Basic Plan for Immigration Control, 3rd Edition (Ministry of Justice, 2005). 2. Carl A.G. and Joy L.L. (2001) Global Constructions of Multicultural Education; London: Lawrence Erlbaum. 3. Chikako K. and Tsuneo A. (2006) Japanese Immigration Policy: Responding to Conflicting Pressures. 4. Yamanaka, K　(2005). “Migration, Differential Access to Health Services and Civil Society’s Responses in Japan,” 5. Mike D. and Glenda S. R (2000) Japan and global migration; foreign workers and the advent of a multicultural society edited by, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2003 6. Visco I. (2001) Ageing Populations; the Economic Issues and Policy Challenges”, OECD. 7. Immigration Control (Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice, 2004). 8. Statistics on Immigration Control (Japan Immigration Association,
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