Ten days into his new job, Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita said one of his major goals is to strike a balance between management and coexistence when it comes to foreign nationals in Japan.
"As we accept foreigners to Japan, I believe the government must carry out proper residency management including getting an accurate account of foreign residents' status to avoid problems such as illegal employment," Yamashita said in a group interview with media organizations on Thursday.
"On the other hand, it is important for the country to have some responsibility to provide support to foreigners," he said, adding that the Justice Ministry is working on compiling comprehensive measures related to living alongside foreign nationals by the end of this year. "We must balance management and coexistence."