OH NO, PLEASE DON’T SPARK WORRIES: Japan’s harsher permanent residency rules, hiked visa fees begin, sparking xenophobia worries. “The Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act sets three requirements for permanent residency: good conduct; assets or skills sufficient to make an independent living; and the person’s permanent residence being in Japan’s national interest. The government revised its guidelines Oct. 1, making the second and third requirements stricter.”

Those rules aren’t xenophobia — they’re just good sense.