Economy / Markets
Japan's population falls faster as Tokyo tightens rules on foreigners
New five-year census data showed Japanese nationals fell 3.5% to 119.1 million since 2020, a steeper drop than the prior tally, while foreign residents rose 40% to a record 3.84 million. In the same week the government raised the fee for permanent residency to $1,271 from $64 — a rise of about 2,000% — tightened income requirements and added Japanese-language and conduct assessments, with permanent status now revocable for unpaid pensions, health insurance or taxes. Foreigners make up 3.4% of the population but face a growing political backlash.