15:00 JST, May 14, 2026

When foreign nationals living in Japan wish to extend their period of stay, they must renew their status of residence or change the status itself. The government intends to significantly raise the cap on fees for these procedures.

The government states that the aim is to allocate these funds to initiatives such as enhancing Japanese language education, with the goal of achieving a society of harmonious coexistence with foreigners. If implemented, this would be the first increase in 45 years. Given the rising cost of living and other factors, a review of these fees is understandable.

However, the increase proposed by the government is so steep that it must be described as abrupt. It is necessary to closely examine the proposed hike to ensure it does not........

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