TOKYO -- The Japanese government will set up an expert panel as early as this month to review regulations on accepting foreign nationals into the country, government and ruling party officials said.

The initiative is a signature policy of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Based on the panel's discussions, the government plans to consider measures for "quantitative management" of foreign residents and draw up a "population strategy" including numerical targets within the current fiscal year.

Multiple government and ruling party officials disclosed the plan. Specific regulatory measures will be studied under economic security minister Kimi Onoda, who doubles as minister in charge of "a society of well-ordered and harmonious coexistence with foreign nationals."

In January, the government set a combined intake cap of 1.23 million people through fiscal 2028 for the "specified skilled worker" status of residence for foreign workers and for "employment for skill development," a new system replacing technical intern training. But it has not set intake caps for other residence statuses such as "student" and "training."

The panel is expected to focus its discussions on whether to set intake caps for other residence statuses and by region. It is also expected to discuss how to handle foreign nationals already residing in Japan and accompanying family members.

During the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential race in 2025, Takaichi argued, "We must reconsider, at least for now, policies that collectively bring in people whose cultures and everything else are far too different." After assuming the LDP presidency, she signed a coalition agreement with Nippon Ishin (the Japan Innovation Party, JIP) stating that a "population strategy" specifying numerical targets and basic policies on accepting foreign nationals would be drawn up within the current fiscal year.

However, Japan faces an increasingly severe labor shortage amid the falling birth rate and aging population. Moves to "shift away from Japan" have also begun to emerge among foreign workers due to the historically weak yen, and many LDP lawmakers and business figures believe tightening regulations would not be a wise policy. Taking those views into account, the government plans to carefully consider whether to strengthen regulations.

According to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan, the number of foreign nationals residing in Japan stood at a record 4.125 million at the end of 2025. Their share of the population has grown to slightly over 3%. In 2023, the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research released an estimate that the proportion would reach 10.8% in 2070. The government subsequently indicated that the foreigner ratio is likely to exceed 10% even earlier.

(Japanese original by Shuhei Endo, Political News Department)