Takaichi’s victory today signals a hard-right shift from the LDP to try to head off Sanseito and the other populists. But all the leadership candidates were in favour of some kind of enhanced regulation on foreign property buying.
What the problem is exactly is never really articulated, but in the media we are led to understand that foreigners owning land anywhere near military sites would be somehow unacceptable, that property over water tables would be dangerous because foreigners might extract the water and send it to China (I kid you not, this was in one article) and above all that we must end the curse of rising tower mansion prices so that middle-class Japanese can enjoy bay area condos, which now won’t be built because developers won’t see a profit and immigrant builders can’t get visas.
The worst case scenario (for foreigners and likely for Japanese too) would be some kind of outright ban on foreign property buying, North Korea / Canada-style, or a revision of the Japanese constitution to say only Japanese can own land (what then to do about all the foreigners who already own land?).
Apart from that most of the possible policies are full of possible loopholes. Punitive property tax if people don’t live in a house? Difficult to enforce and how will you justify not taxing Japanese with second homes the same way? Ban on foreigners buying new build condos? Shell companies and REITs will still let the big money in. Stop foreigners buying run-down akiya? Japanese don’t want them so sure, let’s let them rot.
Not to mention the fact that Takaichi’s loose money fiscal policies will drive the yen down further and make Japanese property even cheaper for foreigners…
by Bob_the_blacksmith
12 comments
They may limit what land foreigners can buy around military bases. Perhaps they will limit uninhabited investment properties but that is unlikely. Other than that, nothing.
I don’t know what kind of influence operation you’re under, but at worst it will only result in rules based on “reciprocity.” The big issue being discussed is the large-scale environmental destruction, and it’s more likely that this will be halted as well. I don’t know whether foreigners are involved in this.
Midori Matsushima, who nominated Takaichi for the Prime Minister role has a post on possible policy here (albeit short) : [https://go2senkyo.com/seijika/121927/posts/1198225](https://go2senkyo.com/seijika/121927/posts/1198225)
>千代田区長が指摘するように、再開発の補助金や税制優遇措置が取られている物件を手始めに、住居として利用していない人、特に外国人によるまとめ買いなどを規制する法整備を国として考えるよう、私も高市さんに進言しています。
Translation
>As Mayor of Chiyoda pointed out, I have also advised Takaichi that the national government should consider establishing laws to regulate bulk purchases by people who are not using properties as residences, especially foreigners, starting with properties that have received redevelopment subsidies and tax incentives.
Only time will tell but the likely outcome would be nothing, maybe a small announcement with no enforcement possible that lead to satisfied electorate and nothing being done
Nothing
>Takaichi’s victory today signals a hard-right shift from the LDP
It does not, really. It *may* signal that, or it will lead to Takaichi moderating her views to stay in power, or her being very annoyed that the party stops her from doing what she wants.
I don’t think her victory will necessarily be good for the LDP (and may aid Sanseito), but I don’t think it’s a doom scenario.
Remember, she isn’t the president, she can’t do whatever she wants.
(Edit: also to be pedantic, not PM yet, though certainly likely.)
LDP has always had hard-right factions. Most put dumbass populists like Sanseito to shame in their extremism and are perhaps better described as mainstream in the party than a faction.
« and above all that we must end the curse of rising tower mansion prices so that middle-class Japanese can enjoy bay area condos, which now won’t be built because developers won’t see a profit and immigrant builders can’t get visas. »
This is so ill-informed, you sound like you’ve been reading too much propaganda. You could start [here](https://catforehead.com/2025/08/05/point-of-entry/)…
I think people are vastly overestimating how quickly the LDP will change anything… even with political will.
1) they have no track record of changing anything quickly, even when they had a majority.
2) they have to rely on other political parties to pass any legislation
>would be some kind of outright ban on foreign property buying, North Korea / Canada-style
Apologies for a second comment, but Canada’s ban appears to mainly focus on non-residents and short-term residents (but even allows exceptions for short-term residents meeting criteria, etc.).
That hardly seems like North Korea style regulation.
Not expecting much of anything to change in a way that is going to affect readers of this sub. If at all.
Probably there will be a rollback of abe immigration policy.
I think that politicians like takaichi do not even know that some country has a welfare bilateral agreement with japan to prevent exactly what they would like to introduce: foreigners excluded from healthcare and pension benefits. (but not their contributions payment)
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