When Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, one of her new cabinet pick's stood out. Kimi Onoda was appointed minister for economic security and the “Cool Japan” strategy — but also given a new title: Minister for Promoting an Orderly Coexistent Society with Foreigners.
It’s a phrase that says a lot about how Japan sees outsiders.
In this week’s Japan Today Spotlight, we look at how anti-foreigner sentiment is gaining political traction, why “coexistence” has become such a loaded word and what that means for Japan’s future.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-vDNg-hhBZo
Chapters
00:00 Intro: Japan’s first female prime minister
01:36 Blame the foreigners
03:48 The coexistence policy
04:33 Kimi Onoda’s appointment
05:51 Anti-foreigner rhetoric in Japan
06:30 Japanese labor needs foreigners
07:57 Fear of foreigners and the facts
09:30 Cultural misunderstandings
11:08 Sanseito’s argument
12:32 Outro: The choice ahead
Do you think Japan’s “foreigner problem” is really about policy or fear? Tell us in the comments.
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When Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, one of her new cabinet pick's stood out. Kimi Onoda was appointed minister for economic security and the “Cool Japan” strategy — but also given a new title: Minister for Promoting an Orderly Coexistent Society with Foreigners.
It’s a phrase that says a lot about how Japan sees outsiders.
In this week’s Japan Today Spotlight, we look at how anti-foreigner sentiment is gaining political traction, why “coexistence” has become such a loaded word and what that means for Japan’s future.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-vDNg-hhBZo
Chapters
00:00 Intro: Japan’s first female prime minister
01:36 Blame the foreigners
03:48 The coexistence policy
04:33 Kimi Onoda’s appointment
05:51 Anti-foreigner rhetoric in Japan
06:30 Japanese labor needs foreigners
07:57 Fear of foreigners and the facts
09:30 Cultural misunderstandings
11:08 Sanseito’s argument
12:32 Outro: The choice ahead
Do you think Japan’s “foreigner problem” is really about policy or fear? Tell us in the comments.
Sept. 26, 2025 | Why nuisance YouTubers are causing outrage in Japan
Japan This Week
9 minutes 51 seconds
1 month ago
Sept. 26, 2025 | Why nuisance YouTubers are causing outrage in Japan
A rise in obnoxious and aggressive content creators is sparking outrage across Japan — from graveyard stunts and sushi sabotage to harassment on public trains. Japanese media now calls them “nuisance YouTubers.”
In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we dig into what’s really going on. Why are some influencers acting this way in Japan? Would they pull the same stunts in cities like London or New York? And what’s the impact on foreigners who actually live here and are trying to do things right?
🎥 Watch the full video version on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/hah65eM4iw0
Japan This Week
When Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, one of her new cabinet pick's stood out. Kimi Onoda was appointed minister for economic security and the “Cool Japan” strategy — but also given a new title: Minister for Promoting an Orderly Coexistent Society with Foreigners.
It’s a phrase that says a lot about how Japan sees outsiders.
In this week’s Japan Today Spotlight, we look at how anti-foreigner sentiment is gaining political traction, why “coexistence” has become such a loaded word and what that means for Japan’s future.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-vDNg-hhBZo
Chapters
00:00 Intro: Japan’s first female prime minister
01:36 Blame the foreigners
03:48 The coexistence policy
04:33 Kimi Onoda’s appointment
05:51 Anti-foreigner rhetoric in Japan
06:30 Japanese labor needs foreigners
07:57 Fear of foreigners and the facts
09:30 Cultural misunderstandings
11:08 Sanseito’s argument
12:32 Outro: The choice ahead
Do you think Japan’s “foreigner problem” is really about policy or fear? Tell us in the comments.