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Toward the Realization of a Society of Coexistence with Foreign Residents 【Column 1】Humanity’s “Reintegration” and Japan’s Resolve — Why We Must Change Now
The “Reintegration” of Humanity After 200,000 Years of Dispersion
Today, seeing foreigners on the streets of Japan has become an everyday sight. With Japan's declining birthrate and aging population accelerating, coexistence with foreigners is an unavoidable challenge. However, we must not view this change solely from the short-sighted perspective of "compensating for labor shortages." We are currently in the midst of a transformation occurring on a grand scale, encompassing human history.
Homo sapiens, which originated in East Africa about 200,000 years ago, left Africa about 70,000 years ago and spread to various parts of the world. It is believed that they arrived in Japan about 40,000 years ago. While physical differences such as skin color and physique arose during the process of adapting to the environment in each region, we are all the same single species, "Homo sapiens." The fact that new life is conceived between Japanese and foreigners is proof that we are one "human family." Although
humanity once spread throughout the world, it is thought that a process of "reintegration" began around 500 years ago during the Age of Discovery, when people began to mix and integrate again. In Japan, this trend has accelerated since the country opened up to the world during the Meiji era, and it has become even more inevitable with modern globalization. The increase in foreigners is a process that can be considered historically inevitable. In the medium to long term, it can be said to be a necessary process for Japanese society.
Order and the Capacity for Adjustment that Sustain “Japaneseness”
However, just because it is a historical inevitability does not mean that we should condone a disorderly influx of foreigners. Accepting foreigners without adequate institutional frameworks will likely create many problems in the short term. For approximately 1500 years, Japan has a tradition of not accepting large-scale immigration and has cultivated its own unique "harmony" and orderly culture. In order to maintain this "Japanese identity," we need to proactively adjust the "speed" and "direction" of integration ourselves.
Change that is too rapid will create friction in society. What is important is to have a clear "will" regarding what speed and what kind of society we aim to create as we proceed with integration.
Japanese society has not adequately prepared to accept foreigners, and as a result, it is unable to properly adjust to the accelerating trend. Specifically, while the declining birthrate and aging population are leading to labor shortages in many industries, making it necessary to accept foreign workers, there is no clear acceptance policy from Japanese society. If this situation continues, there is a risk that friction will escalate.
Welcoming Them Not as Labor, but as Fellow Citizens
Up until now, Japan's biggest problem has been its strong tendency to view foreigners simply as "cheap labor" or "resources." However, they are human beings with feelings and cultures, and they are "citizens" who will help build society together.
Accepting them not as mere "disposable workers," but as members who will support the future of Japanese society, is the first step in incorporating new energy without destroying what makes Japan unique. I believe it is important to shift this mindset and strengthen the mechanisms that support the settlement and integration of foreign workers into Japanese society.
In the second part of this series, we will delve into the challenges of accepting refugees, which currently cast the most serious shadow over welcoming them as "citizens."
*This column is based on an interview conducted on March 3, 2026, and organized and edited by the EN-ICHI editorial team.
Series "Towards a Society of Coexistence with Foreigners"
Part 1: The "Reintegration" of Human History and the Resolve of Japanese Society—Why Do We Need to Change Now?
Part 2: "Institutional Distortions" Seen from the Front Lines of Refugee Support—Humanitarian Responsibilities Towards Those Who Are Neglected
Part 3: Concrete Strategies and a Vision for Coexistence—Redefining Japan with "Everyone First"
Author Profile:
Ken Inoue,
born in Tokyo in 1957. Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics, and holds a Master's degree in Development Studies from the University of Sussex (UK). After joining the UNDP as a Junior Professional Officer in 1985, he has held key positions in UN peacekeeping operations in Cambodia, Somalia, Kosovo, and East Timor, as well as serving as Director of Industry at the Asian Productivity Organization and Senior Advisor for Democratization Support at JICA. He has also served as a part-time lecturer at many universities, including Toyo University and Dokkyo University. His specialties are SDGs, UN peacekeeping and building activities, and democratic governance. Currently, as the representative of the Personal Governance Institute, he is working to support the settlement of foreigners in Japan and to realize a multicultural society.
