IHT On New Immigration Policies

[Mulboyne]

IHT: An aging Japan slowly opens up to foreigners
Yanti Kartina left her family in Indonesia and joined 200 other nurses in moving to Japan, where a rapidly growing elderly population has created a desperate need for careers in old-age homes and hospitals. The nurses, who are expected to learn Japanese and requalify as they work, are seen as an important test case as Japan struggles with the world's fastest growing elderly population and a work force that is forecast to shrink, potentially devastating the economy. "Japan is the first developed country to face this kind of population crisis," said Hidenori Sakanaka, a former immigration bureau chief in Tokyo who now heads a research institute...A group of governing party politicians see immigration as a possible solution and have presented Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda with a radical new proposal that seeks to have immigrants make up 10 percent of the population in 50 years' time..."I don't think there is any way forward but to accept immigrants," Sakanaka said. Even now, the idea of allowing in more foreigners is often described as a risk to Japan's relatively crime-free and homogeneous society. Many landlords refuse to rent apartments to foreigners and few Japanese employers offer immigrant workers the same rights as their Japanese colleagues...Many say that despite the desperate need for workers, Japan is setting hurdles too high for the latest batch of immigrants...Hirohiko Nakamura, a lawmaker with the governing Liberal Democratic Party and a member of the committee that produced the new immigration report, is optimistic about their chances, citing the example of some of the country's highest profile immigrants. "Look at the Mongolian sumo wrestlers," he said. "They speak Japanese really well"...more...

[ghostunit]

The attitude of Japan towards immigration just reeks of thinly veiled arrogance. They are all like:

"oh ok we do have a problem all right? so be grateful we allow some of you filthy gaijins inside the glorious motherland and use you up for the benefit of society! You should feel humble about the superiority of our culture (speaking of which, do you even have "culture" in your country? I think we the Japanese invented it) and the beauty of our four seasons and otherwise not let yourselves be seen outside your designated workplaces and living quarters. Oh, and be always aware that we can kick you out anytime, so behave or else!"

In other words: for the Japanese, letting gaijins in is a last resort, icky business. And they will detest their guts all the way.

Why bother?

Anyways, this demographic problem can't be solved with immigration or robots. The true problem, Japan, is that your women just won't breed! and your men have become cynical and decided not to bother with the real world anymore. Your society is committing suicide! it's walking into the forest, fading into the night, drinking its last beer, well you get the idea.

P.S.: the article mentions they are importing Indonesians. Don't let the muslims in! Before you know it you'll have scarfs and mosques and fatwas all over the place, among other quaint dark age customs. Just look at France (another country which despises its immigrants, just like Japan). Consider yourselves warned.