Japan's demographic landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with a record number of babies born to foreign parents in 2024. This development has sparked a heated political debate about migration and its impact on the country's future.
The health ministry's data reveals that over 20,000 children were born to non-Japanese couples, accounting for a remarkable 3% of all newborns. This surge in foreign births stands in stark contrast to the continuous decline in births among Japanese parents.
The Nikkei business newspaper reports that both the number and proportion of foreign newborns have reached all-time highs, suggesting that these children are playing a crucial role in curbing the decline in births among the native population.
Japan, one of the world's fastest-ageing nations, has long struggled to boost its birth rate to a level that can sustain its population, currently standing at around 125 million. The recent influx of migrant workers, hired to fill gaps in the labor market, has turned immigration into a prominent election issue for the first time.
According to the ministry's data, 22,878 foreign children were born last year, an increase of over 3,000 from the previous year and a 50% rise from a decade ago. In contrast, the number of children born to Japanese couples fell to 686,173, a reduction of 41,115 from the year before. This trend means that non-Japanese newborns have offset more than half of the decline in Japanese births, accounting for a significant 3.2% of all births.
Chinese women make up the largest group of foreign mothers, followed by women from the Philippines and Brazil. This increase in foreign births reflects the sharp rise in foreign residents in Japan, with the number of legal foreign residents now at 3.95 million, according to the immigration services agency. Many of these residents are in their 20s and 30s and are more likely to settle in the country long-term and start families.
The diverse populations now found in many Japanese towns, such as Ōizumi, which hosts people from dozens of nationalities, have prompted right-wing politicians to call for stricter immigration rules and better integration. The minor populist party Sanseito, which campaigned against foreign workers, performed strongly in the July upper house elections.
Sanae Takaichi, the new leader of the governing Liberal Democratic party and a hopeful for prime minister, has made immigration and the behavior of foreign tourists a key focus of her election bid. However, experts warn that the labor shortage and ageing demographic will likely fuel further migration. Justice Minister Keisuke Suzuki predicts that the proportion of foreign residents could surpass 10% of the population by 2040, three decades earlier than previously forecast.
Experts call on local authorities to do more to support foreign families. Toshihiro Menju, a visiting professor at the Kansai University of International Studies, highlights the lag in policies and support for foreign babies and their families in many localities, relying mostly on nonprofit organizations. He emphasizes the need for policies to create a society where foreign-national children can thrive, speaking Japanese, earning comparable incomes, and supporting their families, to avoid a divided society.
This complex issue raises important questions: How can Japan balance its demographic challenges with its immigration policies? What steps should be taken to ensure the successful integration of foreign families and their children? And how can the country's political landscape adapt to these rapid demographic changes? Join the discussion and share your thoughts in the comments!
