ABSTRACT

There has already been a great deal of debate in Japan on the subject of foreign workers. On May 12 and 13, 1989, the NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) television network ran a twopart program entitled 'Explosive Debate on Foreign Workers: Should We Open or Close the Door?' and this program was greeted with strong reactions. At that time, thus, foreign workers had already become an issue of national debate. Nevertheless, the debate, until now, as demonstrated by the title of the program, has largely been divided into support for either an open or closed door policy.