Over half of Japanese oppose accepting more foreign workers — survey
More than half of people in Japan now oppose actively accepting foreign workers, according to a new national survey that suggests attitudes toward immigration have hardened significantly over the past year.
The poll, conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and Waseda University’s Institute for Advanced Social Sciences, found that 59% of respondents disagreed with actively expanding the intake of foreign labour, a notable rise from 46% recorded in late 2024.
The results reflect a shift in public sentiment following July’s House of Councillors election, with growing concerns about social impact and security.
When asked to choose from a list of possible effects of having more foreigners living in Japan, 68% said public safety would worsen, while 63% feared difficulties due to cultural and language differences.
At the same time, however, 61% acknowledged a key benefit: that foreign workers could ease persistent labour shortages in an ageing society.
Younger Japanese appeared especially anxious about safety. Among respondents aged 18 to 39, almost eight in ten said they believed public security would deteriorate if more foreign nationals settled in Japan. That compares with 72% in the 40–59 age group and 59% among those aged 60 and above.
Yet older people were also more likely to recognise the economic advantages of welcoming migrants: 67% of respondents over 60 said foreign workers help fill labour gaps, compared with 53% in the youngest group.
On the topic of national politics, dissatisfaction remains deep. A record 88% of respondents reported dissatisfaction with the current political situation. For the first time since tracking began in 2018, a majority, or 52%, said they favoured change over stability in national leadership.
Despite this rising discontent, the LDP remains the party most voters want to see in government, backed by 48% of respondents. It was followed by the Democratic Party for the People with 31%, and both the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japan Innovation Party at 25%.
The mail-in survey was conducted nationwide between September 24 and October 31, spanning the end of the Ishiba Cabinet and the start of the Takaichi administration.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
