Japan To Significantly Raise Foreign Residency Fees From 2026

In this week’s news roundup we report on the government’s plan to raise foreign residency fees. Japan’s economic security minister vows to take “firm action” against foreigners who break the rules. Relations between Japan and China continue to deteriorate. A petition to remove K-pop group Aespa from the NHK show Kohaku Uta Gassen garners more than 90,000 signatures. A fire burns over 170 buildings in Oita. And Sakurajima erupts, sending ash 4 kilometers in the air.

Foreign Residency Fees Set for Huge Hike in 2026

The Japanese government is planning to raise foreign residency fees to levels comparable to those in the US and Europe starting from the next fiscal year. Fees were already increased in April 2025, with the price for changing residence status and renewing stays rising from ¥4,000 to ¥6,000. Those applying for permanent residency are currently asked to pay ¥10,000. However, according to government and ruling party sources, the increases next year will be significantly higher.

It’s being reported that the government is considering raising fees for a permanent residency permit to ¥100,000 or more. For changing residence status and renewing stays of one year or longer, the fee is expected to rise to up to ¥40,000. For this to happen, there will need to be an amendment to the law, which now sets a maximum fee of ¥10,000. The extra money will be used to fund policy initiatives related to foreigners.

Japan’s Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda (center) with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (right) | Wikimedia

Kimi Onoda: ‘Foreigners Who Do Bad Things Will No Longer Exist in Japan’

Speaking to the Nikkei, Nippon TV and other media outlets on Monday, Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda said that the government “will take firm action against illegal activities and violations of the rules by foreigners.” She added that authorities will “create a situation in which foreigners who do bad things will no longer exist in Japan.” According to Onoda, stricter actions are required “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 residence. We must ensure those who are here illegally return properly. Preventing these individuals from entering and welcoming those who contribute legally is not contradictory at all.” Onoda believes foreigners can coexist with Japanese people, but only if they toe the line. “It must not become difficult for law-abiding foreign residents to live here,” she said.

China Issues Alert for Overseas Students in Japan Due to ‘Poor Public Security’

On Sunday, China’s Ministry of Education issued an official warning advising Chinese nationals to “cautiously consider” whether they should study in Japan. Without presenting any specific data, it cited “poor public security” as the reason for the overseas study alert, claiming that there has been an increase in crimes against Chinese nationals. It added that the study environment has become unfavorable. Those already studying here have been urged to closely monitor the security situation.

The alert from China’s Education Ministry came just two days after the nation’s Foreign Ministry urged its citizens to refrain from visiting Japan for the time being. The statement by the ministry accused Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of making “blatantly provocative remarks on Taiwan” that have “further damaged the atmosphere for people-to-people exchange.” Hong Kong and Macau made similar statements. On Wednesday, China informed Japan that it plans to ban all imports of Japanese seafood.

K-Pop Group Aespa Faces Japanese Backlash Over NingNing’s Controversial Lamp Post

In 2022, NingNing, a Chinese member of the K-Pop group Aespa (stylized as aespa), posted about a lamp she bought, asking her followers what they thought of it. More than three years later, the post has resurfaced, leading to an online petition in Japan demanding that the group not perform on Kohaku Uta Gassen, the famous end-of-year music program on NHK. It has garnered more than 90,000 signatures in just over two days.

So, why has an old post about a lamp sparked such outrage? The issue is that it’s shaped like a mushroom cloud, imagery associated with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Underneath the picture, NingNing wrote, “I bought a cute lamp, what do you think?” On X, an account named Deathdol Note called for the suspension of Aespa’s appearance on Kohaku. The tweet, which also has a link to the petition, has garnered more than 100 million views.

Huge Fire Burns 170 Builidings in Oita

A man in his 70s died and more than 170 people were evacuated after a huge fire broke out in the Saganoseki district of Oita on Tuesday. At approximately 5:45 p.m., a local resident made an emergency call about a house that was ablaze, and 20 fire engines were subsequently dispatched to extinguish the flames. However, the fire continued to spread. According to authorities, more than 170 buildings, including many houses, were damaged.

At the time the fire broke out, a strong wind warning was issued for the Saganoseki area. Oita prefecture set up a disaster response headquarters and is coordinating with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) to dispatch disaster relief units. A total of 175 residents from 115 households sheltered at the Saganoseki Civic Center. On Thursday morning, the fire was confirmed to be under control. Police are working to identify the man who died.

Sakurajima Eruption Sends Ash 4 Kilometers in the Air

On Sunday, Sakurajima, a volcano located near the city of Kagoshima, erupted several times, sending a plume of smoke and ash more than 4 kilometers in the air. It is the first time in over a year that a plume of that size was observed. Video footage from the early hours of the morning showed lava shooting from the volcano. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), the first eruption was around 1 a.m.

There were more eruptions at 2:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m., local time. The ash drifted northeast, falling in Kagoshima and nearby Miyazaki Prefecture. According to local media, 30 flights in and out of Kagoshima Airport were cancelled because of ashfall and related reasons. Sakurajima, which is known for being one of the country’s most active volcanoes, was formerly an island. A massive eruption of lava in 1914 connected it to the mainland, making it a peninsula.