Japan’s proposed language tests for residency stir debate: ‘pandering to xenophobes’

The Japanese government is floating the idea of requiring anyone applying for permanent residency to have reached a certain standard of Japanese language skills and undergo instruction on how to be a good citizen. Media reports on the proposals from the government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have provoked fierce online debate among both Japanese and foreign residents. While many insist it is a fair and reasonable commitment for anyone planning to live in the country long term, others...