Explaining Anti-Immigrant Sentiment in Japan and How It Relates to Voting Decisions: A Study of the 2017 Japanese General Election

The salience of the immigration issue has increased in Japan due to the pressures of labor shortages and an aging population. However, little research has examined what predicts anti-immigrant sentiment and how it relates to the voting behavior of Japanese people. Using nationally representative survey data, this article digs deeper into public opinion on immigration by testing a variety of economic, social, and demographic variables associated with different dimensions of anti-immigrant sentiment. I find that whereas economic concerns are based on realistic assessments of job threats posed by immigration, cultural and security concerns are driven primarily by stereotypes of immigrants. Using this evidence, I examine the relationship between immigration attitudes and voting choice. Economic and security concerns about immigration are correlated with actual voting choices, but I see no evidence that cultural threats have a meaningful effect on Japanese voting decisions.