Abstract

This paper examines Japan ’ s immigration policies during the Abe govern-ment. Japan has maintained its very restrictive immigration policies, espe-cially for unskilled foreign workers, since the early 1990s. But despiteJapan’ s reluctance to open its doors to unskilled foreign workers, the Abegovernment drastically shifted its policy position toward expanding theemployment of unskilled foreign workers through the revision of the Immi-gration Control and Refugee Recognition Law in 2018. This paper arguesthat while Japan ’ s demographic crisis and the strong business demand forthe foreign workforce are important in explaining this change, Prime Min-ister Abe ’ s political leadership is another key factor accounting for Japan ’ srecent policy choice.