Japan

【声明】多文化共生社会の実現に逆行する三重県職員の国籍要件見直しの検討にNO！

Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan | Local Language | AcademicThink | Jan. 9, 2026 | UndeterminedPolitics and Elections

On January 7, 2026, the NPO National Network for Solidarity with Migrants (Iju-ren) issued a statement opposing Mie Prefecture's consideration to reinstate nationality requirements for hiring prefectural staff. This move, announced by Governor Katsuyuki Ichimi on December 25, 2025, aims to prevent the leakage of highly confidential information but is viewed by Iju-ren as contrary to the realization of a multicultural symbiotic society.

Iju-ren highlighted the historical context where the Cabinet Legislation Bureau’s 1953 interpretation denied foreigners the right to hold public office, but from the 1970s, many municipalities, including Mie Prefecture in 1999, abolished nationality requirements to promote local autonomy, human rights, and social participation of foreign residents. Mie Prefecture has also adopted guidelines and plans since 2016 aiming to promote multicultural coexistence and participation, reinforcing the principle of equal regional community building among Japanese and foreign residents.

The organization criticized the governor’s proposal as exclusionary nationalism that conflicts with the Prefecture’s Multicultural Coexistence Promotion Plan. They argue that risks of information leakage are not nationality-specific and that reinstating nationality requirements would sow division, undermine the dignity of foreign staff, and reverse progress in human rights and multicultural coexistence. Iju-ren strongly urged the governor to retract the proposal and enhance commitment to these values in Mie Prefecture.

Nippon | English | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met with Nago Mayor Taketoyo Toguchi on January 7, 2026, in Naha, Okinawa, to seek local understanding for relocating the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air base to Nago city. This marked their first meeting since Koizumi took office in October 2025. The relocation plan involves moving the base from its current crowded location in Ginowan to the Henoko coastal area in Nago.

During the meeting, Koizumi addressed concerns about noise from U.S. military aircraft, pledging efforts to minimize the impact on local residents. Representatives from Henoko and neighboring areas attended, while Mayor Toguchi requested ongoing support for regional development and alleviating citizens' concerns. Koizumi assured he would take these issues seriously and respond accordingly.

Koizumi also met with Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commander of the U.S. Marine Corps' III Marine Expeditionary Force and Okinawa area coordinator. They agreed to work on reducing the burden of hosting U.S. bases on local communities, while continuing to maintain the deterrence and operational capabilities of the Japan-U.S. security alliance.

「送金バイト」に罰則導入 マネロン対策、法改正へ

Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | Regulation

The National Police Agency's expert panel has recommended introducing penalties for "remittance part-time jobs," a newly emerged money laundering technique, to combat the increasing use of victim funds by anonymous criminal groups known as toku-ryu. These groups recruit individuals via social networking sites (SNS) to receive stolen funds into their accounts and then transfer the money to designated accounts for compensation. The government plans to submit a bill this month to amend the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds.

Toku-ryu and similar groups evade detection by routing swindled money through multiple accounts illegally traded on SNS, making the money trail difficult to trace. Arrests under the current law reached 4,362 in 2024. However, current penalties are limited to imprisonment of up to one year or fines up to one million yen, which the panel considers insufficient. The report highlights difficulties in cracking down on these activities under existing laws, including challenges in applying the Organized Crime Punishment Act unless the transferred funds are clearly recognized as criminal proceeds.