I recently read an article on BBC's website (can't find it but when I do, I'll post it) that talks about how Japan's population is shrinking that there may be large spaces to fill in terms of employment and so on. It talked about how Japan might need to rely on foreign workers (mostly from Asia) to fill these "spaces".

It also reported people's opinions from various places around Japan. Although they're opinions were divided, many of the people who voted no to foreign workers said that it was because of all the crime they committed. Many people who voted yes said that they could help the economy. What's your opinion on this?

I think our society always welcome scientists, educationists, artists, skilled engineers,etc., from any foreign countries.
But no thanks, Chinese triads.

^^

Do you think Japanese Yakusa are welcomed anywhere?

there 're criminals in all countries...france, china, usa, taiwan, japan

But no thanks, Chinese triads.

What kind of comment is that? Yakuza are no different! Neither are the Triads or the Mafia... but the fact that you ONLY mentioned the Triads shows some attitudes towards other people of non-Japanese descent. Is this typical of Japan?

I think you're misunderstanding his statement. He said he thinks Japan's society would welcome skilled laborers, but not chinese triads. We dislike yakuza as well, but they're all already here.

I don't know what the yakuza or triads or Korean mafia do in Shinjuku, and I don't want to know. Fortunately, they usually stay in that area and don't bother normal people.

And of course people have different attitudes towards people of another descent. Japan, Korea, and China are pretty xenophobic cultures

As for my opinion, something needs to be done in Japan quickly. The language barrier is still a problem- if we were to try to get skilled/educated people here, we have to make it easier for them to adapt to the workplace. There are many foreign students coming to Japan now, but they mostly go back to their home nations after graduation. I don't think most people understand the severity of the problem yet, since the population hasn't dropped yet (I think this year was the peak).

I found the link... its a very interesting read from BBC.

Just go to this link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3708098.stm

What kind of comment is that? Yakuza are no different! Neither are the Triads or the Mafia... but the fact that you ONLY mentioned the Triads shows some attitudes towards other people of non-Japanese descent. Is this typical of Japan?

The Yukuza are very respectful and polite.I would rather have them around than any other mafia group

"The Yukuza are very respectful and polite. I would rather have them around than any other mafia group."


Hallelujah!!!!

Japan in 20 years from now will be a totally different place. Yes, the older generations (from about 40 years old on up) are generally speaking xenophobic, but the kids from my generation onwards (late 70s early 80s) have grown up in a completely different environment than their parents did, and they are far more open to widescale immigration. Young Japanese are just as wordly as their Western counterparts (and in the case of young Americans, moreso). When my friends will be running the show over here, Japan will no longer be a country of 99% ethnic Japanese.

By the way, the Japan Business Federation, the same organization which is against further bans on sprawl, is one of this country's most vocal supporters of widescale, drastic immigration reform. Japan's best and brightest business leaders almost universally understand the need for immigration if Japan is to maintain its current standard of living, and as in America, when Big Business wants something done in Japan, it eventually gets done, period.

As for opinions on different ethnic groups immigrating to Japan, it's the Chinese the Japanese public far and away fears the most, not the Filipinos or Koreans or Brazilians or anyone else; this is mainly due (in my opinion) to the media's somewhat correct portrayal of Chinese immigrants as having ties with criminal organizations. Chinese make up the largest illegal immigrant group in Japan, and it is true that a large portion of credit card fraud in Japan is done by Chinese nationals, but the media here seems to go out of its way to bring attention to even the smallest crimes committed by Chinese while routinely ignoring crimes done by ethnic Japanese. The Japanese media is quite possibly the most regulated, filtered and biased among the world's developed democracies. The Press Club in particular is a deplorable institution that only harms Japanese citizens by keeping them in the dark.

All those images and clips of Chinese students smashing Japanese shop windows and Chinese hospital signs reading "no dogs or Japanese allowed" didn't exactly further engender the Japanese public to the idea of letting more Chinese nationals into Japan.

if Japan is to maintain its current standard of living, and as in America, when Big Business wants something done in Japan, it eventually gets done, period.

I think Losing is larger than that.
On the contrary,Japan will become weaker.
That is, "WA" will collapse.
Japan is not a competitive country like the United States yet.

look at poor country.
The child is needed as labourer if becoming poor .

that is a natural cycle.
It is melancholic seeing from the heaven.

I think Losing is larger than that.
On the contrary,Japan will become weaker.
That is, "WA" will collapse.
Japan is not a competitive country like the United States yet.

look at poor country.
The child is needed as labourer if becoming poor .

that is a natural cycle.
It is melancholic seeing from the heaven.

OMG... what are you on?

Japan in 20 years from now will be a totally different place. Yes, the older generations (from about 40 years old on up) are generally speaking xenophobic, but the kids from my generation onwards (late 70s early 80s) have grown up in a completely different environment than their parents did, and they are far more open to widescale immigration. Young Japanese are just as wordly as their Western counterparts (and in the case of young Americans, moreso). When my friends will be running the show over here, Japan will no longer be a country of 99% ethnic Japanese.

By the way, the Japan Business Federation, the same organization which is against further bans on sprawl, is one of this country's most vocal supporters of widescale, drastic immigration reform. Japan's best and brightest business leaders almost universally understand the need for immigration if Japan is to maintain its current standard of living, and as in America, when Big Business wants something done in Japan, it eventually gets done, period.

As for opinions on different ethnic groups immigrating to Japan, it's the Chinese the Japanese public far and away fears the most, not the Filipinos or Koreans or Brazilians or anyone else; this is mainly due (in my opinion) to the media's somewhat correct portrayal of Chinese immigrants as having ties with criminal organizations. Chinese make up the largest illegal immigrant group in Japan, and it is true that a large portion of credit card fraud in Japan is done by Chinese nationals, but the media here seems to go out of its way to bring attention to even the smallest crimes committed by Chinese while routinely ignoring crimes done by ethnic Japanese. The Japanese media is quite possibly the most regulated, filtered and biased among the world's developed democracies. The Press Club in particular is a deplorable institution that only harms Japanese citizens by keeping them in the dark.

All those images and clips of Chinese students smashing Japanese shop windows and Chinese hospital signs reading "no dogs or Japanese allowed" didn't exactly further engender the Japanese public to the idea of letting more Chinese nationals into Japan.

That's a very fair opinion. I think the xenophobia is Japan will disappear once the newer generations begin to "run Japan's show". Although I kind of disagree with your Chinese nationals committing crimes comment, I think the media is the most to blame. This bias and filtering of news definately creates the wrong images for Japanese nationals. Lastly, I can't agree more with your Chinese students comment. Their behaviour was unacceptable but at the same time, neither was the Japanese government's. I'm really anxious to know what the outcome of the high-level talks currrently taking place between China and Japan. Hopefully they can find a way to work together. They have a lot to learn and benefit from one another.

Also, out of curiosity, what are your opinions of the Americans and the fact that they have military bases in Japan?

we dont need immigrants to keep the today's living.

^ yes you do if you can't sustain a birth rate above 2.1 children per couple (minimum replacement rate)

otherwise you will have too many dependant citizens in your country to look after

As for opinions on different ethnic groups immigrating to Japan, it's the Chinese the Japanese public far and away fears the most, not the Filipinos or Koreans or Brazilians or anyone else; this is mainly due (in my opinion) to the media's somewhat correct portrayal of Chinese immigrants as having ties with criminal organizations. Chinese make up the largest illegal immigrant group in Japan, and it is true that a large portion of credit card fraud in Japan is done by Chinese nationals, but the media here seems to go out of its way to bring attention to even the smallest crimes committed by Chinese while routinely ignoring crimes done by ethnic Japanese. The Japanese media is quite possibly the most regulated, filtered and biased among the world's developed democracies. The Press Club in particular is a deplorable institution that only harms Japanese citizens by keeping them in the dark.

The Chinese are often not very harmful partly because their crimes and violence are visible. But the Koreans are often problem - invisible. They are very good at mind controlling. They are very very spooky and disgusting people in that sense. Probably Japan itself is already on their hands - burglars. I'm personally nothing against them but one of the reasons why Japan is said to be a closed country is because Japan inherits their masculine, male-dominated and secluded characteristics. All over North Asia is like imprisoned into the dark is due to such reason. I hope the people in this region are released from the brainwashing as soon as possible. They have inferior complex because they are ignorant and mentally controlled by it. I pity them. May be the Americans should put the light on their way and save them from the darkness of ignorance and narrow mentality. Freedom is such a great state to be.

We need more Filipinos, Brazilians and Russians for sure. :)

Are there real Japanese here? It seems all the participants are non-Japanese. Come on guys, let's hear from a real Japanese.