51% of Japanese support expanding immigration

[Arumdaum]

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_new ... 1504180035

The majority of Japanese support a more open immigration policy with the number of those willing to accept foreigners who want to permanently settle doubling over the last five years, an Asahi Shimbun survey shows.

In the new poll, 51 percent of Japanese respondents said they support Japan accepting foreigners who want to settle, while 34 percent were opposed to expanding immigration.

The positive result was almost twice that of a previous survey in May 2010.

In the earlier poll, respondents were asked whether or not they supported accepting a large number of immigrants if Japan was unable to maintain the scale of its economy because of a greying society and depopulation due to a low birthrate.

Only 26 percent gave their support, while 65 percent were opposed.

In the latest survey, questionnaires were mailed to 3,000 Japanese adults on March 11. Valid responses were received from 2,016 by April 10.

Fifty-one percent also said they think accepting immigrants will solve the anticipated labor shortage in Japan, while 48 percent said otherwise.

Asked if immigrants can deprive Japanese of job opportunities, 7 percent said they strongly think so, while 36 percent said they somewhat think so.

Twenty-two percent said they strongly believe accepting more immigrants will worsen the security situation in Japan while 54 percent said they somewhat believe it will.

The Asahi Shimbun also commissioned a polling company in Germany to conduct a telephone survey to ask Germans if they supported the country’s policy of accepting a large number of immigrants since the mid-1950s.

It received valid responses from 1,000 Germans age 18 and older between March 11 and 24, with 82 percent saying it was good the country had accepted a large number of immigrants and 16 percent saying otherwise.

However, 53 percent of respondents said they believe accepting immigrants has led to a deterioration in the security situation in Germany, including 15 percent who said they strongly believe so.

According to surveys carried out by Asahi, a major Japanese newspaper, 51% of Japanese now support making it easier to immigrate to Japan, up from 26% in 2010. Only 34% of people are against it, as opposed to 65% opposition from the 2010 survey.

The news is good to hear. I'm hoping that Japan is more open to immigration in the future, and moves past simply hiring foreign workers for a few years and then sending them home for the labor shortage. It would be nice to see Japan suffer less from the effects of depopulation, but greater interaction with those who are not ethnically Japanese would hopefully cause Japan to be more tolerant of minorities.

I'm a bit skeptical considering that the number is so high, since IIRC Asashi is a center-left newspaper which may show opinions more liberal than the actual Japanese population. However, I don't closely follow Japanese politics, so I don't really know how developments regarding depopulation and immigration have played out in Japan within the past five years.

I don't expect much loosening of immigration laws under Abe, but I've heard there's been some discussion. If current trends continue, and as the effects of depopulation are more heavily felt in Japan, immigration laws will probably become more lax in the future.

Either way, what do you think? Will Japan end up following the path of states in Europe and be more open to immigration? Is it only a matter of time before Japan starts accepting more refugees from war-torn areas as well? Should Japan open itself up to more immigration?

[Napkiraly]

51% is pretty damn on the cliff. Personally I'd say implement minor reforms so people can get used to it, then implement larger ones when there is more support.

Anyway, while this is awesome living in Japan ain't my cup of tea. Would love to visit though.

[The Huskar Social Union]

I think its good for Japan.

It will allow them to expand their workforce bit by bit by brining new people in as well as potentially help negate their population decline (though that is more so with people just not wanting to have sex over there i believe) Also things like cultural integration, opening people up to new ideas and ways of life which is always interesting to see.

And also it can just offer another safe haven for people fleeing from warzones and give them the chance to start their life over again which is always good.

51% is pretty damn on the cliff. Personally I'd say implement minor reforms so people can get used to it, then implement larger ones when there is more support.

Anyway, while this is awesome living in Japan ain't my cup of tea. Would love to visit though.

Also this, probably not the best idea to just throw open the gates and just everyone come in, well at least not yet. Do it gradually so people are use to it like Nap said.

[Arumdaum]

I think its good for Japan.

It will allow them to expand their workforce bit by bit by brining new people in as well as potentially help negate their population decline (though that is more so with people just not wanting to have sex over there i believe) Also things like cultural integration, opening people up to new ideas and ways of life which is always interesting to see.

And also it can just offer another safe haven for people fleeing from warzones and give them the chance to start their life over again which is always good.

I think it has more to do with stigma regarding married women staying in the workforce, forcing women to either choose between having a career or having a family, as well as the general expenses associated with raising a child, educational in particular.

I also heard that work and school schedules don't really match in Japan due to long working hours, which make having a child harder.

[Sebtopiaris]

They just need to have more children so their population is sustainable after all their old people die and build robots.

[The Huskar Social Union]

I think its good for Japan.

It will allow them to expand their workforce bit by bit by brining new people in as well as potentially help negate their population decline (though that is more so with people just not wanting to have sex over there i believe) Also things like cultural integration, opening people up to new ideas and ways of life which is always interesting to see.

And also it can just offer another safe haven for people fleeing from warzones and give them the chance to start their life over again which is always good.

I think it has more to do with stigma regarding married women staying in the workforce, forcing women to either choose between having a career or having a family, as well as the general expenses associated with raising a child, educational in particular.

I also heard that work and school schedules don't really match in Japan due to long working hours, which make having a child harder.

Hmm, never thought about that (e:) at the moment.

Of course i knew about those reasons.

Totally... say otherwise and you are a liar.

[The Huskar Social Union]

They just need to have more children so their population is sustainable after all their old people die and build robots.

And build robots

Seb gets it.

[Napkiraly]

I think its good for Japan.

It will allow them to expand their workforce bit by bit by brining new people in as well as potentially help negate their population decline (though that is more so with people just not wanting to have sex over there i believe)

IIRC that's partially or mainly due to the life-work balance, or lack thereof, of many Japanese workers. Also women's careers are essentially shot to shiddly widdly if they pop out a baby.

I mean, the Japanese white collar worker is more likely to die due to their job than the blue collar one. Says something when working near heavy machinery is better for your chances of not experiencing death than working in an office.

[Arumdaum]

51% is pretty damn on the cliff. Personally I'd say implement minor reforms so people can get used to it, then implement larger ones when there is more support.

Anyway, while this is awesome living in Japan ain't my cup of tea. Would love to visit though.

It is rather on the cliff, but there's still a nice 17% margin between those who want to expand it and those who are against relaxing immigration laws.

I was mostly surprised that it passed 50% at all, and the rapid trend towards being more accepting of immigration. I mean, it was still only 26% in 2010. It'll probably be higher in the future.

[Arumdaum]

I think it has more to do with stigma regarding married women staying in the workforce, forcing women to either choose between having a career or having a family, as well as the general expenses associated with raising a child, educational in particular.

I also heard that work and school schedules don't really match in Japan due to long working hours, which make having a child harder.

Hmm, never thought about that.

...

They're the most obvious reasons though...

[The Huskar Social Union]

Hmm, never thought about that.

...

They're the most obvious reasons though...

...

Shut up im tired.

Totally not an excuse.

[Napkiraly]

Though I guess there is something that could get my interest in moving to Japan.

Do Japanese women find foreign guys hot and shaggadelic baby yeaaaah

[Sebtopiaris]

They just need to have more children so their population is sustainable after all their old people die and build robots.

And build robots

Seb gets it.

Well, think about it.
With an aging population and technological advancement like what's happening today, mechanisation of vital services is pretty inevitable and also vital for Japan. Still, once their bubble dies off, it should be really important that they focus on a more sustainable population- both in side and age grouping.

[Arumdaum]

They just need to have more children so their population is sustainable after all their old people die and build robots.

I know the robot part is a joke, but things aren't going to get better when the elderly pass away since the younger generations are going to get old as well, with the percentage of those who are elderly continually rising.

[Arumdaum]

And build robots

Seb gets it.

Well, think about it.
With an aging population and technological advancement like what's happening today, mechanisation of vital services is pretty inevitable and also vital for Japan. Still, once their bubble dies off, it should be really important that they focus on a more sustainable population- both in side and age grouping.

What bubble?

[Napkiraly]

They just need to have more children so their population is sustainable after all their old people die and build robots.

I know the robot part is a joke, but things aren't going to get better when the elderly pass away since the younger generations are going to get old as well, with the percentage of those who are elderly continually rising.

IIRC isn't 1/4 of Japan's population already 65+?

[Sebtopiaris]

Though I guess there is something that could get my interest in moving to Japan.

Do Japanese women find foreign guys hot and shaggadelic baby yeaaaah

Smuggle me in your suitcase. Let's raise some birth rates!

[Sebtopiaris]

Well, think about it.
With an aging population and technological advancement like what's happening today, mechanisation of vital services is pretty inevitable and also vital for Japan. Still, once their bubble dies off, it should be really important that they focus on a more sustainable population- both in side and age grouping.

What bubble?

http://civfi.com/wp-content/uploads/201 ... _japan.jpg
soon to be
http://images.thetruthaboutcars.com/2010/02/ja-2050.jpg

[The Huskar Social Union]

Though I guess there is something that could get my interest in moving to Japan.

Do Japanese women find foreign guys hot and shaggadelic baby yeaaaah

Smuggle me in your suitcase. Let's raise some birth rates!

So so relevant

[Sebtopiaris]

They just need to have more children so their population is sustainable after all their old people die and build robots.

I know the robot part is a joke

I meant mechanisation of services in a playful way.

[Arumdaum]

Though I guess there is something that could get my interest in moving to Japan.

Do Japanese women find foreign guys hot and shaggadelic baby yeaaaah

i hope k-pop and k-dramas being popular in japan will cause people to find me more sexy there

I know the robot part is a joke, but things aren't going to get better when the elderly pass away since the younger generations are going to get old as well, with the percentage of those who are elderly continually rising.

IIRC isn't 1/4 of Japan's population already 65+?

Yeah, and a third of the population is already past the age of sixty. It's pretty crazy when you consider that the percentage is only going to get significantly higher.

[The East Asian Post-Apocalyptic Pact]

Though I guess there is something that could get my interest in moving to Japan.

Do Japanese women find foreign guys hot and shaggadelic baby yeaaaah

It depends.

[Napkiraly]

Though I guess there is something that could get my interest in moving to Japan.

Do Japanese women find foreign guys hot and shaggadelic baby yeaaaah

Smuggle me in your suitcase. Let's raise some birth rates!

NEIN! *beats back with stick* Waffle Zug fährt nach Bayern, um Buntstifte zu packen und zu vereinheitlichen mit Schokolade Ziegen!

[Sebtopiaris]

Smuggle me in your suitcase. Let's raise some birth rates!

So so relevant

Why wouldn't you want more of me?

[Napkiraly]

-snip-