For Japan, which is facing a serious population decline and labor shortage, securing human resources, including foreigners, is indispensable. Various initiatives are being developed in regions suffering from a shortage of human resources.

Prime Minister Takaichi has stated that "it is necessary to consider the scale of the workforce required in the future" and has indicated a policy to include the employment of foreigners, alongside curbing the declining birthrate and expanding labor participation.

Is the Workforce Shortage 11 Million?

The growth strategy for the 17 priority fields advocated by the Takaichi administration also requires the utilization of foreigners. These fields include artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, shipbuilding, quantum technology, and biotechnology.

In December 2025, the government presented estimates of labor shortages until fiscal year 2028 for each industry. The most important field, "shipbuilding," faces a shortage of 80,000 people. Even with measures such as expanding employment for women and the elderly and improving productivity, approximately 37,000 foreign workers will still be needed.

The same applies to industries related to the priority fields of aviation/space, disaster prevention/national resilience, and port logistics, such as "aviation," "road transport," "logistics warehouses," and "construction." Japanese workers alone are not enough, and we must rely on foreigners.

Many experts point out that "there is also a shortage of developers for new technologies such as AI, and in the future, including personnel responsible for maintenance and inspection, it will be necessary to supplement with foreigners." In particular, "essential workers" who support daily life and industry are in short supply.

In November 2025, the National Governors' Association declared that foreigners "have become an indispensable presence that supports society as members of the community." It cited manufacturing, service industries, and nursing care/welfare as areas where foreign labor is essential.

According to estimates by a private think tank, Japan will face a shortage of 11 million workers by 2040 due to population decline. The reality that Japan must rely on foreign human resources to maintain economic activity is strengthening.

Accepting Foreigners is an "Opportunity"

Amidst this, Yasutomo Suzuki, Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture, who is working on the acceptance of foreigners and multicultural coexistence, held a press conference at the Japan National Press Club in February and stated that accepting foreigners is "not a threat but an opportunity."

Mr. Suzuki served as Mayor of Hamamatsu City, a designated city, for four terms from 2007. In the city, which has many residents of Japanese-Brazilian descent, he promoted policies aimed at realizing a coexistent society, such as establishing a learning support center for foreigners within the city hall. He assumed office as Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture in 2024. At the National Governors' Association, he serves as the leader of the "Project Team Meeting for Accepting Foreigners and Realizing a Multicultural Coexistence Society."

According to Governor Suzuki, a record high of 128,000 foreigners live in Shizuoka Prefecture. While there were only about 20,000 in 1990, the number increased, mainly among people of Japanese descent, after the revision of the Immigration Control Act in the same year. Foreigners with "residence status" rapidly increased, especially in the western part of the prefecture, such as Hamamatsu City, where manufacturing is prosperous. In recent years, "work visas" and "student visas" have increased. Their countries and regions of origin number 130, and multinationalization is progressing.

Aiming for Zero Non-Enrollment for Children of Foreign Roots

Regarding Shizuoka Prefecture's initiatives for multicultural coexistence, with the motto "Shizuoka Prefecture without barriers of heart and language," the following were listed: (1) establishment of multicultural awareness, (2) promotion of easy Japanese, (3) enhancement of consultation services for foreigners, (4) strengthening of information provision for foreigners, (5) development of an educational environment aimed at zero non-enrollment for children of foreign roots, and (6) development of a comfortable working environment.

A "Multicultural Coexistence Project (PT) Team" has been established within the National Governors' Association, promoting the smooth transition from technical intern training to the new "Ikusei Shuro" (nurturing employment) system, and the establishment of a national promotion system for forming multicultural coexistence. In July 2025, they held their first session on the theme of "multicultural coexistence." Participating governors shared regional issues and fostered collaboration.

Opinions expressed by the participating prefectural governors included: "Acceptance of foreigners is necessary amidst a severe labor shortage," "Messages to alleviate anxiety about the increase in foreigners and appropriate immigration control are also important," and "Local governments need to appeal firmly to the national government with evidence."

The National Governors' Association announced the "Aomori Declaration" at a session held in Aomori Prefecture, clearly stating, "We reject exclusionism and xenophobia and aim for a multicultural coexistence society."

The declaration stated that "Japan has reached this point without discussing the basic policy of whether to accept foreigners or not, but (the acceptance of foreigners) is no longer just a problem for specific regions." It called on the government to formulate a comprehensive basic law, which would be the cornerstone for implementing multicultural coexistence policies, and to establish a command center organization.

In response, the National Governors' Association compiled "Proposals for the Acceptance of Foreigners and the Realization of a Multicultural Coexistence Society" and requested the national government to take responsibility in addressing the "Ikusei Shuro (nurturing employment) system."

Local governments are successively launching new systems. Sendai City has set up an interpreter phone service that supports over 20 languages to break down language barriers in daily life. It can also be used in everyday situations, such as communicating symptoms to staff at a pharmacy. Fukui Prefecture has established "Fukui Foreign Community Leaders," who disseminate information related to daily life and disasters in their native languages and act as a bridge between Japanese people and foreigners.

Some local governments are also introducing mechanisms to gather feedback from foreigners. Kawasaki City established the Foreign Resident Representatives' Council in 1996. Foreign representatives meet annually to discuss local issues and make recommendations to the city. The aim is to reflect opinions that are difficult to convey in city administration.

Akio Yamaguchi, Representative Director of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai), pointed out at a press conference at the Japan National Press Club on July 10, "We should not separate foreigners and Japanese. We need to create a society where everyone in Japan feels happy, a society of 'coexistence'." He appealed, "Education is an investment in the future. Guaranteeing education for children of foreign nationality will be the vitality of Japan's future and bring energy and prosperity."

Foreign Workers are Living Beings

Foreign labor is indispensable in Japan, where the population continues to decline. Despite this, substantive policy discussions regarding the acceptance of foreigners have not been conducted.

Tomohisa Ishikawa, Research Director at Japan Research Institute, stated in a lecture at the Japan National Press Club that "the utilization of highly skilled professionals is limited in Japan" and expressed the view that resolving the "three absences"—direction, command center, and statistics—is important for the inclusion of foreigners into Japanese society. He said, "Because the government denies immigration policy, there is no consistent policy, and cross-ministerial initiatives are not being undertaken. Even if one tries to formulate policies, statistics on foreigners are insufficient." He proposed the creation of a multicultural coexistence agency (tentative name) to serve as a command center.

In Japan, as soon as the word "immigrant" is used, it often meets with strong opposition and prevents discussion. However, Japan has already accepted many foreigners, and society cannot function without their continued help.

Foreign workers are living beings with families. How many people, and what kind of people, will be accepted, and how will they be integrated into Japanese society? An environment for calm discussion is essential. Constructive immigration policy is urgent.

■筆者プロフィール：八牧浩行

1971年時事通信社入社。 編集局経済部記者、ロンドン特派員、経済部長、常務取締役編集局長等を歴任。この間、財界、大蔵省、日銀キャップを務めたほか、欧州、米国、アフリカ、中東、アジア諸国を取材。英国・サッチャー首相、中国・李鵬首相をはじめ多くの首脳と会見。東京都日中友好協会特任顧問。時事総合研究所客員研究員。著・共著に「中国危機ー巨大化するチャイナリスクに備えよ」「寡占支配」「外国為替ハンドブック」など。趣味はマラソン（フルマラソン12回完走＝東京マラソン4回）、ヴァイオリン演奏。