Key Facts
• July 20 Senate election enters midterm phase; ruling coalition aims for majority.
• 125 seats contested, including replacements; record 522 candidates running.
• Ruling coalition needs 50+ seats to maintain majority with 75 non-contested seats.
• Pre-election focus on inflation measures; new interest in ‘foreigner issues’ on social media.
• Social media analysis shows ‘foreigner issues’ overtaking economic topics by July 12.
• Foreign workers in Japan reached 2.3 million in October 2024, up 250,000 from 2023.
• Prime Minister Ishiba announced new task force for foreign resident issues on July 8.
• Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi cited public concerns over crimes and system misuse.
• Police to tighten rules for foreign license conversions; 2023 saw 72,863 conversions.
• Foreign traffic accidents rose to 7,286 in 2023, more than double since 2015.
Summary
As Japan’s Senate election approaches on July 20, the ruling coalition faces a critical challenge to secure a majority. While inflation measures dominated early campaign discussions, social media trends reveal growing voter interest in ‘foreigner issues.’ This shift reflects the increasing presence of foreign workers, which reached a record 2.3 million in 2024. In response, Prime Minister Ishiba announced a new task force to address concerns, including crime and system misuse. Additionally, stricter rules for foreign license conversions are being implemented. These developments highlight the evolving priorities of voters and the government’s efforts to address them.
