Foreigners Concerned as Rhetoric Ramps Up: This Week in Osaka July 4th to July 11th 2025
Each week, here at Osaka.com, we bring you a selection of some of the top stories about Osaka making the local and national news here in Japan. Sometimes it’s serious, sometimes it’s funny, but it’s always direct to you, from Osaka.
Scapegoating of Foreigners Continues as Election Nears
The Upper House Election is now just over a week away. Ahead of the July 20th vote, several parties continue to zero in on foreigners, as a way to woo Conservative voters.
This has drawn particular concern from rights groups in Osaka, where large Korean and Chinese expat communities are based. Additionally many of the manual labor and factory jobs in and around Osaka Prefecture need foreigners, mostly from South East Asia, to make up their staffing numbers.
Last week we focussed on the efforts of the far-right Sanseito Party. However, the past few days, The Osaka-based JIP and the DPP have also laid out their clear plans to restrict foreigners.
It seems that Sanseito will, ultimately, struggle to build on their minor vote share from last time.
However, their outspoken presence on the campaign trail has dragged the whole political conversation further to the right. Even the governing LDP have, through undisclosed sources, expressed concerns about bleeding vote share to Sanseito and other right-leaning parties like the JIP.
Progressive Parties Speak Out in Support of Foreigners
There is still some hope for foreigners living in Osaka though. Two of Japan’s major progressive parties have spoken out in direct opposition to the actions of Sanseito.
The Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) reaffirmed its pledge to “establish a basic law for a society of multicultural coexistence, a law to protect refugees, etc. and revisions to the immigration law, etc. to create a society where everyone can live securely.”
The Japanese Communist Party also spoke out in defense of foreigners living in Osaka. They vowed to “protect the human rights of foreigners and request fundamental amendments to the immigration control law to promote coexistence in local communities.”
It would seem there are two very distinct lines being drawn in Osaka’s political sand here. For the time being, no-one really seems sure which way things will go on July 20th.
Osaka Braced for More Heat and More Foreigners as Summer Tourism Season Begins
We spoke recently about the uncharacteristically high temperatures in Osaka. Indeed meteorologists confirmed this week that this past June was Osaka’s hottest since records began. However, as we move into July, the temperatures already seem to be getting even higher.
In neighbouring Kyoto on Tuesday of this week, several bars and restaurants in the Uji district, along the Kamogawa River, were forced to close in the afternoon, as the Mercury surged past 40 degrees Celsius.
Osaka is, ordinarily a bit cooler than Kyoto, however, the city can also expect temperatures to reach into the high 30s as July draws on.
With the summer holiday season already underway in many countries, Osaka can also expect an influx of foreigners over the next few weeks. More people, of course, means higher temperatures. Osaka City officials advise all residents, but especially those with young children and the elderly to avoid spending any more time outside during the peak hours of 11am to 4pm, than is absolutely necessary.
The coming heatwave is also likely to impact the operations of the Osaka International Expo. The ongoing international exhibition has already come under fire from some parties for its lack of shaded spots and easy access to drinking water.
And Finally…
The Osaka Expo began preparations this week to receive another high profile foreign dignitary. According to reports coming from the US this morning, American Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will head to Osaka on July 19th to take in the Expo. This coincides with the USA national day at the Expo, and also takes place with ongoing trade talks between Japan and the US still happening in the background.
Bessent, who is a key figure in those trade talks, has not yet confirmed whether or not he will meet his Japanese counterpart, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa, during his trip. President Donald Trump confirmed he will not attend the Expo due to other ongoing international commitments. So, it falls to Bessent to head up the Presidential delegation.
That’s all for now but be sure to check back again same time next week for another round of This week in Osaka!
