Japan will significantly increase residence fees for foreigners

In this week’s news roundup, we report on the government’s plans to increase foreign residency fees. Japan’s economic and security minister vowed to take “firm action” against foreigners who violate the rules. Relations between Japan and China continue to deteriorate. Petition calls for K-pop group Aespa to be removed from NHK shows Red and White Song Battle Received over 90,000 signatures. A fire in Oita Prefecture destroyed more than 170 buildings. Sakurajima volcano erupted, sending ash flying 4 kilometers away.

Foreign residence fees to rise significantly in 2026

The Japanese government plans to raise foreign residency fees to levels comparable to those in the United States and Europe starting from the next fiscal year. Fees have been raised in April 2025, with the price for changing residence status and renewing residence rising from 4,000 yen to 6,000 yen. Currently, people applying for permanent residency need to pay 10,000 yen. However, next year’s increase will be significantly higher, according to government and ruling party sources.

The government is reportedly considering raising the cost of a permanent residence permit to 100,000 yen or more. When changing your status of residence or renewing your residence for more than one year, the fee is expected to rise to 40,000 yen. To this end, the law needs to be revised, which currently sets the maximum fee at 10,000 yen. Additional funding will be used to fund foreign-related policy initiatives.

Japan’s Minister of Economic and Security Kimimi Onoda (middle) and Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae (right) | Wikimedia

Onoda Kimi: “Foreigners who do bad things will no longer exist in Japan.”

Towards Nikkei Index, Japanese TV and other media reported on Monday that Economic and Security Minister Kimi Onoda explain The government “will take firm action against illegal activities and violations by foreigners.” She added that authorities would “create a situation where foreigners who do bad things will no longer exist in Japan.” according to Onoda said stricter action was needed “to alleviate public anxiety and feelings of unfairness”.

Regarding the balance between stricter immigration policies and labor shortages, Onoda said, “Our country does not tolerate illegal employment or illegal stay. We must ensure the normal return of illegal immigrants. There is no contradiction between preventing these people from entering and welcoming legal contributors.” Onoda believes that foreigners can coexist with Japanese, but only if they follow the rules. “It must not be difficult for law-abiding foreign residents to live here,” she said.

China issues warning to international students in Japan due to “poor public security”

On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Education issued a formal warning advising Chinese citizens to “carefully consider” whether they should study in Japan. It cited “poor public security conditions” as the reason for the study-abroad alert, without providing any specific data, and claimed there had been an increase in crimes against Chinese citizens. The learning environment became unfavorable, it added. We urge students already studying here to monitor the security situation closely.

China’s Ministry of Education issued the alert just two days after China’s Foreign Ministry urged its citizens not to travel to Japan for the time being. Statement from the Ministry defendant Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi made “blatantly provocative remarks against Taiwan” which “further undermined the atmosphere of people-to-people exchanges.” Hong Kong and Macau also issued similar statements. On Wednesday, China notified Japan of its plans to ban all Japanese seafood imports.

K-pop group Aespa faces backlash from Japan over NingNing’s controversial lampposts

In 2022, Ningning, the Chinese member of the K-pop group Aespa (stylized as aespa), posted about a lamp she purchased, asking her fans what they thought of it. More than three years later, the post resurfaced, leading to an online petition in Japan asking the group not to Red and White Song BattleIt is NHK’s famous year-end music program. In just over two days, it has garnered more than 90,000 signatures.

So why did an old post about lights spark such outrage? The problem is that it’s shaped like a mushroom cloud, associated with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Under the photo, Ning Ning wrote: “I bought a cute desk lamp, what do you think?” X, An account called Deathdol Note called for Aespa to be suspended after noob. The tweet, which also included a link to the petition, has received more than 100 million views.

Fire in Oita Prefecture destroys 170 buildings

A man in his 70s died On Tuesday, a fire broke out in the Sagaguchi area of ​​Oita Prefecture and more than 170 people were evacuated. At around 5:45 pm, local residents urgently called the police saying that a house was on fire, and 20 fire trucks were subsequently dispatched to put out the fire. However, the fire continued to spread. More than 170 buildings, including many homes, were damaged, according to authorities.

At the time of the fire, a strong wind warning was issued for the Sagaguchi area. Oita Prefecture has established a disaster relief headquarters and is coordinating with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to dispatch disaster relief troops. A total of 115 households and 175 residents evacuated to the Sagaguchi Civic Center. The fire was confirmed to be under control Thursday morning. Police are working to identify the deceased.

Sakurajima volcano erupts, sending ash flying 4 kilometers

Sakurajima volcano near Kagoshima City erupted multiple times on Sunday, sending thick smoke and ash flying more than four kilometers high. This is the first time a plume of this size has been observed in more than a year. Video footage from the early hours showed the volcano spewing lava. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the first eruption occurred around 1 a.m.

The number of volcanic eruptions increased at 2:30 and 8:50 a.m. local time. Ash drifted northeast, falling on Kagoshima and nearby Miyazaki prefecture. According to local According to media reports, 30 flights in and out of Kagoshima Airport were canceled due to volcanic ash and related reasons. The well-known Sakurajima One of the most active volcanoes in the country, it was formerly an island. A massive lava eruption in 1914 connected it to the mainland, making it a peninsula.

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Updated on November 21, 2025