Help Wanted

―Labor Shortages, an Aging Society, and Japan’s Restrictive Immigration Policy―

November 29, 2016 6:30 PM (finished)


Michael Strausz

(Texas Christian University)

Date/Time November 29, 2016 6:30 PM
Location Room 549 5th floor, Akamon Sogo Kenkyuto Institute of Social Science, University of Tokyo  [map]
Abstract Japan's population is composed of an extremely small percentage of foreign residents when compared with other advanced industrialized countries. This is particularly puzzling when considering that Japan's population is rapidly declining and aging, and that Japan is facing some of the most intense labor shortages in the world. This presentation will put Japan's restrictive immigration policy in comparative perspective. Ultimately, I will explain Japan's restrictive immigration policy with reference to two key factors: the outcome of domestic political disputes between business and the government, and the nature of elite debates and disputes about the appropriate role for foreign residents in Japan.
Bio Michael Strausz is an associate professor of political science at Texas Christian University. His research is about the relationship between foreign residents and the Japanese state and the relationship between Japan and international norms. He has published articles in outlets including Foreign Policy Analysis, the Journal of Women, Politics, and Policy, and the Japanese Journal of Political Science. He is currently working on a book about Japanese immigration policy