Key Facts
• July 10: Advocacy group held a press conference in Tokyo.
• July 20: Upper House election to focus on foreign national policies.
• Multiple parties promote exclusionary slogans like “Japan First” and “Zero Illegal Foreigners.”
• Claims of “foreign national favoritism” are spreading in public discourse.
• Advocacy group “Anti-Poverty Network” warns of rising xenophobia and discrimination.
• African woman shared struggles of affording treatment for her child born in Japan.
• Japanese-born university student of African descent expressed societal prejudice faced since birth.
• Group leader Kenji Utsunomiya criticized blaming foreign nationals for economic hardships.
• Rising costs of living, including food prices, cited as fueling public frustration.
• Advocacy group emphasized that excluding foreign nationals won’t solve economic issues.
Summary
As Japan’s Upper House election approaches on July 20, foreign national policies have become a contentious issue. Several political parties are promoting exclusionary slogans, such as “Japan First” and “Zero Illegal Foreigners,” while claims of “foreign national favoritism” gain traction. In response, the Anti-Poverty Network held a press conference on July 10, highlighting the struggles of impoverished foreign nationals and warning against rising xenophobia. Personal stories shared during the event included an African woman unable to afford medical treatment for her child and a Japanese-born university student of African descent facing lifelong prejudice. The group’s leader, Kenji Utsunomiya, criticized the trend of blaming foreign nationals for economic challenges, such as rising living costs, and stressed that exclusionary policies will not resolve these issues.
