The issue of foreigners has become a focal point of policy debate. A major reason for this is the sudden increase in the number of foreigners living in Japan, despite the lack of national debate. From the perspective of the public, their living environment has unknowingly become one surrounded by foreigners. This likely fuels confusion, anxiety, anger, and distrust of the government.

The government has clearly stated that it will not pursue an immigration policy, yet the number of foreigners is rapidly increasing, so it’s only natural that the public feels distrustful. One might even suspect that those in power are plotting something sinister behind the scenes.

First, we need to engage in a straightforward discussion about accepting foreigners.

As is well known, Japan’s declining population is causing a serious labor shortage, and if nothing is done, society will stagnate. How can we ensure that society functions sustainably? Accepting foreigners is one option.

In the future, advances in digital transformation, AI, and robotics will automate many jobs, allowing society to function with a limited labor force. If this happens, we may no longer need to accept foreigners.
However, such a future society is still some way off. Even if everything goes smoothly, it is unlikely to be realized until around 2040.
Furthermore, to realize a society that cooperates with AI and robots, we must establish the infrastructure that enables cooperation and maximizes its effectiveness. This is not easy and will take a considerable amount of time.
By conceiving a concrete vision for future society and formulating an action plan to realize it, we may be able to see how we should interact with foreigners. Conversely, developing the issue of foreigners as a national debate will ultimately highlight what Japan’s future should look like.
The issue of foreigners is a controversial topic, so it is expected to be a heated debate, but it is unavoidable. (Kitajima Kei)

※Translating Japanese articles into English with AI