【永住許可】厳格化で外国出身者はどう受け止める？日本人が感じる“不公平感“とは？来日20年超・ジェーニャらと考える｜アベプラ

Summary

The program examines Japan’s move to tighten permanent-residency requirements and increase immigration-related fees from October. The changes discussed include stricter income, pension-payment, and Japanese-language criteria, alongside a sharp rise in some fees.

Jenya, a Russian voice actress who has lived in Japan for 21 years, described spending eight hours at the Tokyo immigration office to submit her application before the changes took effect. She said Japan is where her family, work, and community are, and that online criticism of foreigners has become more noticeable.

Jenya and other guests pushed back against assumptions that foreigners do not pay taxes or pension contributions. They noted that permanent residency is not automatically granted through marriage and argued that immigrants who follow the rules should not be lumped together with people who break them. At the same time, the panel acknowledged that some Japanese residents feel uneasy about the growing number of foreign visitors and residents, and that concerns about illegal stays and welfare can feed public resentment.

Ilham, an Indonesian care worker who came to Japan about a year and a half ago, said he initially came to earn money and support his family, but has also come to appreciate the kindness of his colleagues and is open to staying. His experience contrasts with hostile online comments: he said he has generally felt welcomed at work and has recently become a sub-leader. His recruitment company likewise said many workers find Japanese people kinder than expected, while noting a gap between online hostility and everyday interactions.

The discussion broadened to Japan’s labor needs and its approach to immigration. Some participants argued that shortages in care work, transportation, and other fields are real, and that Japan should make better use of workers from abroad. Others cautioned against relying on low-wage labor or treating immigration as the only solution. They said the public should have a meaningful say in what kind of society Japan wants, even if that means accepting slower economic growth.

Guests also discussed the limits of belonging and political representation. Foreign residents may pay taxes and contribute to their communities yet have no vote, and some said they continue to be treated as outsiders regardless of their Japanese ability or years in the country. Naturalization could offer political participation, but it may also entail a difficult personal choice about identity and ties to one’s country of origin.

On integration, the panel emphasized meeting people directly and creating more opportunities for contact between residents and newcomers. One contributor argued that preparation before arrival—including stronger language education and clearer expectations—could help. Several guests supported using increased fees to improve such preparation and administrative systems, but criticized the suddenness of the change and the lack of a clear explanation, saying it could be perceived as a signal that foreigners are unwelcome.

The program ends without a single resolution. It highlights the need to address public concerns and rule-breaking while distinguishing them from the experiences of lawful, contributing residents, and to debate immigration policy transparently.

Presenters and Contributors

• 松陰寺太勇 (Taiyū Shōinji) — MC
• 小松靖 (Yasushi Komatsu) — moderator
• ジェーニャ (Jenya) — Russian voice actress and instructor
• イルハム (Ilham) — Indonesian care worker
• 佐々翔太郎 (Shōtarō Sasa) — LivCo representative
• 泉健太 (Kenta Izumi) — politician
• 小原ブラス (Brass Kohara) — columnist and talent-agency representative
• ネルソン・バビンコイ (Nelson Babin-Coy) — cultural interpreter and singer-songwriter
• 田所あずさ (Azusa Tadokoro) — narrator
• 平石直之 (Naoyuki Hiraishi) — named in the closing sign-off