Letter from Nikkei Asia's editor: Nowhere to go

Hello from Tokyo. Recent remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden saying Japan is "xenophobic" and doesn't want immigrants have prompted the Japanese government to hit back, saying his comments were not based on an accurate understanding. But the fact remains that foreign residents account for just over 2% of Japan's total population, far less than in major Western countries such as the U.S. and Germany.

That said, the number of foreign workers here is surging against the backdrop of a serious labor shortage. Recent data indicates the figure is outpacing government estimates. Workers from Myanmar were one of the fastest-growing such groups in Japan in 2023, with the number rising nearly 50% from the previous year. Indeed, the Tokyo college district of Takadanobaba is now dubbed Little Yangon due to the many restaurants and shops opened by people from the Southeast Asian country.

This trend is understandable given the ongoing turmoil in Myanmar. Many workers simply do not want to go back home. Despite the increase, it is rare in Tokyo to encounter members of the Rohingya ethnic group, who claim roots in Myanmar dating back to the seventh century but are nevertheless widely considered interlopers there and denied citizenship. Tokyo, which has historically maintained close ties with the Myanmar government, has not actively accepted them as refugees.

An exception is the city of Tatebayashi, located some 70 kilometers north of Tokyo, where about 300 Rohingya are said to be living. According to a local newspaper article, they began settling there about 30 years ago and have gradually integrated into the community. They are now even involved in activities to support Rohingya refugee camps overseas.

Such camps are mainly located in