According to a report in the Nikkei Shimbun, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has instructed Minister of Justice Hiroshi Hiraguchi to tighten the requirements for acquiring Japanese citizenship. Under the current system, a person must have resided in Japan for at least five years to acquire Japanese citizenship. Meanwhile, obtaining permanent residency generally requires 10 years of residence, although this period can be shortened under certain conditions. The Japan Innovation Party, which forms a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party (Takaichi’s party), has pointed out this as a “reverse phenomenon.” Similar concerns were shared within the government.
Takaichi emphasizes “drawing a line between foreigners and xenophobia.”
Specific ways to tighten the requirements for acquiring Japanese citizenship are currently under consideration. Possible ways to tighten the requirements include extending the residency period to 10 years, the same as for permanent residency, and imposing penalties for non-payment of national health insurance and national pension insurance premiums.
Meanwhile, at the end of October, it was reported that the government established the “Council of Relevant Ministers on Accepting Foreigners and Realizing an Orderly Coexistence Society” to discuss issues such as acquiring Japanese citizenship and foreigners’ real estate acquisition. Notably, the term “coexistence” appears prominently in the council’s name.
The current Takaichi administration is perceived as being more conservative than other recent administrations. Therefore, this can be interpreted as a conscious effort to balance the acceptance of foreigners with social integration. In her policy speech on October 24, Takaichi herself emphasized “drawing a line between foreigners and xenophobia” and expressed her intention to confront foreigners who do not abide by laws and rules.
“Overtourism Countermeasures” Related to Short-Term Business Visitors
However, many readers of this media may not be immediately considering obtaining Japanese citizenship. Rather, they are likely more concerned about the difficulty of temporarily entering and staying in Japan for business purposes.
One recent development regarding short-term stays is the consideration of raising visa issuance fees, which we have also covered.
The government is still finalizing the details, but since it has stated that it will “take into account the standards of other countries,” even low-cost visa fees are likely to be around $50-100.
In addition, the Nikkei report also states that Takaichi has instructed Hiraguchi to take the following measures to combat overtourism.
- Expansion of the International Tourist Tax
- Preventing Excessive Tourist Concentration
- Specific Measures to Ensure the Proper Operation of Private Lodgings
First, the International Tourist Tax is currently imposed on all travelers departing Japan, levying 1,000 yen (approximately $6). This applies to both foreign and Japanese travelers. Furthermore, before becoming Prime Minister, Takaichi suggested raising the International Tourist Tax to 3,000 yen. Even if this policy were implemented as stated, it would still not be a significant amount considering the total cost of overseas travel. Of course, some readers may feel that it is better to keep it low.
The second point, preventing excessive tourist concentration, is likely to be addressed with overtourism countermeasures funded by the International Tourist Tax. For example, if tourism continues to concentrate in large cities like Kyoto, traffic and congestion control measures may be strengthened.
The third point is that travelers coming to Japan solely for business purposes may be less likely to use private lodgings. On the other hand, if you are sightseeing during your business trip and want to experience an environment similar to that of an average Japanese home, you may choose to stay in a private lodging. Depending on how the government implements its policies, it is possible that private lodging prices may rise.
The other day, I checked Airbnb prices in central Sapporo for travel reference, and it was not uncommon to see listings priced at 30,000 to 40,000 yen (approximately $190 to $255) per night. If measures are taken that impose a burden on private lodging operators, it is possible that prices may rise.
Considering the Purpose of Measures
So far, I’ve discussed stricter citizenship requirements and measures to combat overtourism from the perspective of businesspeople visiting Japan. It’s likely that measures to combat overtourism, in particular, will increase the burden on readers, and it’s understandable that they would feel stressed.
Conversely, from the perspective of Japanese people living in Japan, I believe it’s necessary to create an environment where both Japanese citizens and visitors can live comfortably. While it’s necessary to treat visitors with care, we must also avoid causing significant losses to Japanese citizens’ jobs and livelihoods.
This is unrelated to Takaichi’s political ideology. Furthermore, the last measure, regarding private lodgings, may result in higher prices due to more thorough measures to ensure guest safety. It’s difficult to conclude that measures to combat overtourism are necessarily implemented solely with the benefit of the Japanese people in mind.
In short, while Japanese citizens understand the presence of visitors from various countries, simply imagining that visitors to Japan also have people living and working there may bring us closer to truly resolving the issues we’ve discussed.
