Leiden University Student Repository

Dijkstra, Iris (2022)

Japan’s Immigration Policy and Public Opinion: A Case Study of the 2018 Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act Revision

Bachelor thesis | Japanstudies (BA)

This paper analyses the role public opinion had in the revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in 2018. Previously, the majority of the public felt economically and culturally threatened by foreign residents. Over time, this belief largely disappeared from the public’s consciousness and changed into a more receptive view of an increase of foreigners. Consequently, a majority of the public came to believe that an increase of unskilled foreign labourers to address Japan’s labour shortage was a satisfactory solution. Alleviating labour shortages would in turn strengthen Japan’s economy which was a priority for both the public and Prime Minister Abe. Having looked at both businesses and Abe as different actors in the revision, I found that thanks to Abe’s tight control over both the Diet and the Cabinet, the bill was approved by the Diet without Abe facing public backlash. Nonetheless, the public’s preference has not been attained as they wanted more deliberation...Show moreThis paper analyses the role public opinion had in the revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in 2018. Previously, the majority of the public felt economically and culturally threatened by foreign residents. Over time, this belief largely disappeared from the public’s consciousness and changed into a more receptive view of an increase of foreigners. Consequently, a majority of the public came to believe that an increase of unskilled foreign labourers to address Japan’s labour shortage was a satisfactory solution. Alleviating labour shortages would in turn strengthen Japan’s economy which was a priority for both the public and Prime Minister Abe. Having looked at both businesses and Abe as different actors in the revision, I found that thanks to Abe’s tight control over both the Diet and the Cabinet, the bill was approved by the Diet without Abe facing public backlash. Nonetheless, the public’s preference has not been attained as they wanted more deliberation time in the Diet. Therefore, public opinion and the 2018 revision are correlated, but it cannot be concluded that public opinion influenced the revision.Show less

demographic crisis

labour shortage

unskilled foreign labourers

public opinion

immigration policy

2018 revision

Author

Dijkstra, Iris

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Supervisors

Black, L.O.

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en