The rise of a right-wing populist party in Sunday's elections for Japan's upper house of parliament, running with a Donald Trump-esque slogan of "Japanese first," has raised concerns about a backlash against the growing presence of foreigners in the country.
The Sanseito party has successfully exploited the unease over the surge in immigration and the influx of tourists following the pandemic. However, many believe that these feelings are rooted in economic insecurity among the population, who, while understanding the need for foreign workers and visitors, are also wary of the changes they bring and symbolize, writes The Guardian.
The Sanseito party's rise to 14 seats in Japan's upper house of parliament, up from just one seat in the previous election, is undoubtedly a breakthrough, but it remains a political force with limited influence in the 248-member assembly. The party's success comes amid a record 3,8 million foreign residents in Japan in 2024, more than 20 million tourist visits in the first quarter of this year alone, and a sharp rise in Tokyo property prices, fueled by wealthy foreign buyers, according to the Guardian.
"Simply put, I have the feeling that Japanese people are starting to lose confidence," says Masafumi Usui, a professor of social psychology at Niigata Seirjo University.
"When you live comfortably and others respect you, then you feel safe and you are more open. But when people feel that their survival is threatened or that they are in crisis, they start to want to protect their existing culture. I think that leads to things like patriotism and xenophobia."
Adapting to the new reality
Usui notes that during Japan's "bubble economy" of the 1980s, there was little negative sentiment toward foreigners, as it was seen as an economic powerhouse that others admired and learned from. But as GDP growth began to stagnate and neighbors like China and South Korea began to overtake it in sectors ranging from electronics to shipbuilding, Usui believes Japan is struggling to adapt to this new reality.
"I think people who openly use hate speech, like 'get out of Japan' messages, are still in the minority," Usui says. "But more and more people are starting to say, 'Why are we spending money on foreigners? Spend it on Japanese people.' And I think that's exactly what Sanseito was able to tap into with his election slogan, 'Japanese first.' It resonated with those who feel they need to protect Japanese culture and way of life."
The Guardian reports that foreign-born residents make up only about three percent of Japan's total population. One of the paradoxes is that in order to increase its economic growth, Japan needs to increase that percentage, the analysis points out.
Sanseito's answer to the chronic labor shortage is automation and artificial intelligence, but even those skeptical of immigrants admit that additional foreign workers are necessary for the immediate future.
About a dozen Vietnamese people work at the company where Akio Ono installs air conditioners. "I get along well with them, most of us do. But when they go to customers' homes, they still have to go with a Japanese colleague because there are still prejudices and language problems."
Reports of crimes committed by foreigners, often spread via social media, have also sparked outrage, even though police statistics show that immigrants commit proportionally fewer crimes than the native population. It believes that news of Vietnamese and Chinese gangs of thieves significantly contribute to concerns about immigration.
"I like the guys I work with, but when I see a group of Vietnamese or Chinese walking around, I get a little scared. I think a lot of Japanese people feel that way," adds Ono, who nevertheless voted for the left-wing Reiwa party.
The golden days are past.
Toyonori Sugita, who runs a metalworking factory south of Tokyo, leans to the right but still rejected Sanseito. He sees voters' main concerns as the economy and the sales tax, which Sanseito has promised to cut.
"What can they really do to achieve the goal of 'Japanese first'? To force the Chinese who bought the land to give it back?" Sugita asks.
"I've had Vietnamese people working here for about three years through the government's technical vocational training program. For the most part, they work hard and conscientiously, unlike some Japanese people who complain a lot," he said.
The tourism boom has also caused mixed feelings. While the money visitors spend on luxury accommodation and top-notch restaurants, which now seem cheap by world standards, is boosting the economy, the Guardian points out that it is also a stark reminder of Japan's decline from its golden days.
Usui says the Japanese were not really aware of the gradual decline in relative prices over the past few decades, until recent media reports about foreign tourists spending large sums made it clear.
"The reality is that Japan has become a cheap country. There's no denying that wages are higher abroad, nor is there the fact that there are sea urchin lunches priced at 10.000 yen (around 58 euros) aimed at foreigners. So, to protect their emotional well-being and preserve their sense of self-worth, people cling to the idea that Japanese culture is the best."
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