Japan’s Takaichi Tightens Immigration as Tax Cut and Tourism Subsidies Stir Debate

The Japanese Diet has given final approval to a dramatic escalation in visa and residence permit charges for foreign nationals, with fees set to rise by up to thirtyfold under legislation pushed through by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The move, overseen by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, reflects a broader hardening of Japan’s stance towards immigration, as the government responds to surging anti-foreigner sentiment. Takaichi, a conservative with pronounced nationalist leanings, campaigned on a platform of stringent controls, and the early phase of her premiership has swiftly translated campaign rhetoric into policy.

Yet the government’s economic posture is more fluid. A decision on whether to cut the consumption tax on food to zero or one per cent has been deliberately left to Takaichi, according to LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi. The choice is freighted with technical and political complexity: a one-per-cent rate would reduce the time needed to adjust cash register systems and has been gaining support within the ruling bloc, while the zero-per-cent option aligns with the party’s populist pledges. Coalition partner the Japan Innovation Party, through its policy chief Alex Saito, has insisted that the timing and size of any temporary cut be resolved alongside the introduction of a new reduced rate.

The contradictory impulses towards foreigners are vividly illustrated at the local level. In Kagoshima prefecture, authorities are fully subsidising Shinkansen bullet-train fares for overseas visitors to revive post-pandemic tourism, a scheme that has drawn charges of unfairness from residents. Meanwhile, the peculiar commodification of companionship in maid cafés—where patrons pay for conversation, laughter and smiles—continues to fascinate foreign observers. A Russian travel blogger recently described such establishments as a “norm” in Japan, noting that they remain accessible even to children, with discounts for school-age customers. The juxtaposition—restrictive visa rules at the border, yet financial incentives and cultural oddities that lure tourists—captures the dissonance of contemporary Japan.

Viewed from European capitals, the Takaichi administration’s trajectory raises pointed questions about Japan’s openness at a time when demographic decline demands pragmatic immigration solutions. Moscow’s social media may marvel at Tokyo’s niche service culture, but analysts in London stress that the signal sent by fee hikes could deter skilled workers Japan urgently needs. As the government navigates these cross-currents, the tension between nationalist symbolism and economic reality will likely define the remainder of Takaichi’s term.