A Japanese ski resort town is roiled by a debate over immigration


In the small town of Kutchan, near the internationally renowned Niseko ski slopes in Japan, a barren field once planted with potatoes has become a flash point for a national conflict over labor, tourism and immigration.

On that plot of land, developers are planning to construct lodging for up to 1,200 seasonal workers, most of whom will be foreigners. These laborers are needed to operate the area’s resorts and construction sites. Local residents, however, are petitioning the government to block the facility, citing concerns over safety and a perceived decline in social order.

by MagazineKey4532