Japan’s Growing Hostility Toward Foreigners: From Nara’s Sacred Deer to a Nation at the Crossroads

A Symbolic Incident in Nara

The ancient capital of Nara has long been renowned for its historic temples and sacred deer, animals believed to be divine messengers. Yet these gentle creatures have become unlikely symbols of a broader cultural conflict. During her campaign to lead Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Sanae Takaichi, a Nara native and now Japan’s prime minister, seized upon reports of foreign visitors kicking the revered animals. “Don’t you think something has gone too far?” she declared, using the alleged mistreatment of deer as a metaphor for what she framed as foreigners’ disrespect toward Japanese traditions and culture.

This campaign rhetoric was not merely about animal welfare. Takaichi effectively transformed isolated incidents into a justification for systemic restrictions on foreign residents and visitors. Her message resonated within party ranks anxious about electoral vulnerability, crystallizing a shift toward exclusionary nationalism that has come to define Japan’s current political moment.

The Political Rise of Takaichi Sanae

Takaichi’s victory in the October 2025 LDP presidential election marked a significant turning point. She emerged as the candidate who most aggressively championed restrictions on foreign residents during a leadership contest that became dominated by discussions of immigration policy. It is rare for the issue of foreign residents to play a starring role in such races. That it did so reflects the LDP’s crisis of confidence following its defeat in the upper house election on July 20, 2025. This setback was largely attributed to the rise of the populist Sanseito party and its “Japan First” rhetoric opposing what it called “excessive acceptance of foreigners.”

The success of Sanseito demonstrated that appeals to cultural protectionism and skepticism toward outsiders could siphon conservative voters from the LDP. Party strategists concluded their traditional base was vulnerable, transforming the presidential race into an effort to reclaim conservative voters being lost to populist alternatives. Even Shinjiro Koizumi, often viewed as a reformist, shifted rightward during the campaign, promising to “correct improper uses of medical insurance and child allowances” by foreigners.

Takaichi’s willingness to link foreign residents directly to threats against cultural identity and social order gave her the edge. Her victory indicates the LDP’s center of gravity has tilted toward exclusionary nationalism, with potentially profound consequences for Japan’s relationship with the outside world.

The Demographic Paradox

Japan finds itself caught in a profound contradiction. The nation faces a demographic crisis that makes immigration essential for economic survival. In 2025, Japan’s population of citizens fell by over 900,000, the largest annual decline on record. The median age is approaching 50, and industries across the country face severe labor shortages. To keep factories running, convenience stores staffed, and essential services operational, Japan has turned increasingly to workers from Southeast Asia, South Asia, and elsewhere.

Foreign residents now comprise just over 3% of Japan’s population, a record high of nearly 3.95 million people. This percentage remains low compared to other developed nations, yet it represents a significant shift for a country that has historically maintained one of the most homogeneous societies in the industrialized world. The economy and welfare system are already deeply dependent on foreign residents, and population decline guarantees this reliance will intensify.

Despite this economic reality, political rhetoric increasingly treats foreigners as a social problem rather than a necessary solution. The new government under Takaichi, working with the populist Japan Innovation Party (Nippon Ishin no Kai), has signaled policies emphasizing control and national identity rather than inclusion and integration. Ishin has proposed placing an upper limit on the proportion of foreign residents, arguing increased immigration leads to social tension.

Overtourism as Catalyst for Resentment

While much political blame falls on foreign residents, many observers point to overtourism as the primary driver of local frustration. With a record 37 million tourists visiting Japan in 2024, popular destinations face unprecedented strain. Daily caps now limit the number of people climbing Mount Fuji or strolling Kyoto’s scenic streets. New fees aim to discourage excessive visitation.

Donny Kimball, a travel content creator and long-term resident, describes the visible changes in once-iconic locations. “In years gone by, areas like Shibuya were havens of Japanese youth culture,” he wrote. “These days, the streets of this former mecca of fashion, fun, and nightlife have become literal dumps thanks to the overtourism tax.” He noted that the essence of Akihabara, the world’s capital for anime and manga, is disappearing as the people who built that culture flee from the influx of foreign visitors.

Local frustrations extend beyond major cities. In Asakusa, Kimball recounted an encounter with a Japanese salaryman who shouted racial slurs at him outside a convenience store. “This poor soul likely deals with foreign tourists behaving like absolute animals as they prance about, treating Asakusa as if it’s some sort of cultural Disneyland made just for them,” he observed. “Surely the endless examples of foreigners trashing Asakusa would be enough to sour even the most welcoming of individuals, fast-tracking them toward racism and xenophobia.”

Kyoto has even removed trash bins in some areas because visitors cannot figure out proper waste sorting. This leads tourists to dump garbage wherever they please, further fueling local fatigue. On the island of Shikoku, reports suggest temples along the famed Ohenro pilgrimage have grown icy toward non-Japanese visitors.

Reality Versus Misinformation

Amid rising anti-foreigner sentiment, claims about the negative impact of foreign residents often lack empirical support. The Asia Times reported on surveys and government data that challenge common narratives. One persistent myth holds that foreigners disproportionately exploit welfare programs. In reality, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare statistics show that as of April 2024, foreigners account for 3.2% of welfare recipients, nearly identical to their 3.1% share of the population.

Another widespread belief suggests crime has worsened due to the influx of foreigners. Government data reveals that the number of foreigners arrested for Penal Code violations has fallen to one-third of what it was less than two decades ago. Regarding claims that condominium prices in Tokyo are soaring due to Chinese speculation, a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism survey found purchases in the 23 wards by overseas residents doubled in the first half of 2025, but the breakdown shows 192 buyers from Taiwan, 30 from mainland China, 21 from Singapore, and 15 from Hong Kong. Only about 1% of short-term condo resales involved overseas residents, meaning rapid turnover is largely driven by domestic buyers.

Concerns about unpaid medical bills also appear exaggerated. While 470 of 2,890 hospitals accepting foreign patients reported unpaid bills from foreigners, only 1.5% of the 88.1 billion yen in total unpaid bills across all hospitals in fiscal 2023 was owed by foreign patients. The remaining 98.5% was owed by Japanese nationals. Regarding national health insurance, foreigners accounted for 4% of enrollees but their medical costs amounted to just 1.4% of the total. “Foreigners tend to use medical services less, and their insurance premiums help support the system for Japanese patients as well,” a commentator noted on Asahi TV.

Despite evidence contradicting many alarmist claims, false narratives about foreign residents have proven politically useful, generating a cultural threat that candidates can use to mobilize voters.

The Social Media Amplification Effect

Part of the disconnect between perception and reality stems from social media dynamics. The Asia Times investigation revealed that some anti-foreigner content circulating online may be produced by paid creators and potentially even generated by artificial intelligence. A job posting was discovered on CrowdWorks, a major online job-matching platform, seeking creators for videos labeled “China-critical” or “anti-China.”

The application requirements specified that applicants must “love Japan and dislike China.” Records showed 31 people contracted across 14 postings, with payments ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 yen per script. The jobs involved writing scripts for YouTube videos and editing using AI-generated images, covering topics like “overseas reactions to Japanese technology” and “Chinese people’s nuisance or rule-breaking behavior, followed by self-inflicted consequences or divine punishment.”

Such fabricated content fuels genuine anxiety among Japanese citizens who feel their culture under siege. The combination of real behavioral issues from some tourists and manufactured outrage campaigns creates an atmosphere of hostility that affects even respectful visitors and long-term foreign residents who follow Japanese norms.

Local Versus National Disconnect

While national politicians emphasize restrictions, local governments have quietly taken the lead in integrating foreign residents. Cities like Hamamatsu and Kawasaki, home to large foreign populations, have pioneered language education, welfare access, and community-building initiatives. In July 2025, all 47 prefectural governors jointly issued the “Aomori Declaration,” insisting that foreigners must be recognized not only as workers but as residents living alongside Japanese citizens.

The governors called for a Basic Law on Intercultural Coexistence, stable budgets for integration, and a cross-ministerial working group. Their stance underscored a widening gap between national leaders emphasizing restrictions and local governments grappling with the practical realities of multicultural communities. Takaichi’s leadership cements this disconnect, focusing on policing foreigners rather than addressing Japan’s fundamental population decline challenge.

The LDP committee on “orderly coexistence” avoided long-term planning, restricting itself to reviewing admission frameworks. True coexistence would require treating foreigners as community members rather than disposable labor, necessitating investment in language and skills programs, rights protections, and civic participation. Takaichi’s victory suggests this coexistence will not come from current LDP leadership.

International Context and Comparisons

Japan is not alone in grappling with these tensions. Canada, long recognized as a global leader in immigration policy, has seen public sentiment shift sharply in recent years. Nearly 60% of Canadians polled in late 2024 indicated the country was accepting too many newcomers, the first time since 2000 that most respondents believed immigration levels were too high. Canada’s experience demonstrates that even nations with long histories of managed immigration face growing public skepticism amid concerns about housing, infrastructure, and health services.

The difference lies in policy response. While Canada has begun adjusting targets and tightening certain programs, it maintains a framework designed for long-term integration. Japan has avoided adopting a comprehensive immigration policy for decades, instead expanding technical worker programs and promoting inbound tourism while insisting these measures did not amount to “immigration.” This evasion strategy, designed to placate conservative opinion, has left the country without the legal and institutional frameworks needed for long-term integration.

The Human Impact

For foreign residents and visitors, the changing atmosphere carries real consequences. Tourists planning trips express anxiety about being welcomed. “I heard about anti-foreign sentiment growing over there,” one potential visitor wrote on Facebook. “What I’m asking is, does the anti-foreign sentiment apply to the polite and respectful tourists? Will I be made to feel unwelcome, and hated, just because I’m a tourist?”

Responses varied, with some insisting Japanese people remain kind and helpful provided visitors respect local customs. Yet the mere fact that such questions arise indicates how dramatically perceptions have shifted. Long-term foreign residents report overhearing more negative comments and feeling increasingly unwelcome despite years of cultural integration.

“Japan needs more than just guests—it needs partners,” the Tokyo Review observed. “How the new government decides to move forward will determine whether this moment becomes a possibility for transformation or a lost opportunity in the long run.”

The terminology introduced under former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, discussing “orderly and harmonious coexistence” with foreigners, carries a distinct meaning in Japanese policy discourse. It suggests foreigners being subject to the norms of the Japanese majority rather than being equal participants in society. For many foreign residents, this means ongoing precariousness and uncertainty about their long-term place in Japanese society.

Looking Forward

Japan stands at a critical juncture. The coalition’s emphasis on national pride and identity may contribute to social divisions while failing to address root economic and demographic challenges. Without a serious immigration policy, industries will falter, welfare systems will strain, and communities will fracture. The result could be a self-perpetuating spiral: fewer foreign workers willing to stay long term, less investment in integration infrastructure, and a public narrative of foreigners as burdens rather than contributors.

A sustainable immigration strategy would require admission policies paired with equal rights, inclusive institutions, language and cultural support, and effective regional adaptation. The current signs point instead toward tighter screening, stricter enforcement of visa conditions, and narrowing pathways to settlement.

The underlying economic and immigration concerns are not the fault of individual tourists or foreign workers, who often come seeking opportunity or cultural exchange. Yet they bear the brunt of public frustration fueled by economic stagnation, rising living costs, and a weak yen that attracts low-caliber travelers while making life harder for ordinary Japanese citizens.

As Japan navigates this complex terrain, the question remains whether it will frame foreigners under control and conditional status or shift toward genuine inclusion and integration. The choice will determine whether Japan can maintain economic vitality and cultural richness in the face of unprecedented demographic change, or whether resistance to outsiders will exacerbate the very problems the nation seeks to solve.

Key Points

• Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi used reports of tourists kicking sacred deer in Nara as a metaphor for foreign disrespect, helping win leadership on a nationalist platform
• Foreign residents comprise just over 3% of Japan’s population, a record high but still low compared to other developed nations
• Government data contradicts many claims about foreign residents, showing they use welfare and medical services proportionally to their population share
• Japan’s population fell by over 900,000 in 2025, the largest annual decline on record, creating an economic imperative for foreign labor
• Record tourism of 37 million visitors in 2024 has led to overtourism issues in Kyoto, Asakusa, Shibuya, and other destinations
• Surveys show 66% of Japanese support Takaichi’s tougher immigration policies, while 59% oppose accepting foreign workers
• Social media content critical of foreigners may be produced by paid creators, with some videos potentially using AI-generated imagery
• Local governments have pushed for integration policies that contrast with national leaders’ emphasis on restrictions
• The LDP’s coalition with the populist Japan Innovation Party supports placing upper limits on foreign resident proportions
• International comparisons show Japan is not alone in facing immigration tensions, but its avoidance of comprehensive policy creates unique challenges