Japan Conservative Leader Warns Against Immigration in Fiery Election Speech
On January 27, as campaigning began for Japan's February 8 snap election, Conservative Party of Japan leader Naoki Hyakuta called for an immediate halt to new immigrants, warning that unchecked inflows could irreversibly change Japanese society. He cited rising foreign residents—now nearly 4 million amid labor shortages—and pointed to unpaid health premiums and local tensions, contrasting Japan with troubled European nations. While critics like journalist David McNeill argue for more immigrants to address aging demographics, Hyakuta's message echoes recent anti-immigration wins and aims to challenge the ruling LDP's controlled expansion plans in a tight race.
