Japanese Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday (May 22, 2026). He announced a new policy package aimed at strengthening measures against foreign nationals staying and working in Japan illegally. (Jiji Press)
TOKYO – Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi on Friday announced a new policy package aimed at strengthening measures against foreign nationals staying and working in Japan illegally.
The package, called the Zero Illegal Foreign Residents Plan, spells out what the Immigration Services Agency will focus on, based on a comprehensive set of policy measures related to foreign nationals released in January. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi puts priority on this policy area.
The package calls for enhancing the agency’s system to collect and analyze information found on social media to detect illegal employment and for stepping up crackdowns on employers facilitating such practices.
In response to reports that forged residence cards are traded via social media, the agency is expected to introduce a dedicated data-collection tool.
The agency will also reinforce measures to prevent metal and plastic junkyard operators from becoming breeding grounds for illegal employment, as the number of such operators is increasing amid soaring metal prices.
The number of foreign nationals staying in Japan illegally remained high at 68,488 as of January, although it had fallen for two consecutive years, according to the agency. (Jiji press)