Survey: two-thirds of Japanese view rise in foreigners as 'good'

Youths, high-income people more welcoming toward people from abroad

Foreign trainees work at a factory in Osaka Prefecture: A recent Nikkei survey found that most Japanese see the rise in Japan's foreign population as positive. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

SHUN KONO, Nikkei staff writer

January 21, 2019 17:50 JST

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.