Reinventing Japan: Immigration's Role in Shaping Japan's Future

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Reinventing Japan: Immigration's Role in Shaping Japan's Future

Much attention has been given to Japan's need to restructure its economy and its bureaucracy, but little critical analysis has addressed the necessary role of immigration policy in Japan's reform process. A series of economic, demographic, and political factors are converging to require that Japan adopt a more open policy toward immigration if it is to ensure its place as a global leader.

By Dr. Demetrios Papademetriou and Kimberly Hamilton

Published on Sep 13, 2000

Source: Washington

Much attention has been given to Japan's need to restructure its economy and its bureaucracy, but little critical analysis has addressed the necessary role of immigration policy in Japan's reform process. Japan does not have a history of substantial immigration, and Japanese attitudes toward foreigners have traditionally been very closed. Even today, immigration to Japan is very low compared to other industrialized countries, primarily because of Japanese policies aimed at restricting immigration. In this monograph, Papademetriou and Hamilton argue that this restrictionist approach is ripe for change. A series of economic, demographic, and political factors are converging to require that Japan adopt a more open policy toward immigration if it is to ensure its place as a global leader.

About the Authors
Demetrios G. Papademetriou was a senior associate and co-director of the International Migration Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment.

Kimberly A. Hamilton is a senior international program officer at Alcoa Foundation.

About the Authors

Dr. Demetrios Papademetriou

Former Senior Associate

Kimberly Hamilton

East Asia Japan Economy Trade

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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Reinventing Japan: Immigration's Role in Shaping Japan's Future

Much attention has been given to Japan's need to restructure its economy and its bureaucracy, but little critical analysis has addressed the necessary role of immigration policy in Japan's reform process. A series of economic, demographic, and political factors are converging to require that Japan adopt a more open policy toward immigration if it is to ensure its place as a global leader.

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