Foreign residents in Japan continue to face challenges in finding housing, often being rejected by landlords based on nationality, leading to concerns about rising xenophobia and calls for better coexistence.
As discussions continue to strengthen regulations on foreign residents in Japan, their presence as essential workers is becoming more significant. However, many foreigners living in Japan encounter difficulties when searching for housing, often facing refusals from landlords citing language barriers and cultural differences. Amid rising concerns about xenophobia, there are movements advocating for ‘coexistence’ to counteract these issues.
In a recent case, a couple from the Middle East experienced rejections while trying to rent an apartment after relocating from Kyushu to Osaka. After a thorough search, they shortlisted about ten properties, only to find that each loved property was declined once the landlords learned they were foreigners. Forced to choose from properties that explicitly allowed foreign residents, they regrettably settled for less desirable options, emphasizing that it is unfair to generalize foreigners based on previous issues that may have occurred.
Businesses employing foreign workers are also facing similar housing challenges. One such company in Onomichi City, where a third of its workforce consists of foreign technical interns, has struggled to secure housing for their employees for over a year. Despite offering to cover rent through the company, real estate agents frequently harden their stance against foreign tenants, illustrating a troubling trend in the housing market that underlines the perception of foreigners in Japan.
