Japan survey finds junior high students more negative on immigration
More than 40% rejected the idea that having more foreign residents would bring substantial benefits to society, more than double the share in a 2022 survey.
A survey of junior high school students in Japan found increasingly negative attitudes toward immigration, with more than 40% opposing the idea that society would benefit substantially from a rise in the number of foreign residents.
University of Tokyo professor Norihiro Nihei conducted the research in October and November 2025, following an Upper House election campaign in which immigration was a prominent issue. The proportion opposing that view was more than twice the level recorded in Nihei’s 2022 survey.
The findings come as Japan tightens immigration rules broadly and social media helps shape public perceptions of foreign nationals, including among children.
A 2025 communications ministry report found that more than 42% of children aged 6 to 12 in Japan used social media. The reported share rose to 92.9% from age 13.
