Japan's Immigration Intimations and Their Neglected Language Policy Requisites

The Japanese government has touched on the topic of immigration as a possible way to deal with the nation's falling population several times in recent years. However, other than raising the issue and discussing numbers, there has been scant regard given to specific policy or requisite preparations that such a major change would entail. Before Japan can seriously consider admitting a large number of migrants, there are several important issues that must be dealt with, one of which is language education policy. This article investigates the barriers that exist in Japan's language education policies that hinder immigration becoming a greater reality in the immediate future. It examines the importance of such policies and the prerequisites required (attitudinal, cultural, societal and political) to realize the positive linguistic acceptance of migrants into the nation's mainstream education system and society. Regardless of whether migration increases now or in the future, changes in attitude towards language teaching and acquisition are necessary for the wider public and, done properly, would arguably lead to a change of attitudes of the general population towards accepting migration.