Summary by Andrew Marvin*
On June 26, YCAPS partnered with Kreab Tokyo for a special lunch seminar titled “Japan’s Policy Towards Foreigners and Immigrants at a Crossroads,” featuring guest speaker Dr. TANIGUCHI Tomohiko, former foreign policy speechwriter to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chairman of Nippon Kaigi. The seminar examined the immediate and structural challenges facing Japan’s policies toward tourism, immigration, and long-term foreign residents.
Dr. Taniguchi argued that Japan should remain open to international visitors while implementing stronger measures to address the growing challenges of overtourism. He discussed how increasing visitor numbers have placed pressure on cultural and natural landmarks and suggested that implementing policies such as higher visitor fees could help manage tourist flows. He compared Japan’s proposed JESTA entry fee with Bhutan’s substantially higher tourism charges, suggesting that Japan should use higher visitor fees to limit overtourism. He argued that sustainable tourism policies can protect destinations such as Mount Fuji while preserving Japan’s openness to international visitors.
Another point was about immigration and demographic change. Dr. Taniguchi argued that Japan’s labor shortages can be addressed by increasing workforce participation among women and older adults rather than relying primarily on large-scale immigration. The seminar concluded by examining the relationship between immigration and economic security. Numerical control remains essential—both for residence permits and for naturalization.
