Why Japan Is Turning Against Foreigners Despite a Worker Shortage

By Fergus Gregg

Topic: Immigration

Monday, June 8, 2026, at 4:47 am

Sohei Kamiya leads the Sanseito Party, which has adopted some US-style rhetoric.

Nikki Maruschak moved to Japan in 2019 to build a new life.

Now she feels unwelcome.

She has experienced people bumping into her on purpose while walking.

Miguel Carmichael and Nikki Maruschak felt welcome at first but are now reconsidering their future in Japan.

A man pushed Nikki for no reason at a subway station in 2024.

The police made the man apologize after seeing the CCTV footage.

Miguel Carmichael has lived near Kobe since 2022.

Nikki said the excuse for the push was that she couldn't read Japanese, which wasn't relevant.

The man just wanted an excuse to push her.

There is a shift towards anti-immigration politics in Japan.

The Sanseito party has become more popular with its anti-foreigner platform.

Sanseito is now the fourth-largest opposition party.

Professor Tetsuro Kobayashi says Sanseito's success has made the Prime Minister take a tougher stance on immigration.

New policies include higher visa costs and a limit on foreign residents.

Most people in Japan support these new policies.

Nikki and her partner are reconsidering their future in Japan due to the changing environment.

Nikki speaks Japanese well but still hears people asking why there are so many foreigners.

After Sanseito won many seats, Nikki noticed more people staring at her with angry faces.

Sanseito's success is similar to the US MAGA movement.

Professor Kobayashi says Sanseito found its footing after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The party appeals to people who like spiritualism and alternative medicines.

Sanseito is trying to capture the anti-immigration sentiment.

There are no established parties in Japan with anti-immigration as a central platform.

Professor Yasuo Takao agrees that Sanseito's success shows cultural protectionism can attract conservative voters.

Sanseito is supported by people who are against the establishment.

The Prime Minister needs to keep the momentum by appealing to these people.

Sanseito's leader invited Charlie Kirk to speak before he died.

If public attitude towards immigration improves, Sanseito will likely move on to another issue.

Japan has a low birth rate and a shrinking population.

Sanseito's message is similar to One Nation's in Australia.

The party wants to crack down on accepting foreigners and suspend social services for them.

But Japan is aging rapidly and needs foreign workers.

The population is decreasing, and many buildings stand vacant.

Foreign residents make up only 3% of Japan's population.

In Australia, 32% of the population was born overseas.

Most immigrants in Japan come from China, Vietnam, South Korea, and the Philippines.

Some homes are even given away for free due to lack of demand.

Professor Kobayashi says the public doesn't connect the need for foreign labor with the low birth rate.

Anti-foreigner sentiment in Japan is driven by cultural threats, not economic competition.

Nikki was assaulted, and the police still searched her partner, who is multiracial.

Miguel believes being a teacher helps him, as white-collar workers are seen as 'one of the good ones'.

A study found that the Japanese public prefers immigrants from Western countries who speak fluent Japanese.

The public favors immigrants from the US and Germany over those from China.

Miguel engages with his community through local events.

A study found that many Vietnamese workers have negative experiences in Japan.

One worker said Japanese people hate foreigners.

Vietnamese workers are made to do jobs that Japanese people don't want to do.

A manager often showed disdain towards foreign workers.

A nursing care worker felt disrespected and ignored.

There are concerns about overtourism in Japan.

Despite anti-foreigner rhetoric, Japan wants to attract 60 million tourists by 2030.

In 2025, Japan had a record 42.6 million international arrivals.

Festivals draw huge crowds from tourists and locals.

Over a million visitors were from Australia, up 15% from 2024.

Professor Kobayashi says there is a growing concern about overtourism.

A survey found that 20-30% of respondents were concerned about the number of tourists.

Kyoto is a popular destination, leading to concerns about overtourism.

Some local authorities have canceled events or banned tourists from certain areas.

While residents may suffer from overtourism, people in the tourism industry benefit from foreign visitors.

The government may need to manage tourism more effectively.

Japan has increased its international tourist tax.

Osaka is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists.

University lecturer Mathew Cooper hasn't noticed a change in attitude towards foreigners.

When he moved to Japan in 1988, foreigners were a novelty.

Mass tourism has changed this.

Cooper thinks the kickback against tourism is naive, as tourists bring a lot of money.

You can't have it both ways.

Monday, June 8, 2026, at 4:47 am

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