According to a report by The South China Morning Post on the 29th, false information about foreigners committing crimes on Japanese social media is intensifying xenophobic sentiments and providing space for right-wing political parties to gain influence. Analysts warn that Japan may be trapped in a cycle of 'foreign crime false news—xenophobic sentiment—right-wing politics', a trend that contradicts Japan's increasingly urgent need for labor.
The article quotes a survey conducted by Japanese cybersecurity company Constella Security Japan. In August, the company held a seminar focused on false information targeting foreign residents. One video that spread widely on social media was labeled with titles such as "Foreigners Stealing Metals" and "Stealing Railway Cables," and it was alleged to show foreign immigrants cutting railway cables. According to Yomiuri Shimbun, by mid-September, the video had received approximately 4.3 million views on various platforms.
However, Constella confirmed that the relevant video had been manipulated. The original video appeared on social media in Arabic last August. In March of this year, some people replaced the Arabic text with Japanese subtitles, and then it was re-released on Japanese social media, sparking criticism against foreign residents.
Yoko Nio, an associate professor at Keio University, said that rumors and false information on social media are often deliberately packaged as content about 'foreigners doing bad things', making it even more difficult for Japanese society to accept foreign residents. She believes that online accounts that pursue traffic have formed a mutually reinforcing relationship with right-wing political parties: the former gains attention by spreading relevant content, while the latter uses this content to gain voters.
The South China Morning Post also pointed out that political discussions regarding foreigners in Japan have been on the rise recently. The article mentioned that Yoshida Kiyomi, a government official responsible for foreign policy in Japan, stated in July this year that about one-quarter of the inmates in Japanese prisons are foreigners. However, this figure applies only to Tokyo District Prison, which primarily houses foreign men. According to data from the Japan Correction Statistics, the proportion of foreign inmates in criminal facilities across Japan was 6.6% at the end of 2024. Nationally, foreigners make up 6.6% of the prison population.
On the other hand, Japan's demand for foreign labor continues to increase. Data released by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in January this year showed that as of the end of October 2025, the number of foreign workers in Japan reached 2.571 million, a year-on-year increase of 11.7%, hitting a record high. The number of companies employing foreign workers also reached 371,000, a year-on-year increase of 8.5%, also setting a record high.
The article analyzes that this represents a major contradiction faced by Japan today: a continuous decline in population and a labor shortage mean Japan needs more foreign workers. However, false information and xenophobic statements about foreigners could weaken society’s acceptance of foreigners.
Professor Wada of Hokkaido University of Education believes that if all foreigners are linked to crime, Japan may ultimately lose its potential foreign workforce due to social deterioration, leading to long-term economic impact.
