The fight against uncontrolled migration is reaching a breaking point, and Japan is leading the way in declaring that enough is enough. In a bold statement before the House of Representatives Budget Committee, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba made it crystal clear: “Following the rules is a fundamental premise, but we cannot say that everyone will follow them. It is absolutely unacceptable for foreign nationals who do not obey the rules to endanger the lives and property of Japanese people.”
Concerns in Kawaguchi City
This firm stance comes amid growing concerns over the Kurdish migrant population in Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture. The city has seen an influx of over 3,000 Turkish nationals, predominantly Kurds, bringing with them a series of social tensions.” Local representative Hideaki Takahashi from the Japan Innovation Party exposed the issue, emphasizing that their presence has become a significant concern for residents. Takahashi referenced incidents involving noise complaints, disputes over garbage disposal, and legal violations that have raised tensions in the community.
Just this month, a Turkish national was arrested for sexually assaulting a woman in a local park—one of multiple incidents referenced in Parliament. However, official crime statistics indicate that the majority of arrests in Kawaguchi involve Japanese citizens, not foreign residents.
National Security and Immigration Policies
The Japanese government has expressed concerns about national security in relation to immigration. Takahashi further highlighted the issue of terror-related risks, pointing out that Turkey has designated the Japanese Kurdish Cultural Association and its leadership as supporters of the PKK, a group banned by Ankara. However, Japan has not officially classified this group as linked to the PKK.
This raises further questions about Japan’s border security and lax immigration controls, with some lawmakers arguing that individuals identified as security risks by foreign governments are still able to enter Japan unchecked.
The Unchecked Threat of Disappearing Migrants
Beyond crime and terrorism, Japan’s immigration crisis is compounded by a growing issue of untracked foreign workers. Each year, an estimated 10,000 foreign trainees disappear from Japan’s workforce, vanishing into the underground economy. These disappearances, raised in parliamentary discussions, highlight a serious enforcement gap in the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), which allows foreign workers to enter legally but leaves thousands unaccounted for.
“Even among technical interns, about 10,000 disappear annually. As a nation, this is completely unacceptable,” warned Representative Hideaki Takahashi during a heated debate in Parliament.
Prime Minister Ishiba has vowed to take decisive action to ensure that Japan regains control over its borders and workforce:
“It is extremely important to swiftly deport those who should be forcibly removed, such as illegal residents. We will carry out rapid deportations of those who are not permitted to stay in our country.”
With a hardline stance on illegal residency, Ishiba’s government is moving to tighten immigration enforcement, track foreign workers more effectively, and accelerate deportations to restore order.
Demographic Crisis and Immigration Policy in Japan
Japan is facing a major demographic crisis. The fertility rate hit a new low of 1.20 in 2023, with Tokyo’s rate falling to 0.99. The number of births in Japan during the first half of 2024 fell to its lowest level since 1969, with only 350,074 births, a 5.7% drop from the same period in 2023. This rapid population decline has led to severe labor shortages.
In response, Japan has begun to relax its immigration policies to attract more foreign workers. However, under Prime Minister Ishiba’s leadership, the government insists on strict integration and compliance with Japanese laws, as reflected in his recent statements. Ishiba has made it clear that Japan will not sacrifice public safety to solve its demographic problems.
Shigeru Ishiba’s Political Stance
Shigeru Ishiba, born on February 4, 1957, in Yazu Town, Tottori Prefecture, comes from an influential political family. His father, Jirō Ishiba, served as Governor of Tottori Prefecture and as a member of the House of Councillors. Known for his conservative views, Ishiba has often addressed issues such as national security and Japanese identity.
He became Prime Minister on October 1, 2024, after being elected as president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). His statements on non-compliant foreigners reflect his stance on maintaining social order and addressing citizens’ concerns about immigration.
In his first policy speech on October 4, 2024, Ishiba named Japan’s low birth rate and regional security as among his primary concerns, describing the former as a “quiet emergency” and the latter as “at its most severe since the end of World War II.” He also pledged to continue efforts to ensure Japan’s economy emerges from deflation and called for stability within the Imperial House of Japan amid a lack of male successors to the throne.
Ishiba’s leadership reflects a commitment to upholding Japan’s cultural integrity while addressing the practical challenges posed by demographic decline and immigration.
A Lesson for the West: Borders Protect Civilization
While Japan is taking necessary steps to protect its people, Western nations continue to spiral into self-destruction. Across Europe and North America, governments bow to the pressures of open-border advocates, allowing violent criminals and hostile actors to flood their countries. Cities once known for safety and cultural identity are now battlegrounds of unrest as politicians refuse to admit the failures of mass migration.
The situation mirrors the chaos in Western nations, where crime, cultural erosion, and social instability have become the norm. Leaders in the U.S. and Europe feign surprise when so-called ‘refugees’ bring violence, refusing to acknowledge the deliberate undermining of national security through lax immigration policies. Japan, by contrast, refuses to play along with this suicidal game.
Japan’s response should serve as a wake-up call. The survival of a nation depends on the enforcement of its laws, the protection of its borders, and the preservation of its people’s way of life. Anything less is national suicide.
Prime Minister Ishiba has made his position clear: Japan will not be held hostage by those who refuse to respect its laws. The West must take note before it’s too late.
