Japan’s business elite are urging the government to let in more immigrants by making the country more like Singapore, so they can make more money.
In a recent address given to the international press, the head of the highly influential Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) spoke of his concern over the effect of the nation’s low birthrates on economic activity, and said promoting mass immigration was the best way to solve his problem.
The model case for this immigration should be Singapore, he said.
Historically, the Keidanren has been a vocal proponent of mass immigration, saying the nation needs many millions of new workers, as well as a subservient relationship to China, even going so far as to praise the government for its obedience to China in the recent Senkaku incident.
The 2ch reaction is sceptical to say the least, with both his proposed policy and his favourable opinion of Singapore coming in for criticism:
“We’re running low on slaves so import some more now!”
“Comparing Japan to a city state now?”
“In Singapore the government can freely deport whoever they like and the media can’t report it, they can do whatever they like. In Japan that’d be impossible.”
“The only place they have left to point at now is a city-state like Singapore. Everywhere else is restricting immigration after all! And Singapore is mostly just letting in Chinese, and is run by the Chinese anyway.”
“Singapore used to be part of Malaysia. The Chinese took it over and made it an independent Chinese city-state. Even today it is the most pro-Chinese place in South East Asia.”
“Wasn’t Singapore created out of racial tensions with all the preferential treatment Malays received in Malaysia, when the British cooped up all the Chinese in their colony there? Now it’s the economic heart of South East Asia…”
“They are just picking cases which support them, and promoting policies they think will serve their interests.”
“Japan’s politics of treason all spring from industry and the Keidanren, and their politics of promoting the profits of the post-war industrialists over all else.”
“What should we be learning from Singapore?
1. It’s a dictatorship with an all-powerful state
2. In practice its rulership is hereditary
3. In practice it is a one-party state
4. All the power is concentrated on the PM
5. It’s the world’s foremost country for discrimination
That’s why they can do it.
It’s just a dictatorship which prioritised economic growth over all else and got lucky. It’s utter folly for a democratic nation to aspire to be like them.”
“These old fools belong in a casket, not spouting this senile rubbish.”
“They want to make even more mongrels?”
“Japan’s managers have no culture or sense of patriotism left, all they see is profit – nobody should respect them.”
“Don’t they know Singapore is an extremely authoritarian state? It’s like a bright version of North Korea.”
“Let’s learn from Singapore!
Poor people can’t bring their families to live with them.
If poor women get pregnant they are immediately deported.
Only the wives of rich husbands can have children there.
Some useful lessons there alright.”
“Its main language is English so Japan is in no position to imitate it anyway.”
“Letting immigrants into Japan en masse will only further degrade Japan’s standing. The only people they’ll get are Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos and Brazilians – the country won’t get anything out of this sort of immigration. Even with tight controls you just end with people abusing the benefits system.”
“Unemployment is high and nobody can find work, and we have a labour shortage?”
“Why are they even saying we should use a third-world country as a model?”
“Singapore… or in other words we should give up and let the Chinese take over.”
Japan + Singapore = AROUND THE WORLD OF EVERYTHING!!!
Importing immigrants is a good idea. It would solve the problem of low birth rates and the economic problems associated with it. Too bad Japanese politicians and and Japanese media will brain wash the populace into believe that all foreigners do is kill r♥♥e and steal things.
Clearly the solution to a shrinking population is to loosen up sex and parenthood-related laws…
lawl immigration, look at the u.k, you’ll just get indians swimming over to japan, and the chinese wouldnt be stupid enough to go over to japan when china is right now the richest country, i mean everyone else is in debt.
Get a grip guys/gals, come on stop the arguments over how bad/good is singapore and stop the comparison to china too.
Damn, most of us are juz complaining behind our computer screens and had never been to each other’s country before. One point to make to people who “HATE” Singapore, have u ever been here? I understand the really racist remarks if u dun have any Singaporean friends, but keep this in mind, there are really many people of different nationalities here without the fear of racism and street attacks.
As a Singaporean i have visited countries(shall not name them here)and i got picked off the street, disturbed and bullied physically and verbally by people who are simply racist against nothing but ASIANS. Hey please, if u consider Singapore to be a place where many tourist can come and leave happily and safely as a third world country, what do you call those?
Please be kind to Singapore, and display some grace online fellas, we all love Japan, their culture and anime, that puts us all on the same channel. Whether they wanna open up to more immigrants, that’s theire national issue. Singapore have been unnecessarily dragged into the topic for attack due to somebody’s comment. Hold your tongues as there’s no need for senseless quarrels at all.
http://www.thisishome.com.sg
Wonderful Singapore Activity, u can find out more about Singapore and our love for our country.
Singaporean here. Thanks for your refreshing post.