Conservative Japanese policymakers are experts at revisionist history, but they may want to consider Japan’s position nearly 100 years ago.

A NY Times article from April, 1919 describes Japan’s effort to seek relief from racially discriminatory U.S. immigration policies. It turns to Dr.Sidney Gulick, Secretary of the American National Committee for the Constructive Immigration Legislation to explain Japan’s objection to racially exclusionary immigration laws:

“Japan…is asking for stoppage of differential race legislation, which is humiliating to her… Japan feels humiliated because, although we give citizenship to many, we deny it to them merely because they are Japanese. We assume that because they are Japanese they cannot possess intellectual or moral fitness for citizenship. This is clearly not a question of immigration, but of race humiliation.”

Really, Japan? Well, say hello to the most recent policy towards Nikkei Brazilians. An “enticing” “opportunity” to accept ~$3000 and air fare to Brazil. Be sure to read the fine print because it’s a one-way ticket. That’s correct it’s de facto permanent abolishment from ever working in Japan. Oh and just to be safe, your kids will not be allowed to seek work in Japan either.

According to a United Nations report, Japan has the fastest growing elderly population in the region and one of the lowest birth in the world. This means an alarming shrinkage in the working age population. In order to maintain a productive labor force, Japan will need 17 million immigrants by 2020, or 381,000 between 2005 and 2020.

So….a one-way ticket for Nikkei Brazilians and their descendents: not the most forward thinking economic policy. But Jiro Kawasaki of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party had this to say:

“We should stop letting unskilled laborers into Japan. We should make sure that even the three-K* jobs are paid well, and that they are filled by Japanese,” he said. “I do not think that Japan should ever become a multiethnic society.” NY Times, April 22, 2009.

A disturbing, yet clear symmetry to U.S. and Japan’s historical immigration policies: use them and lose them.

*Three-K jobs are kitanai, kitsui, kiken: dirty, difficult, dangerous.

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