While stressing that no decision has been made, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga on Friday did not deny a media report that the administration is considering increasing the number of immigrants to boost Japan's potential for long-term economic growth.
The Sankei Shimbun reported Friday that the Abe administration has decided to consider accepting a massive number of immigrants, possibly as many as 200,000 a year, to make up for the rapid aging and shrinking of the Japanese population.
"It is true (the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy) is now having discussions to promote mid- to long-term development of Japan, with an eye on structural changes such as the shrinking of the population," Suga, the top government spokesman, said during his daily news conference.