1.Linking the Energy of Foreign Nationals to the Growth of Japan

(1) Growth Strategy and Relaxation of Visa Requirements

In 2015, the number of foreign visitors to Japan reached around 19.74 million, almost doubling the score after having reached 10 million two years ago. The target of 20 million by 2020 may be achieved earlier than anticipated. In such prospect, MOFA introduced further relaxation of visa requirements in 2015 for countries from which Japan expects many visitors, following the visa relaxation measures realized in 2013 and 2014 for ASEAN countries, in order to promote Japan as a tourism-oriented country and support regional revitalization, as well as to contribute to further promoting people-to-people exchange. Specifically, MOFA relaxed the requirements for the multiple visas for visitors from China on January 19, and introduced multiple visas for Brazil on June 15 and for Mongolia on August 10. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe announced, during his visit to India in December, that Japan would substantially relax from January 11 2016, the requirements for the multiple visa for visitors from India introduced in 2014.

As such, further expansion of visa requirement relaxation is expected due to the effect it has on promoting people-to-people exchange and Japan’s economic growth. At the same time, the Government intensifies visa control as a part of border measures to prevent the entry of criminals and foreign visitors with intension of illegal labor, as well as those who could become victims of human trafficking. MOFA is determined to continue working on the relaxation of visa requirements, aiming at increasing the number of visitors to Japan while ensuring that “Japan remains the safest country in the world,” and contributing to achieve a tourism-oriented country both in quantity and quality by attracting the wealthy class, repeaters, and the young generation. MOFA intends to conduct such relaxation after taking into account all the factors such as the bilateral relations and their diplomatic significance.

(2) Acceptance of Foreign Nationals and their Social Integration

Since the Lehman Shock in 2008, the number of long-term foreign residents in Japan kept decreasing until 2012 when the trend turned upward. While the aging of the population continues with low birth rate resulting in the decrease of the population, it is important for Japan to secure capable human resources, irrespective of their nationality, in order to further vitalize Japan’s economy and improve its competitiveness. The “2015 Revised Japan Revitalization Strategy” specifically aims at promoting active participation of foreign human resources and the number of competent foreign nationals living in Japan is expected to further increase in the future.

MOFA cooperates with the relevant ministries and agencies to assure the series of measures to be coherent with the principle of human rights of the foreign nationals. MOFA also hosts international workshops on the acceptance of foreign nationals and their integration into Japan, aiming to encourage debate among the people by providing opportunities to discuss concrete challenges and measures. In February, MOFA co-hosted a workshop with Katsushika City, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), under the theme of “Foreign Nationals and Foreign Human Resources in the Field of Medical Care: Beyond Language and Cultural Barriers.” The participants mainly discussed the way of desirable medical care in an era of globalization in terms of medical interpreters and further participation of foreign human resources in the medical sector.

During Disaster Prevention Week in September, MOFA organized “Seminar on Disaster Prevention Measures for the Diplomatic Corps,” based on the lessons learned from the Great East Japan Earthquake. With the participation of local governments, their relevant organizations and private institutions, as well as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) and the Japan Tourist Agency, the seminar introduced the efforts using IT of the relevant organizations such as on the development of a smartphone application for the safety confirmation of missing foreign nationals in Japan and information provision.