Despite Japan's long-held reputation as an ethnically homogeneous country largely closed to foreigners, the number of immigrants in Japan has been increasing, partially as a direct result of government policies to address labor shortages associated with Japan's aging and declining population. What have these changes meant for Japan as a nation, as well as for foreign communities living in Japan? With contributions from a diverse group of thirteen scholars representing five academic discipl...

Shows how Japan's immigration policy is shaped by the nature of Japan's economy and elite debates about the country's national identity.In Help (Not) Wanted, Michael Strausz offers an original and provocative answer to a question that has long perplexed observers of Japan: Why has Japan's immigration policy remained so restrictive, especially in light of economic, demographic, and international political forces that are pushing Japan to admit more immigran...