Speaking to the Nikkei, Nippon TV and other media outlets on Monday, Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda said that the government “will take firm action against illegal activities and violations of the rules by foreigners.” She added that authorities will “create a situation in which foreigners who do bad things will no longer exist in Japan.” According to Onoda, stricter actions are required “to alleviate public anxiety and feelings of unfairness.”
Onoda Says Foreigners Living Here Illegally Must ‘Return Properly’
Regarding the balance between stricter immigration policies and labor shortages, Onoda said, “Our country does not tolerate illegal employment or illegal residence. We must ensure those who are here illegally return properly. Preventing these individuals from entering and welcoming those who contribute legally is not contradictory at all.” Onoda believes foreigners can coexist with Japanese people, but only if they toe the line. “It must not become difficult for law-abiding foreign residents to live here,” she said. “We will create a situation where only those who follow the rules and laws are in Japan.”
The youngest member of Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet, Onoda is a staunch nationalist who, as well as serving as economic security minister, has also been assigned to promote a society of “well-ordered and harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals.” The Chicago-born politician has been critical of foreign influence in Japanese land ownership. Speaking on the topic on Monday, she said, “We will strive to quickly understand the actual state of transactions, including acquisitions from overseas.”
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi | Wikimedia
Cabinet Ministers Ordered To Compile Views on Foreigners By January 2026
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Takaichi vowed to “set limits” on the number of foreign nationals accepted into Japan. She also ordered Cabinet ministers to compile their views on foreigners by January 2026. During the recent Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race, Takaichi vowed to come down strongly on illegal overstayers and implement stronger restrictions on land purchases. In recent years, wealthy foreigners have been pouring into the Japanese real estate market with speculative purchases.
