Survey Finds 41.5% of Japanese Middle Schoolers Don’t Think More Immigration Would Benefit Society

A survey of middle school students in Japan has revealed an interesting finding about how young people view immigration: 41.5% of respondents don’t believe that an increase in the foreign population would benefit Japanese society. The percentage has nearly doubled in just two years.

The survey was conducted in 2025 by sociologist Norihiro Nihei, a professor at the University of Tokyo who periodically tracks the opinions of students from 10 middle schools in Tokyo and nearby areas.

One of the statements presented to the students was: “An increase in the number of foreigners living in Japan will bring many benefits to society.”

The responses were noteworthy:

• 9.6% strongly disagreed.

• 31.9% somewhat disagreed.

• 39.8% somewhat agreed.

• 18.6% strongly agreed.

Combining the two groups who disagreed, we get 41.5% of students who don’t necessarily see an increase in immigration as a positive development.

Opposition to Immigration Among Japanese Teens Nearly Doubled in Two Years

What makes these results even more interesting is the comparison with the previous survey, conducted in 2023. At the time, only 22.26% of students disagreed with the idea that having more foreigners could benefit Japanese society.

Here’s how the numbers compare:

In other words, it wasn’t just the number of students opposed to the statement that increased. There was also a decline in the percentage of those who strongly agreed with it.

But does this mean Japanese teenagers are becoming more conservative?

According to Nihei, it’s not that simple.

Japanese Teens Still Show Tolerance Toward Different Opinions

The researcher points out that it’s not accurate to interpret these results as a widespread shift toward more conservative positions.

To better understand the students’ attitudes, the survey also examined three characteristics associated with a liberal outlook: democracy, tolerance, and individual autonomy.

The 2025 results remained remarkably high:

• 96% agree that rules should be decided through discussions involving everyone.
• 91.6% say they can accept people with different ways of thinking.
• 83% believe it’s important to stay true to themselves in any situation.

On the other hand, some indicators associated with more conservative attitudes showed an increase:

• 61.3% believe they should follow instructions from teachers and older people rather than their own opinions. In 2023, the figure was 57.4%.
• 86.8% consider loving their own country important. In 2023, the figure was 76.9%.

Another interesting finding concerns how people who break rules should be punished. In 2022, 70.8% agreed that people who don’t follow rules should receive severe punishment. By 2025, that figure had risen to 79.3%.

According to Nihei, valuing rule-following shouldn’t automatically be grouped with conservative attitudes. After all, rules can also help prevent abuses of power and ensure that everyone is treated fairly.

Why Are Japanese Teenagers Becoming More Skeptical of Immigration?

Crimes involving people of other nationalities receive media attention and can influence public perceptions of foreign residents. For example, there was a recent case involving Brazilians arrested in Japan after assaulting a 16-year-old schoolgirl.

Another factor worth considering is where the participating schools are located. Since the survey was conducted in Tokyo and nearby areas, these students may have a different perspective from teenagers living in smaller Japanese communities.

That’s because some parts of Japan are struggling with labor shortages and population decline, issues where immigration can play an important role. In the greater Tokyo area, however, the benefits of having more foreign workers may not be as obvious to residents.

There’s also the economic situation to consider. Japan is dealing with a rising cost of living, while many workers are struggling with wages that haven’t kept pace with increasing expenses.

Most Japanese Students Still See Benefits in Immigration

Despite the increase in disagreement, there’s one important detail that shouldn’t be overlooked: 58.5% of students still agree that an increase in the foreign population could benefit Japanese society.

But here’s the thing: the percentage of students who disagree has DOUBLED in just two years. What will the next survey reveal?

via Soranews