00:02Japan has toughened requirements for foreigners wanting to obtain permanent
00:07residency on Thursday as part of Prime Minister Sanai Takashi's push to
00:12tighten immigration controls. Under new rules that will come into effect in
00:16stages, foreign residents wishing to stay in Japan permanently will have to prove
00:21their annual income is above average and they can carry casual conversations in
00:26Japanese. Application fees are set to rise twenty-fold from Thursday. Even though
00:31Japan has a rapidly aging population and is suffering labor shortages in many
00:36sectors, opposition to immigration is growing prompting a push by Takashi for
00:41tighter regulations on foreign nationals. Programs to attract international
00:45workers have fueled public worry and anti-immigration sentiment. Food's claims
00:50have circulated widely on social media including that a significant portion of
00:54welfare payments in Japan goes to foreigners. Experts and many business
00:59leaders warn however that Japan must welcome more foreign workers to sustain
01:03itself.
