Japan’s Foreign Resident Population Hits Record 4.28 Million Despite Rising Anti-Immigration Sentiment

Japan has recorded a record 4.28 million foreign residents this year, despite growing anti-immigration sentiment, as the country struggles with labour shortages driven by an ageing and shrinking population.

The Immigration Services Agency said on Friday that the number of foreign residents, excluding short-term visitors, stood at 4.28 million at the end of June. That represented an increase of 156,000 from the end of 2025 and accounted for approximately 3.5% of Japan’s total population, based on government estimates.

Immigration expert Toshihiro Menju told AFP that Japan faces labour shortages across sectors, ranging from highly skilled professions to service industries.

“With Japan’s population shrinking by more than 900,000 a year… we have no choice but to rely on foreign workers,” said Menju, a visiting professor at the Kansai University of International Studies.

He added that the use of artificial intelligence and robotics, alongside greater workforce participation by women and older people, would not be sufficient to address the shortfall.

Japan Tightens Immigration Rules

Japanese businesses have urged the government to develop a comprehensive policy to support foreign residents as employers increasingly depend on overseas workers.

However, rising anti-immigration sentiment has prompted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to pursue stricter regulations.

Japan tightened its permanent residency rules this month, requiring foreign applicants to meet higher annual income thresholds and demonstrate greater proficiency in Japanese.

The changes come amid the growing influence of the self-described “Japanese-first” Sanseito party, which describes immigration as a “silent invasion”. The party made significant gains in last year’s upper house election.

Social media posts have also circulated false claims that foreigners receive a substantial share of welfare payments and make Japanese streets less safe.

Weak Yen and Low Wages Pose Challenges

Menju suggested that stricter residency requirements could already be affecting the pace of foreign population growth.

The number of foreign residents increased by approximately 300,000 over the past year, compared with a rise of around 360,000 in the preceding year.

“If obtaining permanent residency becomes difficult, people will see less benefit in staying in Japan for the long term,” he said.

He also cited the weak yen and low wages as factors that could discourage foreign workers from choosing Japan as a long-term destination.

Despite these challenges, Menju expects Japan’s foreign resident population to reach 10 million in the 2040s as labour shortages intensify.

Illegal Overstayers Decline

Separately, Japan’s Justice Ministry announced on Friday that the number of foreign nationals illegally overstaying their visas had fallen to approximately 65,000 as of July 1.

The figure was down 4.8% from the beginning of the year.

The contrasting trends highlight Japan’s challenge of balancing stricter immigration controls with the need to attract and retain foreign workers as its domestic workforce continues to shrink.