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Week 11 (Nov 17-19). New Challenges AND Foreign policy

Immigration policy and national identity

by

Go Murakami
Doctoral Student
Department of Political Science

Introduction of Go Murakami

Tradition: Updates of Japanese politics

Shizuka Kamei's vulnerable position and threatening DPJ.

• Prefers more than DPJ’s 2.7 trillion supplementary budget (handouts?);
• Financial moratorium bill; and
• Reach out to some LDP members, Yasuo Tanaka (New Party Nippon), Takeo Hiranuma (Independent, former LDP) to form a new party?

Ozawa is playing a game?

• Using Kamei to increase power in DPJ
• Crush the party system again? AGAIN??

Outline

- Questions –

1. How many immigrants are there in Japan, and who are they?
2. How has immigration policy been implemented?
3. Why is it the way it is?

- Answers -

1. 1. A large part of immigrants are “Zainichi” and “Nikkei jin”: A heritage of the Pre-War immigration. Now it’s changing!
2. Strictly: No unskilled labor, temporary workers policy. Recent increase for a labor shortage.
3. There are economic, political and cultural explanations for a strict immigration intake.

1. How many immigrants are there in Japan?

• What is the population of Japan?
• How many foreigners are there?
• Who are the them?

Foreign or foreign-born population in 2005 (%)

Source: SOPEMI (2007)

Registered foreigners in Japan

Source: Immigration Bureau of Japan (2009); Statistical Bureau of Japan (2009)

A brief history of Japanese immigration/emigration

• Early 20th century:
  • Mass emigration to Brazil à Later “Nikkei-jin”
  • They “returned” to Japan in 1980s and 1990s.

• After 1910 until 1945:
  
  • Mass emigration to and immigration from Korea, including forced migratio

• In 1945
  
  • About 2.3 million Koreans in Japan
    
    • About 1.5 million returned to Korea
      
    • About 500,000 stayedà “Zainichi” Koreans
      
• Between 1945 and 1980s
  
  • No large scale immigration

Registered foreigners in Japan by nationality

Source: Tsuda and Cornelius (2004: 442-443); Immigration Bureau of Japan (2009).

2. How has immigration policy been implemented?

Is immigration policy strict in Japan? I

“By connecting Japan and the world through proper immigration control services under the motto ‘Internationalization in compliance with the rules,’ making efforts for smoother cross-border human mobility, and deporting undesirable aliens for Japan, the Immigration Bureau, the Ministry of Justice makes contributions to sound development of the Japanese society” (Top page of the IBJ homepage)

Is immigration policy strict in Japan? II

They started a “new service” for overstayers!! : 出国命令制度 (Deportation order system)

• You can go home without being detained!
  
• You may re-enter Japan within one year!! (not 5 years!)

Is immigration policy strict in Japan? III

Case study: Deportation of Filipino family (Calreron)

• A Filipino family, Arlan and Sara Calderon visited Japan in around 1992-93.
  --> Overstayed.
• Noriko was born, and raised as a Japanese.
• Sara Calderon was arrested for overstay in 2006
• - IBJ decided that they cannot stay in Japan in 2009, but
• - IBJ’s “special treatment”: Only Noriko can stay in their relative’s house.

Inflow of long-term immigrants in 2006 (% of population)

Source: SOPEMI (2008)

Net migration (immigration - emigration) in 2006 (thousand)

Source: SOPEMI (2008)

Rate of naturalization in 2006 (% among registered foreigners)

Source: SOPEMI (2008)

“Three fundamental principles” of Japanese immigration policy

According to Cornelius and Tsuda (2004: 449-450), the three principles are

1. “No unskilled foreign workers will be admitted.”
2. Only highly skilled foreign workers will be admitted (or naturalize if good soccer players).
3. All foreigners will only be admitted temporarily.
   --> Revised Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act in 1990
   --> Clarified the immigrant status categories

Meanwhile... A Diet discussion on the issue of granting suffrage of local elction to foreign residents

• Questions/criticisms by Tomomi Inada (LDP) against Hatoyama government on suffrage issue. [link: in Japanese]
• Hatoyama waffled.
• DPJ left the final decision to Ozawa.

Will DPJ grant suffrage (of local election) to foreigners?

Source: Asahi.com (2009)

What about Kamei?

• Unknown... But Go's educated guess is "somewhat disagree."

3. Why has Japanese immigration policy been so strict?

1) It’s the economy, stupid!

• Higher population growth until 1970s and the recent concerns for declining population
• No economic organizations (keidanren) had pushed for immigration intake until 1990s
• Current labor shortage for “3K” (3D) jobs and manual labor
  

Projected population decline

Source: UN Statistics Division (2007)

2. Political opportunity structure

LDP dominance + bureaucrats’ heaven!

• No strong political forces for pro-immigration were organized
• Hard-liners in the LDP against expanding immigrants’ rights
• A strong leadership by Ministry of Justice

3. Anti-immigrant public opinions and exclusionist Japanese culture??

• Often criticized as a racist society (e.g.: Governor of Tokyo; but Shimpu)
• Anti-immigrant sentiment, concerns about job security, cultural homogeneity, and safety

Racist society?

Kyogaku no Gaijin Hanzai Ura Fairu [Secret Files of Foreigners' Crimes].
Tokyo: Eichi Publishing Corp, 2007.

To browse the first page of this book, see Professor. Debito Arudou's blog page.
--> Considered as a racial vilification in other counties.
--> Bankrupted soon after this publication.

Public opinion on unskilled labor immigrants

Source: JGSS (2000-2007)

Public opinion: % of reduce a little/a lot of immigrants in 2003

Source: International Social Survey Program (2003)

Public opinion: % of reduce a little/a lot of immigrants in 1995

Source: International Social Survey Program (1995)

Legal immigrants should have the same rights as citizens (%)

Source: International Social Survey Program (2003)

Summary

• A large number of “immigrants” in Japan were “Zainichi” Koreian, Chinese and returned “Nikkei jin”
• Japanese immigration policy has been strict in a comparative perspective.
• Economic and political structure produced a strict policy
• Recently increasing immigrant intakes mainly for its labor shortage.
• Public opinions are not necessarily anti-immigrant. But remember that it fluctuates over time.

Japanese Foreign Policy 1951-2009

Lecture Goals

• Understanding the driving forces of Japan’s foreign affairs since WWII

• Evaluating the impact of recent changes in US-Japan relations, China-Japan relations, and relations to the UN

Underlying Puzzles:

• What can explain a sudden strengthening of the US-Japan alliance, worsening of relations with China and Korea, and increase in nationalist posturing?

• Meanwhile, what explains the strong support shown by Japan for UN based multilateralism?

Lecture Arguments          

• The US-Japan alliance is the core axis of Japanese foreign relations.

• External threats and rising nationalism since 1995 push Japan further toward the alliance as necessary fallback.

• Yet, public opinion and a degree of penetration by global civil society maintain a secondary line of support for UN multilateralism

Lecture Outline:

1. The Yoshida Doctrine and the Tenets of Japanese Foreign Policy

2. The Post Cold War Moment: Early 1990s

3. The Reinforcement of the US-Japan Alliance, Sept 11, and Iraq

4. Facing the Rise of China

5. The Other Japanese Foreign Policy: Support for Multilateralism, connections with Canada and the EU.

6. Other Hot Issues until 2009

7. The DPJ and Hatoyama after 2009

1. The Yoshida Doctrine and the Basis for Japanese Foreign Policy

• The deal reached by Yoshida at the end of the US occupation: US guarantee for Japanese security in exchange for US bases in Japan (and control of Okinawa until 1971) and creation of SDF

• Japan delegates its security (and part of its foreign policy) to the US and concentrates on economic management

• One ex: no relation with China until the Nixon trip in 1972.

2. The Post-Cold War Moment in the Early 1990s

• 1988-1990: amidst the Japanese bubble, the US questions its unilateral support for Japanese security

• The Gulf war of 1990-1991 brings a lot of scorn to Japan (no troops, but $13 B)

• Japan sees its future in Asia. Launches several proposal. Talks of Asian values

• Closer relations to China (no isolation after Tian An Men)

• 1995: Crisis in Okinawa after Marines rape a young woman

3. Rebound in US-Japan Alliance Post 1995-1998

• 1998 - New Defense Guidelines and reinforced cooperation

• 1999-2006: Enthusiastic support for TMD (Theater Missile defense)

• 2001: strong support for US led anti-terror war

• 2002-2006: strong support for US stance on Iraq, dispatch of troops after end of combats

• 2004-2005: Inclusion of Taiwan in common defense zone - strong step committing Japan in case of US-China conflict over Taiwan

Some Potential Explanations for the Rebound

1. Realism: actual threats from China (Taiwan missile crisis 1996, 2004 submarine intrusion) and North Korea (nuclear crisis, 1998 Tae PoDong missile) and weaker Japan in wake of collapse of bubble

2. Constructivism: shared values, shared community, a natural return

3. Domestic politics: security entrepreneurs in Japan try to use a stronger USJA to reinforce Japan’s military, revise the constitution and move toward a stronger Japan in the long run

4. Any others?

2001 Japan Apology for WWII

July 2001: Tanaka-Powell Show In Vietnam (ASEAN meeting)

Response to Sept 11: Major Change, Strengthening of USJA

An Immediate Response: the Sept 19- 7-point plan (well, after Armitage advice Sept 15)

Immediate Visit to the US

The SDF Bill-Oct-Nov 2 2001 (record speed, record change, Gulf-War Syndrom, big risk with constitution and low popular support)

The Need to Reassure Asian Neighbours

End of November: SDF departs

Big Diplomatic Coup: Japan Hosts the Afghan Reconstruction Conference

Acknowledgement by President Bush-Visit Tokyo 2002,

Kind Words by President Bush (but disagreement on Irak+ NK)

• “We are very grateful..” “We are so touched.. My nation will never forget” (SDF, Afghan aid…)

• "Your response to the terrorist threat has demonstrated the strength of our alliance, and the indispensable role of Japan - a role that is global, and begins in Asia,”

• "I support your prime minister," he said. "He is a leader who embodies the energy and determination of his country. I enjoy his friendship and I enjoy his sense of humor."

Japanese Troops in Irak since early 2003

Incredible Saga of Japanese Hostages in Irak, 2004

5. JAPAN-UN Relations

• UN enjoys high support and legitimacy in Japan (similar instinct toward multilateralism and peace as Canada)

• Quest for UNSC seat (nearly 20% of UN budget)

• Active Japanese role: linkages, PKO, UNESCO, East Timor, Afghanistan

JAPAN-UN Relations

• UN enjoys high support and legitimacy in Japan (similar instinct toward multilateralism and peace as Canada)

• Quest for UNSC seat (nearly 20% of UN budget)

• Active Japanese role: PKO, UNESCO, East Timor, Afghanistan

• Active participation in global treaty building: Kyoto, Landmines, Biosafety, next year ICC, UNESCO Cultural Diversity treaty

Early Precursor: Nitobe Inazo (1862-1933)

UN Voting Patterns 1997

UN Voting Patterns 2002

2002 Breakdown of Key Votes

6. Other Hot Issues Now

• Constitutional Revision

• Nuclear Weapons - weaker taboo

• Negotiations with NK- hostages, 6-party talks

• Yasukuni Shrine

• Worsening relations with Korea: Tokdo

• FTAs

• Regionalism: ASEAN + 3

Who is he? (a Japanese hero)

6-Party Talks over NK

What is this?

South Korean Protests- Japanese Textbooks

Korean protests over Tokdo

Where is Tok Do / Takeshima do?

7. The DPJ Moment: Big Ideas and Sticky Realities

Foreign Policy: a New Direction

• The Hatoyama Cabinet keeps the US-Japan Alliance as anchor of Japanese Foreign Policy.
  
• Yet, it also seeks a rebalancing toward Asia and the UN and a stronger Japanese voice vs the US
  
• Renegotiation of Okinawa Situation (Futenma transfer to Nago reviewed)
  
• End to MSDF Mission in Indian Ocean
  
• Focus on East Asian Community – although early meetings with China and Korea have not yet yielded concrete results
  

Hatoyama at G20

Early Meeting- Sept 09

Futenma Conundrum

Futenman Surrounded

October- Government Hesitations on the issue

• 2006 US-Japan agreement to move Futenma from Ginowan to Nago by 2014 (opposed by residents)
  
• Okada proposes moving Futenma to Kadema (a move opposed by the US) – pushing for Nov 6 visit to the US
  
• Defense Minister Kitazawa: why not go ahead with original plan (not a real campaign promise)?
  
• Hatoyama: no rush, can decide after Obama visit (Nov 12-13)
  
• Okinawa governor Nakaima puzzled, but critical of Kitazawa
  

Growing Tensions with the US (Oct 21 Gates Visit)

Big Splash at the UN- the Climate Change Push

Target in Context

The East Asian Community Idea

• ''I told [Mr Hu] I would like to form an East Asian community by overcoming differences'' including a dispute over exploitation rights for gas fields lying near islands the two countries claim in East China Sea, Mr Hatoyama told reporters."I said we should make it a sea of fraternity instead of a sea of disputes," Mr Hatoyama said after meeting
• Mr Hu on the sidelines of the General Assembly.
  
• Mr Hu stopped short of agreeing to the proposal but said he wanted to ''make it a peaceful and friendly sea'' by tackling sticking points in the dispute, a government official said.” Mr Hu said.
  

ASEAN/EAS Summit Oct 24-25

Trilateral Summit in Beijing

Uncertainty Around the East Asian Community Idea
(東アジア共同体の考えは不透明）

• Who should the members be?
  
• Okada says the US cannot be a member
  
• Hatoyama does not want to exclude the US, but told China and Korea that Japan had relied too much on the US in the past
  
• China wants ASEAN+3 (13 countries)
  
• Japan proposes ASEAN+6 (16 countries) with Australia, NZ, India
  

What about the constitution revision debate?

• The majority of DPJ Diet Members are opposed to change to Art 9, even if some would consider some change to the constitution.
  
• The matter seems safe for several years to come. Hatoyama is unlikely to touch constitutional revision
  

Mainichi Survey of DPJ Candidates