Since the 1990s, the Japanese state has tried to balance easing immigration for some categories of immigrants while tightening restrictions for others through immigration and alien residence control. Using qualitative and data-driven analysis, this paper examines the political implications of Japan’s recent policy of accepting less-skilled migrant workers by providing a systemic explanation of the institutional changes in immigration management. The state uses alien residence control in order to curb the social costs of immigrant integration while pursuing a selective worker acceptance policy. Despite the policy shift, it seems likely that Japan will maintain this essentially illiberal means of temporary labor inclusion with long-term social exclusion.
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