400 march in Osaka against tougher foreign-resident rules

What Osaka’s protest was about

About 400 demonstrators gathered at Nakanoshima Park in Osaka on April 26, 2026 to protest exclusionary policies aimed at foreign residents and broader anti-immigration sentiment. The rally came as Japan’s foreign resident population has topped 4 million, with similar protests reported in Tokyo and Nagoya.

The main policy dispute centers on amendments to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, including rules tied to permanent residency, tax compliance and social insurance payments, according to Japan’s Ministry of Justice. Officials say the revocation rule applies only in malicious cases, such as intentional nonpayment despite the ability to pay and not when people face illness or unemployment.

Who this affects

The biggest impact falls on long-term foreign residents, especially permanent residency holders, of whom there were more than 918,000 in 2024. Expats and digital nomads on work or skilled-worker visas may also face tighter checks when they renew status, including data matching through My Number.

Tourists on short stays aren't the target of these rules. Families may keep status if the primary holder loses residency, though that depends on the case.

What residents should watch

The Ministry of Justice says people facing review get a chance to submit evidence and, in principle, may switch to another status such as Long-Term Resident instead of immediate removal. For applicants, settling tax or insurance debts before April 2027 could reduce problems once the revocation rules take effect.

Renewal costs are also rising, with a five-year residency renewal expected to reach about ¥70,000 and PR applications about ¥200,000 by late 2026. Read our full Japan guide for the complete picture and follow visa updates for more on residency rules.