Japan still fears immigrants

BBC News:

But Japan is reluctant, because of deep-rooted fears about the impact more immigrants might have on their sheltered society.

"When unskilled workers come to Japan they'll bring their families with them. The number is bound to increase," said Jinen Nagase, a senior member of the governing Liberal Democrat Party who sits on the party's labour committee.

"They'll create slums and boost the population of uneducated people. And eventually they'll demand the right to vote - these are problems European countries are facing now - that's why we are so cautious."

A long queue snakes around the Tokyo immigration centre from early morning. People like Letitia, from the Philippines, who have overstayed their visas, have come to be voluntarily deported from Japan, in the hope they will not be black-listed on a permanent basis.

"Here in Japan, money is very high compared to the Philippines. Most Filipinos' dream is to come to Japan or America, mostly those two countries."

Japan, though, shows no signs of lifting its fortress-like barriers against immigrants. Last year just 15 asylum seekers were given refugee status - a fraction of those accepted by most developed countries.

If Japan does decide to let in immigrants the government should be careful to study the effects of immigration in Europe and the United States and find ways to limit its negative impact. Making sure that immigrants understand that they do not have a right to live in Japan and can be deported at any time would be an important first step.