In 2000, the United Nations reported that an average of 609,000 immigrants per year from 1995 through 2050 is needed for Japan in order to maintain its workforce at the 1995 level (U. N. Population Division 53). The news surprised many people in Japan, and they were forced to face the immigration issue sincerely. This controversial issue has been discussed for last 150 years. Facing today’s low birth-rate and ageing population, Japan should now accept more immigrants and become a multi-ethnic country in the future. On the other hand, there are strong oppositions against accepting immigrants for economic and cultural reasons. To clarify the points, first the issue regarding foreign workers is examined from the economic point of view in a short-time period. The present situation and historical background of foreign labor help explaining both reasons why Japan should or should not accept more foreign workers. Secondly, immigration to Japan is examined from the cultural point of view in the long time period. In conclusion, it is very important for Japan to become multi-cultural and international in order to be more creative and competitive in the world.
Japan will inevitably accept more foreign workers to meet the huge demand of labor force in various industrial fields such as nursing and caring. The present situation of foreign labor is critical. Low birth-rate and ageing process caused the lack of workforce especially in dirty, dangerous, and difficult jobs. Foreigners gradually started to take those unskilled jobs few decades ago. The number of foreign workers in Japan has 50% increased in last ten years (Koseirodosho Shokugyo Anteikyoku 6). Japan’s government is trying to catch up the situation. Its immigration policy is very si...
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Japanese immigration rose in 1882 after the Chinese Exclusion Act. This was in part to fill the gaps in the labor supply. These Japanese in turn were discriminated against. Much of the American prejudice against the Japanese was carried over from feelings about the Chinese. The ideas were that the Japanese were racially inferior, cruel, crafty, and threatening (222). It is also apparent by social distance scales that extreme prejudice existed at the time against the Japanese. In 1946 they ranked at the very bottom of the list, even under the more traditionally stigmatized groups such as the Mexican Americans, African Americans, and other racially identifiable groups (38).
Japanese immigration created the same apprehension and intolerance in the mind of the Americans as was in the case of Chinese migration to the U.S at the turn of the 19th century. They developed a fear of being overwhelmed by a people having distinct ethnicity, skin color and language that made them “inassimilable.” Hence they wanted the government to restrict Asian migration. Japan’s military victories over Russia and China reinforced this feeling that the Western world was facing what came to be known as “yellow peril”. This was reflected in the media, movies and in literature and journalism.4 Anti-Oriental public opinion gave way to several declarations and laws to restrict Japanese prosperity on American land. Despite the prejudice and ineligibility to obtain citizenship the ...
Japan is facing a de-population crisis. Birth rates have be dropping since the economic boom of the 1970s, and the drop in birth rates is accelerating. Actual population is now around 127 million, but at current rates of decline is expected to drop to 100 million by the middle of this century, and by the start of the next century, to around 40-50 million people. In addition, Japan has the longest life-expectancy in the world, and its “pensioners” are growing as the workers who support them in their later years are declining rapidly. Sixty years ago, there were about eleven workers to support each pensioner; today there are only two. Japan’s current debt load is higher than Greece’s debt, and that could ultimately result in major economic issues. Sakanaka Hidenori, in his Immigration Battle Diary, urges Japan to consider the options available to address the population issue and its economic repercussions. He argues that they can either stay the course and prepare for the changes this will cause, or change immigration policy and prepare for the cultural ramifications of that decision.
Firstly to justify why countries limit their immigrations, there should be knowledge of the different types of immigrants as there are different reasons to leave from one country and move into another. In the last 30 years, the number of international immigrants has been estimated 191 million worldwide, two times as before. As ...
Its commonly known that Japan’s society is aging and this cause a labor shortage. In April of 2015 Vice New posted a video called, “The Worst Internship Ever: Japan’s Labor Pains.” It brings to light the many situations these, “interns,” are placed in when they come to Japan to learn skilled labor. Yet most of the interns are placed in unskilled labor jobs such as oyster shucking where the video begins. The only japanese native in this job that was displayed was an 80 year old woman, the rest were young chinese men. As the video progresses, there is a pattern to all the interns and where they are from, most are from China. Akaha explains this a bit more when discussing chinese in japan’s unskilled labor forces. Akaha states that the internships are mostly found under medium and small companies, wanting the cheap labor and hide it behind the intern program. According to Vice news, these young interns pay money to come to Japan in order to gain skilled labor, but may not even make that money back. For example in the video they have three young chinese woman who were fighting their small business employer for not following the labor laws. The boss withheld most of their pay and still made them pay rent. Which is against the labor laws No. 49 article 3, “An employer shall not engage in discriminatory treatment with respect to wages, working hours or other working conditions by reason of the
It is well-known fact that in New York City people are able to find job. It influences for arriving a lot of immigrants there. While immigrants work in jobs with little salary, in addition they manage to find jobs with high wage. Foreign-born workers in the City made up 100 PERCENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERS, 71 percent of biomedical and agricultural engineers, 40 percent of accountants and auditors, 27 percent of chief executives and legislators, and 21 percent of elementary and middle school teachers (“The Role of Immigrants in the New York City Economy”). The role of immigrants in the New York City economy is very important due to the fact that they ...
Immigration can be defined as passing foreigners to a country and making it their permanent residence. Reasons ranging from politics, economy, natural disasters, wish to change ones surroundings and poverty are in the list of the major causes of immigration in both history and today. In untied states, immigration comes with complexities in its demographic nature. A lot of cultural and population growth changes have been witnessed as a result of immigration. In the following paper, I will focus on how immigration helps United States as compared to the mostly held view that it hurts America.
...and returning visitors and residents, has grown considerably in recent years. The total number of entrants was 3.5 million in 1990 and increased to 5.27 million in 2000 (migration information). By 2005, the number had grown to 7.45 million. As the Japanese gradually and grudgingly open their country to foreigners, they understand the importance of an open door nation.
Since the beginning of Japanese immigration into America, they were discriminated for their race. In a newspaper story titled “Abundant dreams diverted”, the perspective of Japanese people during the late 1800s and mid 1900s is revealed. When Japanese immigrants had came to America in 1880, “Japanese workers soon found that low pay and discrimination subverted their
Tam, Clarence C. "Migration and health: fact, fiction, art, politics." Emerging Themes in Epidemiology 3.1 (2006): 1-15.
The Japanese sought survival as landowners’ due to exclusion of Japanese labor by Whites as they were denied employment opportunities in the industrial sector and trade labor market. The majority of the Japanese immigrant population settled in California and brought with them their knowledge and cultural values, which would ultimately be beneficial for their survival. Japanese immigrants transformed the landscape of California in the late 19th century through their intersubjective relationship with nature which was socially reproduced in their social organization, culture, and religion, influencing their resource management practices.
Imagine being in a country for more than half of your lifetime but still experience racial discrimination, segregation, and unfair working wages. For the Japanese immigrants that came to America in hopes for a better life this wasn't something they could imagine, it was something that they had to endure. Japanese immigrants laid out the importance of a multi-cultural nation who works together in order to strive for self nourishment.
Japan needs to have more babies. The population of Japan is declining, and the birth rate is a base problem. People just aren’t having enough babies anymore. This will be problematic, as Tomm says “The consequences have had negative effects as fertility rate continues to decline and life expectancy continues to increase”. After the birth rate has been declining for the past four decades, the old far outnumber the young at a ratio of nearly 2:1(“Japan Age structure”). There aren’t enough workers to pay into social security. Social problems like traditional gender roles and stereotypes negatively impact the growth of the population. Because of their work-centric lifestyles, social problems, and child related expenses, Japan’s birth rate is severely declining.
Postwar economic development provided quite and immense amount of status and income to the Japanese. Since the 1960s, close to 90% of the Japanese people consider themselves to fall somewhere in the middle-class according to a survey conducted by the Prime Minister’s office. Today, status in society is determined mostly by one’s employment. Out of the labor force that consists of more than 60 million people, 45 million of those are regular employees. And for those who are working in a large firm, they are usually hired at the time of school graduation and retire at the compulsory age of 60. This kind of long-term employment system makes employers feel that labor is more of a fixed cost than a variable cost.
Japan, with a highly homogeneous population both culturally and ethnically, does not have much historical background with any types of extensive immigration. Japan is one of the most developed countries in the world and is currently tackling demographic deficits accelerated by the rapidly changing society with a long lifespan and low birth rate. Japanese government may be considering to more immigration to address the demographical issues like the shrinkage of active workforce which can lead to slow economic development. Even though the Japanese people’s perception on immigration is still generally negative, the demographic variable, regional differences and English ability play an important role in attitude to immigration.