Takaichi to finalize Japan’s foreign resident policy by March

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to finalize Japan’s basic policy on accepting foreign residents by the end of the fiscal year in March, as the government continues to weigh whether to put a cap on immigration. The policy will consider future population projections and their implications for Japanese society and the economy, as the country seeks to balance its growing reliance on foreign workers amid a shrinking population with concerns about the pace of immigration and its impact on local communities. During questioning in the Senate on Friday, Takaichi said the government would “present future simulations of population trends and a comprehensive picture of measures to address them.”