Foreign residents of Japan breathe sigh of relief on latest coronavirus measures
- Permanent residents’ exemption for entry into country came after period where they were barred from coming back in after leaving
- The block on re-entry had been criticised – including in business circles – for being discriminatory
“It became quite clear even in the spring that this thing was not going to be over in a couple of months and so I took a summer holiday here in Japan and I’m just spending time with my family over Christmas and New Year,” he said.
While he and other foreign nationals holding work permits in Japan have decided to stay put, they were relieved that the government’s announcement on Monday to tighten entry restrictions for all non-Japanese citizens did not penalise foreigners with valid residency in this nation of 126 million.
Back in early April, as cases rose, Tokyo banned all non-citizens from entering the country. The restrictions were kept until September, meaning that around 100,000 foreign nationals with permanent residency in Japan – most holding full-time jobs and many with families – could not re-enter the country if they left for whatever reason.
It was one of the most drastic steps taken by any national government and was roundly criticised at the time, including in business circles, where it was pointed out that foreign executives in industries that are key to the Japanese economy may very well think twice about living in a country where they are effectively being discriminated against.
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Said Fior: “There was no reason for foreigners to be treated differently from Japanese, who were also arriving here from other countries and were simply allowed to get on trains or buses and go home.”