This week’s news roundup is dominated by the issue of foreigners in Japan, a topic that was, unsurprisingly, raised by Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya in parliament on Thursday. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has vowed to “set limits” on the number of foreign nationals accepted into the country. She has also ordered Cabinet ministers to compile their views on foreigners by January 2026. The Welfare Ministry, meanwhile, is planning to introduce tougher measures for foreign residents who fall behind on public health insurance or pension contributions.
Sohei Kamiya and the Sanseito Party Logo | Wikimedia
Sanae Takaichi Grilled by Sanseito Leader About Foreigners in Japan
For the first time, Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya grilled Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in parliament on Thursday. Kamiya, whose party won 14 seats at this year’s Upper House election, said there is “anxiety and dissatisfaction” regarding the number of foreigners in Japan, and that the country appeared to be accepting foreign nationals “without limits.” He added, “What the public wants to reduce is not the number of Diet seats, but the number of foreigners allowed into the country. I’d like to hear the prime minister’s views on whether it will be increased or controlled.”
“It’s true there are fields that require foreign personnel,” replied the prime minister. “The Employment for Skill Development Program and the Specified Skilled Worker Program are intended to enable foreign nationals to play an appropriate role in fields with labor shortages. I will manage them appropriately — for instance by setting limits to the number of people accepted. I will conduct fundamental studies on how we should accept foreign nationals in the future.”
Japan To Deny Visa Renewal for Foreigners with Unpaid Pension and Health Insurance
According to NHK, the Japanese government is planning to introduce tougher measures for foreign residents who fall behind on public health insurance or pension contributions. At a press conference on Tuesday, Health, Labour and Welfare Minister, Kenichiro Ueno, announced that, in cooperation with the Immigration Services Agency, a system will be put in place that will, in principle, deny changes or renewals of residence status to foreigners who fail to pay their national pension or national health insurance premiums. It plans to introduce the new system from June 2027.
Foreigners living in Japan for more than three months are required to enroll in public pension and health insurance systems. According to the Welfare Ministry, however, in the fiscal year through March 2025, foreign residents contributed just 49.7% of what was due in regard to pension contributions. A survey among 150 local governments also found that, by the end of 2024, foreign residents had on average paid only 63% of their health insurance premiums. From 2027, authorities intend to use payment records as part of the screening process for visa applications.
Coordinating Policies on Foreign Nationals in Japan
It’s all part of a wider initiative to address the issue of rule-violating foreign nationals in Japan. Takaichi has ordered Cabinet ministers to compile their views on foreigners by January 2026. “It is a fact that members of the public feel anxiety and a sense of unfairness due to illegal acts and rule violations committed by a small number of foreign nationals,” she said on Tuesday. “While clearly distinguishing ourselves from xenophobia, the government will respond firmly to such acts.”
In attendance at Tuesday’s meeting were Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara and Kimi Onoda, the minister in charge of “a society of well-ordered and harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals.” Onoda, who was born to an American father and a Japanese mother, was referred to as Takaichi’s “captain” during her leadership campaign. Issues she has been asked to address include rules on land acquisition by foreign nationals, tightening immigration services and addressing overtourism.
Image by Victoria Bennett
Japan’s 2025 Buzzword Nominations
On Wednesday, publishing company Jiyu Kokumin Sha announced its list of nominations for Japan’s Buzzword of 2025. It features “Toranpu kanzei,” a reference to Donald Trump’s tariffs, and “Hataraite, hataraite, hataraite, hataraite, hataraite,” meaning “Work, work, work, work and work,” which Takaichi promised she would do before becoming Japan’s first ever female prime minister. “Sotsugyo shosho 19.2 byo,” a reference to the scandal involving Ito city Mayor Maki Takubo — specifically how long she said showed her university documents to an investigative panel — also made the list.
Bear attacks have been in the news a lot in recent weeks, so it was no surprise to see “Kinkyu juryo” (emergency shootings) and “Kuma higai” (damage caused by bears) make the list. Popular characters that feature in the top 30 include Labubu and Myaku Myaku, the official mascot of the 2025 World Expo in Osaka. There is also a nomination for “Shichigatsu Itsuka” — July 5 — the date when a catastrophic earthquake was supposed to hit Japan. The winner of this year’s buzzword will be announced on December 1.
The Dodgers Celebrating Their 2025 World Series Win with Yamamoto (center) | Image via Instagram @yoshinobu__yamamoto
Yamamoto Stars as Dodgers Win Second Consecutive World Series
On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers came from behind to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 after extra innings in a dramatic deciding seventh game of the World Series, and in doing so, became the first team to defend the title in a quarter of a century. They are also the first team in Major League Baseball (MLB) history to win the World Series with three Japanese players in their roster: Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
Yamamoto, in particular, was in inspired form for the Dodgers, deservedly winning the series’ Most Valuable Player (MVP) award. The day after he threw 96 pitches for his second win of this year’s World Series, the Japanese superstar stepped up to the plate again to fire 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to settle the game for his team. In Game 2, he pitched a four-hit complete match as the Dodgers tied the series 1-1. He also went the distance in his postseason game prior to that one.
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