Harper Mills
Mountainview High School
October 1st, 2025
As Japan sinks under a plummeting birthrate, the nation increasingly relies on immigrants as lifeboats, brought in to keep the economy afloat. In response, the government today boasts of its rising immigration numbers, yet behind the statistics, immigrants are still treated as disposable scaffolders, compelled to leave due to restrictive political laws. Their labor is welcomed, but their voices are silenced. Rather than sustaining this illusion, Japan should reform its legal and political system to grant immigrants greater rights.
Critics often overstate the supposed leniency of Japan’s permanent residency system. In 2012, the Japanese Immigration Bureau introduced a point-based system for Highly Skilled Personnel (HSP) visa holders, later relaxing it in 2017 to allow some applicants to acquire permanent residency in as little as 1 or 3 years, depending on their points (Dang, 2025). While these measures appear generous, they primarily benefit a narrow group of highly educated workers, which leaves the majority of immigrants bound by the original 10-year residency requirement. Of the roughly 900,000 foreign workers in Japan, only 180,000—one fifth of the total—are classified as “skilled” (Shimo, 2023). Many others migrate not by preference but out of economic necessity, and most find themselves categorized as unskilled laborers. For these less educated, the point-based system offers little practical help. Furthermore, even among the highly skilled, Japan struggles to attract talent. Research shows that “not many highly-skilled migrants are willing to work in Japan” (Morita, 2017) and prefer the U.S. or Europe instead. Japanese cultural exclusivity—shaped by the Nihonjinron influences—and the lack of English education does not appeal to potential migrants. In this way, the residency system fails not only to exclude unskilled workers but also does little to appeal to global professionals.
Supporters also cite the expanding number of working visa holders in Japan as evidence of progress. By the end of June 2024, 251,747 foreign workers were employed in Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa, representing a 20.8% increase from six months prior (Tang, 2024). However, the SSW system itself remains highly restrictive. Each visa is tied to a specific employer and occupation, with a validity period ranging from three months to five years. Because each visa can only be granted individually, if workers lose employment, they must secure a new position under the same visa category within three months of the job loss (Changing Jobs in Japan, n.d.). This prevents long-term stability and makes career changes nearly impossible. Moreover, most low-skilled jobs are excluded from SSW eligibility. As a result, the majority of low-skilled foreign workers remain in the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), which had 327,689 people as of June 2022—far exceeding the numbers in other visa categories (What Is “Technical Intern Trainee”, n.d.). Unlike SSW visas, TITP status is temporary and offers little protection. Therefore, while the increase in numbers may create the appearance of progress, the system continues to leave many immigrants insecure.
One underlying concern for immigrants in Japan is the prohibition on dual citizenship. Japan has been infamously strict about dual nationality. For example, Naomi Osaka, a renowned tennis player, once held dual U.S. and Japanese citizenship but was required to renounce her U.S. nationality to represent Japan at the Olympic Games (Takeuchi, 2024). While countries with high immigration rates, such as the United States, Turkey, and the United Kingdom, all allow dual citizenship—and other countries like Germany have recently ended their restrictions (Sykes, n.d.)—Japan remains headstrong. Court challenges have repeatedly failed to change the law. Although dual citizens may face double taxation, they gain broader job opportunities and stronger ties to both their home country and Japan. Research from 21 naturalized residents suggests that “becoming solely Japanese does not necessarily result in a stronger identification to Japan” (Delmarcelle, 2023), which highlights the need for more flexible policies. Allowing dual citizenship would recognize immigrants as full members of society and encourage long-term economic growth.
Another major concern for immigrants in Japan is their lack of voting rights. Despite living and paying taxes, foreign residents remain excluded from participating in local and national elections. This exclusion denies them a voice in shaping policies that directly affect their lives, such as labor laws and immigration regulations. If immigrants could vote, these issues would gain more attention in political debates, pushing candidates to propose fairer and more balanced policies. Recently, the political party Sanseito has managed to “break into mainstream politics with its ‘Japanese First’ campaign” (Reuters, 2025), promoting anti-immigration precisely because the voters are composed of Japanese citizens. However, as Japan globalizes, the government should foster a positive cycle in which better policies enable immigrants to contribute more socially and economically to Japan.
In conclusion, without political reform, Japan’s immigration system leaves most immigrants with limited rights and unstable opportunities. For a country facing a shrinking population, Japan must reimagine immigrants not as temporary scaffolds, but as part of the structure itself. The more Japan empowers those who already contribute to society, the more secure its own future becomes. Immigration will inevitably shape the nation’s future trajectory.
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References
Changing Jobs in Japan. (n.d.). June Advisors Group. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
Dang, T. (2025, August 4). Japan Permanent Residency Points Explained: A Detailed Guide. Japan Dev. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
Delmarcelle, E. (2023). The Power of Ambiguity: Former Citizenship Renunciation and National Identification of Naturalized Japanese Citizens. Revue Européenne des Migrations Internationales, 39(2). https://doi.org/10.4000/remi.23236
Morita, L. (2017, February 17). Why Japan isn’t more attractive to highly-skilled migrants. Cogent Social Sciences, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2017.1306952
Reuters. (2025, July 21). ‘Japanese First’ party emerges as election force with tough immigration talk. The Asahi Shinbun. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
Shimo, K. (2023, September 10). Labour Shortage in Japan ? Foreign Workers in Low-paid Jobs. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
Sykes, C. (n.d.). Germany to allow dual citizenship from June 2024. Turpin Miller. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
Takeuchi, M. (2024, January 12). Special Series「Japan to Cut Off Japanese? Protecting the ties between Japan and the Japanese citizens who are successful overseas」. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
Tang, F. (2024, September 24). Number of specified skilled visa holders in Japan surpasses 250000. The Japan Times. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
What is “Technical Intern Trainee”. (n.d.). 外国人ビザオフィス. Retrieved October 1, 2025.