Foreigners who planned to work in Japan’s restaurant sector will have to wait further or search for other new opportunities as the government of Japan officially suspended visas for foreign restaurant workers, according to a news report by Kyodo News.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
The Japanese government is no longer issuing visas for foreign specified skilled workers in the restaurant sector as the quota of 50,000 has nearly been reached — the first restriction of its kind since the current limit was set.
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan suspended issuing certificates of eligibility for Type I Specified Skilled Worker visa applications received from Monday. The agency said that, according to preliminary data, the number of foreigners with Type I status working in the food service industry reached roughly 46,000 by the end of February.
It said that for applications received before Monday, certificates will be issued in order up to the quota limit.
In January 2026, the government decided to accept up to 805,700 individuals, expanded to 19 sectors, under the specified skilled worker program through March 2029, with the caps decided based on the degree of labor shortage in the respective fields.
“The food service industry was quicker to employ foreign skilled workers than in other sectors,” said an official at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
“However, there is room for debate as to whether efforts to secure domestic talent, a prerequisite of the system, are being carried out to the fullest extent,” said the official.
The Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act stipulates that the issuance of certificates of eligibility will be suspended if the number of foreign specified skilled workers is expected to exceed the quota.
The agency also said that, from Monday, requests from foreign skilled workers to switch to jobs in the food service industry are not being accepted in principle.
But technical interns who are already working in Japan and transitioning to a specified skilled worker visa in the sector will be given priority in the screening process, it said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the suspension of visas for foreign restaurant workers will not be harmful to the Japanese restaurant owners/operators? Do you think labor shortage in Japan’s restaurant sector is bound to happen sooner than later?
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With many nations in Asia already struggling with the very expensive prices of fuel related to the conflicts in the Middle East, their respective economic struggles are only getting worse. That said, they are very fortunate to have Japan on their side as Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae officially announced that her government will provide them financial support worth $10 billion, according to a Kyodo News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The Japanese government said Wednesday it will provide a total of $10 billion in financial support to other Asian nations to help them secure crude oil supplies as prices soar amid the Middle East conflict, aiming to ensure that petroleum-derived products made in those countries keep flowing into Japan.
The aid, announced by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following an online meeting with her counterparts mainly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is aimed at beefing up energy supply chains across the region such as through loans for procuring crude oil and petroleum products as well as expansion of stockpiles.
“Japan is closely interconnected with each Asian country through supply chains and mutually dependent with them,” Takaichi told reporters, adding that oil shortages or supply disruptions in Asia could have a “significant negative impact” on her nation’s economy and society.
The planned financial aid is equivalent to up to 1.2 billion barrels — about one year of crude oil imports by ASEAN countries, she said.
Japan imports petroleum-derived products from Southeast Asia, including items used at medical facilities. Many countries in the region maintain limited oil reserves, so there have been concerns that supply shortages could eventually affect shipments to Japan.
The surge in oil prices on the back of the war that led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transportation, has raised concerns in some Southeast Asian countries over their ability to pay for imports.
Tokyo aims to address the risks through financial support, including loans via the government-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation, according to government sources.
The Japanese prime minister emphasized that the latest supportive scheme does not include direct crude oil provisions from Japan’s reserves and therefore will not negatively affect domestic supplies.
Given its high dependence on the Middle East for crude oil imports, Japan keeps abundant oil stockpiles in the country.
The other nations that joined the Japan-led, leaders-level virtual gathering were Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the $10 billion assistance of Japan will be sufficient for the Asian nations for their oil and energy needs? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran will eventually stop harming its neighbors now that American forces have blocked all the Iranian ports to allow other ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz safely? Do you think the ASEAN member nations have learned their lessons about depending excessively on the Middle East for importing oil?
In the latest of the series of reforms implemented by the government of Japan, the proof of Japanese language proficiency will officially become a requirement for individuals applying for the visa status of engineer, and specialist in the fields of humanities or international services, according to a Kyodo News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The Japanese government has decided to require proof of Japanese language proficiency for individuals seeking the visa status of engineer, specialist in humanities or international services for work requiring Japanese, a source close to the matter said Friday.
The government plans to revise the policy as early as mid-April and tighten screening, prompted by a growing number of cases in which individuals enter the country under a visa status for professions requiring specialized knowledge but work in unskilled jobs not permitted under it.
According to the source, the revised policy will require applicants to submit documentation proving Japanese proficiency at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, equivalent to N2 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test.
Currently, the policy requires applicants to meet conditions such as a college-level education or its equivalent, as well as relevant work experience, but not Japanese proficiency.
The revision will apply to new applicants for the residence status who are entering Japan and intend to work in jobs requiring Japanese. International students seeking to transition to the status will be exempt.
It also stipulates that companies barred for five years from accepting workers under the controversial technical intern training or specified skilled worker programs due to issues such as assault or unpaid wages will also be prohibited from accepting workers under the visa status until the suspension period expires.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, the number of foreign residents in Japan stood at around 4.13 million as of the end of 2025.
Those staying under the visa status for engineer, specialist in humanities or international services totaled around 475,000, making them the second-largest group of foreign residents after permanent residents, who numbered about 947,000.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the new policy will create positive results with regards to those who applied for the engineer and specialist visa? Do you think Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has done enough on reforming immigration and the visa application processes?
The total number of foreigners living in Japan has exceeded four million (as of 2025) based on the official numbers released by the government, according to a Kyodo News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan hit a record 4.13 million in 2025, topping 4 million for the first time, aided by a rise in permanent residents and foreign workers, government data showed Friday.
According to the Immigration Services Agency, 4,125,395 foreign nationals were residing in Japan at the end of 2025, up 9.5 percent from the previous year, hitting a record high for the fourth consecutive year.
They accounted for 3.36 percent of the country’s population, up from 3.04 percent last year. Around 947,000 were permanent residents, while 475,000 were holders of visas in specialized work fields such as engineering or the humanities.
By nationality, Chinese topped the list of foreign residents in Japan at 930,000. Vietnamese came second at around 681,000, followed by South Koreans at around 407,000.
Japan also had around 356,000 Filipinos and around 300,000 Nepalese. Sri Lankans, at around 79,000, ranked ninth, up from 12th place in 2024.
Known for its strict immigration policy, Japan has been gradually opening its doors to foreign workers in recent years as the country faces labor shortages due to the aging of society.
Its refugee recognition system is also seen as stringent. The agency announced that 187 foreigners were recognized as refugees last year, down 3 from the year before. The total includes 123 Afghans, 26 Yemenis and 11 Chinese.
Japan accepted a total of 474 people, mostly Ukrainians, under what is known as the complementary protection system that treats those fleeing conflict as equivalent to refugees. The number fell sharply, by 1,187 from 2024.
The government granted residential status to 525 people on humanitarian grounds.
The number of foreign nationals applying for refugee status dropped 8.7 percent to around 11,000. The figure has been on a downward trend since the agency introduced a plan to eliminate “illegal immigrants for the safety and security” of Japan in May last year.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think Japan can solve its labor shortage problem without relying on foreign immigrants? Do you think any significant changes on immigration in Japan will happen under the administration of Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae over the next few years? Why do you think there are many foreigners who are applying for refugee status in Japan? Did you notice a high number of Muslim foreigners causing disturbances in Japan recently?
In what can be described as a major change on permanent residency, Japan announced that the residency period for naturalization will be doubled to ten years effective April 1, 2026, according to a news report by Kyodo News. At the same time, there will be changes on the verification period of tax payments and social insurance premiums.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
The Japanese government said Friday it will double the minimum residency requirement for naturalization to 10 years starting April 1.
The Justice Ministry said it will also extend the verification period for tax payments to five years and for social insurance premiums to two, both from one year currently. Those who have already applied will also be subject to the changes.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi in November to tighten the rules on acquiring Japanese nationality, saying the current conditions were too lax.
The country’s Nationality Act sets the minimum requirements for naturalization, including residing in Japan for at least five consecutive years and being a person of good conduct with adequate means of support in terms of assets or skills possessed by the applicant, spouse or relatives.
The screening process also takes into account “compatibility with Japanese society,” including the ability to speak Japanese without difficulty in daily life.
According to the ministry, extending the minimum residency requirement to 10 years is part of efforts to ensure such compatibility. The changes were included in comprehensive measures on foreign resident policy compiled in January.
For permanent residency, Japan sets detailed eligibility requirements under the immigration law, including properly fulfilling public obligations such as tax and national insurance payments, as well as a minimum residency period of 10 years.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you agree with the move of the Japanese government on extending the residency period for naturalization to ten years? Do you think the said change will ensure better chances for immigrants to become more adjusted and compatible with Japanese society? Do you think the reforms implemented will compel foreigners from Third World nations to think very seriously before applying to migrate to Japan?
Recently a survey conducted by OCTA Research and commissioned by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines revealed that almost eight out of ten Filipinos trust Japan, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…
A survey of a private polling and research firm, OCTA Research, released on Monday showed that eight in 10 adult Filipinos trust Japan.
The survey, commissioned by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines and conducted from December 3 to 11, 2025, among 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above, asked the question: “How much does the Philippines trust Japan?”
A total of 79 percent of the respondents answered they “strongly trust/somewhat trust” Japan, while at least 17 percent responded “can’t say if I trust or not”, and 4 percent have shown distrust.
This result suggests that positive perceptions of Japan are deeply embedded in Philippine public opinion.
Filipinos also trust the Japanese people, with 74 percent expressing trust and 6 percent expressing distrust. About 20 percent answered that they are undecided.
This indicates that goodwill toward Japan extends to interpersonal perceptions of Japanese citizens, according to OCTA Research.
Most or 70 percent of the respondents said they view the relationship between the Philippines and Japan as “very good” while 24 percent view it as neither good nor poor.
These favorable perceptions of Japan were observed across Metro Manila, Balance (of) Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as across socioeconomic classes.
“Cultural exchanges, tourism, educational cooperation, and the growing Filipino community in Japan contribute to familiarity and mutual goodwill between the two societies,” OCTA Research said.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the governments of Japan and the Philippines should engage more with each other diplomatically, economically and militarily? Do you think Filipinos see the Japanese as an ally while the Philippines remains in conflict with Communist China at the West Philippine Sea? Are you one of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who traveled to Japan yearly?
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae visited Washington for the first time as the head of her nation and met with US President Donald Trump at the White House where they discussed very important matters in front of the media and officials, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Takaichi also praised the President for his peace efforts.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that Japan is ready to contribute to the safety of the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran intensifies, while explaining Tokyo’s legal constraints on sending ships from its defense forces to the region.
Takaichi told reporters after her meeting at the White House with Trump that she told the U.S. leader “in detail what Japan can do and cannot do” from a legal perspective under the country’s war-renouncing Constitution.
Trump, for his part, reiterated his expectation that Japan would be engaged, while saying during the part of their talks open to media that he believes Japan has been “stepping up to the plate” in recent days over the Iran war, “unlike NATO.”
The U.S. leader has made public his dissatisfaction with Washington’s allies, including Tokyo and members of the trans-Atlantic alliance, over their reluctance to pitch in to help secure the Hormuz strait, a vital waterway for global oil transportation now largely blocked by Iran.
“I expect Japan to step up, because, you know, we have that kind of relationship,” he said. “We have 45,000 soldiers in Japan. We have, we spend a lot of money on Japan…so I expect, I’m not surprised that they would step up.“
Noting also that more than 90 percent of Japan’s crude oil imports normally pass through the strait, Trump said Japan has a “big reason” to do more.
In affirming Japan-U.S. collaboration on expanding U.S. energy production, Takaichi said she proposed to Trump a joint oil-reserve project to ease supply concerns driven by the Middle East conflict.
At the talks, Takaichi praised Trump’s “peace” efforts, expressing readiness to assist by reaching out to other countries. “Donald is the only person who can bring peace and prosperity across the world,” she said.
Takaichi emphasized that the prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons is unacceptable. Trump alluded earlier to Iran’s nuclear program to explain the U.S. decision to launch its military campaign against the country.
Facing an increasingly assertive China, Takaichi also reminded Trump that the security environment remains severe in the Indo-Pacific, at a time when reports have emerged that some U.S. military assets are being moved from the region to the Middle East.
The two leaders “committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of regional security and global prosperity” and “opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, including by force or coercion,” the White House said in a press release without naming China.
They confirmed that their nations oppose measures threatening critical mineral supplies such as export controls, senior Japanese government officials told reporters, apparently referring to Beijing’s tighter regulations on rare earths exports.
They agreed to advance broad defense cooperation, including joint missile development and production, and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, according to Takaichi. The White House said the production of the interceptor Standard Missile-3 Block 2A in Japan will be quadrupled.
“We were able to affirm many concrete forms of cooperation that will further enhance the quality of our alliance in wide-ranging fields,” Takaichi said, adding that she and Trump are aiming to elevate bilateral ties to “a higher level” together.
Trump welcomed Japan buying “a lot of” U.S. military equipment. He further stressed that he has a “very fine relationship” with Takaichi, describing her as “a very special person” who is doing a “fantastic job.”
The U.S. side did not bring up fresh demands for Japan to spend more on its defense, the officials said.
Takaichi’s main goals in her first trip to the United States since taking office in October were to strengthen the personal trust in her ties with Trump and reaffirm the U.S. security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region as China’s influence grows.
The meeting came amid increasing concerns within Japan that the U.S. focus in terms of policy and military assets could shift from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East if the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran drags on, a development that would work in China’s favor.
The U.S. military has reportedly begun relocating the amphibious assault ship Tripoli and over 2,000 Marines from their bases in southwestern and southern Japan to the Middle East.
Takaichi got off to a positive start in building personal ties with Trump when they met in person for the first time in October in Tokyo, shortly after she became Japan’s first female prime minister.
Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, Tokyo has sought to strike a delicate balance between maintaining its strong alliance with Washington and its friendly relations with Tehran.
For more insight about the Trump-Takaichi meeting, watch the videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What is your impression about the many matters and announcements that happened during the Trump-Takaichi meeting at the White House? Were you surprised when it was announced that US allies Japan, Italy, England, Netherlands, Germany, and France jointly agreed to secure the Strait of Hormuz in response to Trump’s demand? With Japan having a close relationship with Trump’s America now, do you think Communist China and North Korea will feel intimidated at their side of the Pacific?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering expressing Japan’s desire to cooperate on the U.S. “Golden Dome” next-generation missile defense system at her upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.
The envisaged missile defense collaboration is among the expected agreements, covering various areas from the long-standing Japan-U.S. alliance to the fields of economic security and cutting-edge technology, at the summit slated for Thursday in Washington, the sources said.
Revealed by Trump in May, the Golden Dome scheme is intended to detect and destroy hypersonic missiles, which can fly at above five times the speed of sound, in outer space in mid-flight. The total costs are estimated at $175 billion.
The trajectories of hypersonic weapons are irregular and low-altitude, making them difficult to shoot down or track by radar. China, North Korea and Russia have been aggressively pursuing such arms.
In August 2023, Tokyo and Washington agreed to develop a new type of missile to intercept hypersonic weapons, with the goal of completing it by the 2030s. It is intended that Aegis destroyers of the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will be equipped with the missile.
To enhance the missile defense system’s detecting and tracking capabilities, the U.S. military has been building a “satellite constellation” system that allows it to capture incoming missiles with high accuracy by linking multiple small satellites.
Japan’s Defense Ministry, which has also been conducting research on technologies necessary for detecting projectiles from outer space, is eyeing information sharing with the United States, the sources said.
During the summit talks, which will take place amid the Middle East conflict following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Takaichi also plans to ask Trump about purchasing crude oil produced from Alaska, according to the sources.
Japan, which relies heavily on the Middle East for its crude oil imports, has once again had its energy vulnerability exposed in the wake of the war in the region, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting oil flows.
Takaichi and Trump, meanwhile, are expected to agree on a $100 million joint project in shipbuilding, a sector both countries are keen on enhancing amid dominance by Chinese makers.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the US-Japan summit this week will result in big breakthroughs with regards to defense, economics and energy? What do you hope to see happen after President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi meet in Washington? Do you think the Golden Dome missile defense project will be fully realized and operational in the years to come?
As expected, Japan officially started releasing yesterday its oil reserves to stabilize the distribution of petroleum products and to ensure a good supply as the war against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran continues, according to a Kyodo News report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
Japan began to release oil from its reserves Monday to alleviate supply concerns that have grown amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran and stabilize the distribution of petroleum products, taking the step ahead of a planned International Energy Agency-led move.
In its first oil release since 2022, when it joined an IEA coordinated effort following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Japan is initially freeing up 15 days’ worth of reserves held by the private sector, with a month’s worth of state-held oil to follow.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said the release was decided as Japan’s crude oil imports are expected to decrease significantly from late March onwards due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which many tankers traverse.
“We plan to make efforts so that (the released oil) will circulate in the market smoothly,” he said, adding the government will “continue to take every possible step to ensure the stable supply of energy, through international coordination and without ruling out any options.”
The IEA said Sunday the planned coordinated release of oil by its 32 member countries, including Japan, will “soon start.”
It said last week that the countries will make 400 million barrels of oil available to the market in response to the disruptions resulting from the Middle East conflict.
Crude oil futures have been surging amid growing prospects of a prolonged conflict, with the benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures contract briefly topping $100 per barrel again in New York on Sunday, after a similar spike a week earlier.
The Japanese government will reduce the mandatory 70-day reserve requirement for oil refiners and trading companies under Japan’s oil stockpiling law to 55 days’ worth, allowing them to draw down their existing stocks for use.
Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the government’s plans to release about 80 million barrels of oil, the largest ever, equivalent to 45 days’ worth of domestic consumption and 1.8 times the amount released after the massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that devastated Japan’s northeast.
Preparations are under way to sell oil in government-held reserves to wholesalers.
As of the end of 2025, Japan held reserves of approximately 470 million barrels of oil, equivalent to 254 days of domestic consumption, of which 146 days’ worth were government-owned, 101 days held by the private sector, and the remainder jointly stored by oil-producing countries.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think newly released oil reserves will stabilize the Japanese market for petroleum products? Do you think the joint Israel-US campaign against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran will ultimately cause the enemy to surrender this month?
Even as the United States is busy working alongside Israel on the war against the Islamic terrorist state of Iran, the Trump administration announced that it will launch tariff investigations on several countries including trade partners like Japan, according to a news report by Kyodo News. The probes are meant to find out if unfair trading practices exist.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Kyodo News report. Some parts in boldface…
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration said Wednesday it will launch tariff investigations into what it sees as unfair practices by China, Japan and over a dozen other American trading partners.
According to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the move is intended to “uncover a variety of unfair trading practices related to excess capacity in production” in the manufacturing sector, and replace Trump’s sweeping tariff regime that was invalidated by the Supreme Court in February.
“Our view is that key trading partners have developed production capacity that is really untethered from the market incentives of domestic and global demand,” Greer told reporters.
The other trading partners facing the investigations, carried out under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, are the European Union, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, Greer said.
The statute, which allows the U.S. government to impose tariffs in response to a foreign country’s alleged unfair practices, was a favorite tool of Trump for justifying higher tariffs on Chinese imports when he started a trade war with Beijing during his first term as president.
After the U.S. top court on Feb. 20 struck down a large chunk of Trump’s far-reaching tariff agenda as imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, his administration introduced a new 10 percent global duty.
However, the new 10 percent surcharge, relying on a different legal framework, can only last 150 days unless Congress approves an extension.
Greer said the Trump administration seeks to complete the investigations as quickly as possible and prepare for new Section 301 tariffs within the 150-day period.
The statute requires consultations with the governments of the targeted trading partners before tariffs can be imposed.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the United States is doing the right thing with the multiple trade investigations? How do you think the Trump administration will adjust its tariff policy once the 150-day period expires?
Author Carlo Carrasco 