TOKYO -- A recent Nikkei survey found that 74% of respondents reported an increase in the number of foreigners in their workplaces and neighborhoods. While the growth of Japan's foreign population has been a topic of public discussion for some time, most people view the development as positive, with 66% seeing it as a good or somewhat good thing, while fewer than three in 10 see it as bad.
The findings reflect hopes that foreigners will make up for labor shortages and lend social support as Japan's population dwindles and ages. At the end of June 2018, there were some 2.64 million foreign residents in Japan, equal to 2% of the total population, according to the Justice Ministry, and the number is rising.
