At a regular press conference on August 1, Fukuoka Governor Seitaro Hattori stressed the need for deeper efforts to build a society where Japanese citizens and foreign residents can live in mutual understanding. He emphasized that with over 110,000 foreign residents—including international students and technical trainees—already living in the prefecture, regional society and the local economy cannot be sustained without their presence.
Hattori responded to a question regarding the political rise of the Sanseito party, which has called for a reassessment of Japan’s foreign resident policies. While declining to comment directly on party positions, he made clear his stance that the humanity and dignity of foreign workers must be acknowledged. “They may be categorized as laborers, but they are not machines or tools—they are human beings, just like us,” he said, underlining the need to treat foreign residents with the same respect as Japanese citizens.
He went on to criticize the national government’s lack of action, noting that although labor-related systems have been developed at the national level, integration and support measures for foreign residents in communities have been left almost entirely to local governments. Hattori urged the central government to take greater responsibility for supporting coexistence and promoting comprehensive integration policies nationwide. Source: RKB
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