{
  "id": 12033752,
  "title": "Japan’s population is shrinking at an accelerating rate, but the nationalist prime minister is making it harder for foreigners to live there",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/japans-population-is-shrinking-at-an-accelerating-rate-but-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T23:02:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fortune",
    "slug": "fortune",
    "url": "https://fortune.com/2026/10/04/japan-population-decline-rate-2025-census-prime-minister-sanae-takaichi-foreigners-permanent-residency-immigration/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Japan's population has been shrinking rapidly, with the latest census data revealing a 2.5% decrease in total population to 22.9 million in 2025, compared to 2020. The number of Japanese nationals dropped by 3.5% to 119.1 million, while foreign residents surged by 40% to 3.84 million, marking a record high. This demographic situation is further compounded by an aging population, with people aged 65 and older comprising 29.4% of the total population. The government has responded to these trends by implementing stricter rules for foreign nationals seeking to reside in Japan, including a significant increase in fees for permanent residency and a five-year residence permit. These measures, coupled with the introduction of a language and customs evaluation for applicants, have sparked a political backlash, particularly as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi adopts a more nationalist and right-wing approach. The government's shift towards stricter immigration policies has drawn criticism, with Takaichi arguing that the changes aim to create a more orderly and secure environment for both citizens and foreigners.",
  "summary": "The latest five-year census showed the number of Japanese nationals declined by 3.5% to 119.1 million in 2025, following a 1.4% drop in the 2020 count.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}