■ Introduction ― Beginning with a Story About Cherries

Imagine a tree heavy with cherries. Among the many ripe and healthy ones, a few are damaged. Someone picks out only the damaged cherries and proclaims, “All the cherries on this tree are spoiled.” This is what is known as “cherry-picking” ― a form of selective information framing in which a small number of unfavorable examples are presented as if they represent the whole.

On May 17, 2026, the Asahi Shimbun published an article pointing out that “cherry-picking” is one of the driving forces behind the rising anti-foreigner sentiment toward inbound tourists in Japan. Drawing on the insights of Professor Masaaki Ito of Seikei University (media sociology) and Professor Daisuke Abe of Ryukoku University (urban planning), the article illustrates how the social-media era can amplify social division.

As an administrative scrivener (gyoseishoshi) specializing in visa and status of residence applications, I cannot view this issue as unrelated to my work. The sentiment directed at foreign tourists today may, at any moment, be redirected toward foreign residents in Japan and the companies that employ them.

In this article, I will share practical insights for foreign nationals living in Japan and for business owners and HR professionals who employ them ― grounded in the latest reporting and the realities I encounter in practice.

■ 1. What the 2025 Inbound Figures Tell Us

Let us first look at the objective data.

  • Number of inbound visitors to Japan in 2025: 42.68 million (a record high)
  • Inbound consumption: approximately 9.5 trillion yen
  • Government target: 60 million visitors by 2030

These are highly significant figures for the Japanese economy. The 9.5 trillion yen in inbound consumption is roughly half the value of Japan’s automobile exports ― effectively serving as a major growth engine for regional economies.

At the same time, a rapid surge in tourism inevitably creates friction. Visitor behavior in residential areas of Kyoto, overtourism in Shirakawa-go and Kamakura, manners-related issues at hot spring resorts ― these are real problems being shared on social media.

The important point is distinguishing between “problems do exist” and “problems represent the overall trend.” Cherry-picking is precisely the technique that blurs this distinction.

■ 2. Understanding the Structure of “Cherry-Picking”

Professor Ito identifies the following structure:

  1. Residents of a tourist area post about specific, real-life problems on social media.
  2. Their posts are amplified by people unrelated to the area.
  3. In the process of amplification, a simplified frame ― “foreigners are a nuisance” ― is added.
  4. The result is a wave of xenophobic sentiment.

A critical point here is that the original poster and the secondary amplifiers often have different motivations. Local residents may simply be voicing specific grievances. However, when third parties extract and repurpose those posts, the message is transformed into something entirely different.

Professor Ito also makes an important observation: amid the prolonged depreciation of the yen, foreign tourists are increasingly perceived as “wealthy and powerful.” Economic frustration and a sense of stagnation can develop into exclusionary sentiment toward a particular group ― a pattern that has been repeated throughout history.

■ 3. The Risk of Spillover to Foreign Residents and Their Employers

This is the central theme of this article.

Does the wave of xenophobic sentiment remain limited to tourists? Unfortunately, the answer is no. On social media, narratives that lump all foreigners into a single category often extend to foreign residents in Japan and to the companies that employ them.

Common examples include:

  • “Companies that hire foreigners are taking jobs from Japanese workers.”
  • “Immigration screening is too lenient.”
  • “Public safety deteriorates when certain nationalities increase.”

Almost without exception, these narratives follow the cherry-picking structure of treating a few isolated cases as representative of the whole.

The foreign residents I meet daily ― engineers, researchers, students, business owners, and their families ― are, in the overwhelming majority, sincerely learning Japanese rules and contributing to local communities. A status of residence is not merely permission to stay in Japan. It is a commitment to Japanese society. Without honoring that commitment, neither renewal nor permanent residence will be granted; Japan’s immigration system is rigorous.

Despite this, the loud voices on social media often paint “foreigners” as a single, oversimplified group. This is a serious issue for both the individuals concerned and the companies that employ them.

■ 4. Professor Abe’s Proposal ― Tourism as a “Shared Asset”

The Asahi Shimbun article also introduces the perspective of Professor Daisuke Abe of Ryukoku University (urban planning). Professor Abe argues that to prevent the spread of exclusionary discourse, two points are essential:

  • Tourism must be recognized as indispensable to the local community.
  • The benefits of tourism must be visibly returned to local residents.

Practical measures include:

  • Utilizing lodging taxes
  • Improving public spaces such as parks and plazas
  • Strengthening transportation infrastructure
  • Reinvesting in the community as a “shared asset for residents and visitors alike”

In my view, this perspective can be directly applied to foreign employment as well. When the contributions of foreign workers are returned to the local economy and community in visible ways, people are more likely to perceive others as members of the same community rather than as threats.

■ 5. Five Actions Companies Can Take ― From an Administrative Scrivener’s Perspective

So what concrete steps can companies that employ foreign nationals take? Based on my experience on the ground, here are five recommended actions.

【Action 1】Make Status of Residence Management Transparent
Build internal systems that clearly explain which status of residence each foreign employee holds and what duties they perform. Status-of-residence terminology can easily cause misunderstandings, even among staff.

【Action 2】Participate in Local Community Activities
Encouraging foreign employees to take part in local clean-up activities, festivals, and disaster preparedness drills is one of the most effective ways to foster coexistence. Companies should support such participation through internal policies.

【Action 3】Promote Multilingual and Multicultural Workplaces
Multilingual cafeteria menus, internal documents, and training materials. Religious considerations such as halal options and prayer spaces. Small accommodations such as these can greatly improve the sense of security for foreign employees.

【Action 4】Provide Social Media Literacy Training
Foreign employees themselves may be exposed to prejudice on social media. Internal training on “distinguishing factual information from misinformation” and “responding to online controversies” can be highly effective.

【Action 5】Maintain Ongoing Partnerships with Specialists
Status of residence, taxation, social insurance, family support ― these areas require specialized expertise. Having trusted administrative scriveners, labor and social security attorneys, and tax accountants on hand can significantly improve foreign employee retention.

■ 6. To Foreign Residents in Japan ― “Knowledge to Protect Yourself”

Finally, I would like to address the foreign nationals living in Japan.

You may have encountered exclusionary posts on social media that left you anxious or feeling isolated. Please remember that Japanese society offers many support systems.

  • Reliable sources on status of residence (the Immigration Services Agency, regional Administrative Scrivener Associations)
  • Multicultural coexistence centers operated by local governments
  • Labor consultation desks and harassment consultation services
  • Local international exchange associations
  • Specialists (administrative scriveners, lawyers, labor and social security attorneys)

“Seek support when in doubt,” “seek accurate information,” and “avoid becoming isolated” ― these three principles are the most effective ways to protect yourself and your family.

■ 7. Closing ― Standing on the Side of Facts and Dialogue

“Cherry-picking” is a cognitive trap into which anyone can fall. While social media is highly convenient, it also tends to amplify fragmented and emotionally charged information. For this very reason, each of us must:

  • Verify the source of information
  • Distinguish between “overall trends” and “isolated incidents”
  • Create spaces for genuine dialogue

As an administrative scrivener, my mission is to serve as a bridge between law and reality, between companies and foreign professionals, and between Japanese society and an increasingly multicultural society ― all grounded in facts and data. This goes beyond simply handling procedures; it means encouraging thoughtful dialogue at every stage.

The utilization of foreign professionals is no longer simply one option among many for the Japanese economy ― it is becoming a prerequisite. That is exactly why we must firmly remain on the side of facts and dialogue.

I welcome your questions and consultations at any time.

▼ Reference
Asahi Shimbun: “Anti-Foreigner Tourist Posts ― One Cause Is ‘Cherry-Picking'”
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/4a709927278cc95560a7894a4e7f239c8cb38af6

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