When Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, one of her new cabinet pick's stood out. Kimi Onoda was appointed minister for economic security and the “Cool Japan” strategy — but also given a new title: Minister for Promoting an Orderly Coexistent Society with Foreigners.

It’s a phrase that says a lot about how Japan sees outsiders.

In this week’s Japan Today Spotlight, we look at how anti-foreigner sentiment is gaining political traction, why “coexistence” has become such a loaded word and what that means for Japan’s future.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-vDNg-hhBZo

Chapters

00:00 Intro: Japan’s first female prime minister

01:36 Blame the foreigners

03:48 The coexistence policy

04:33 Kimi Onoda’s appointment

05:51 Anti-foreigner rhetoric in Japan

06:30 Japanese labor needs foreigners

07:57 Fear of foreigners and the facts

09:30 Cultural misunderstandings

11:08 Sanseito’s argument

12:32 Outro: The choice ahead

Do you think Japan’s “foreigner problem” is really about policy or fear? Tell us in the comments.