In the small town of Kutchan, near the internationally renowned Niseko ski slopes in Japan, a barren field once planted with potatoes has become a flash point for a national conflict over labor, tourism and immigration.
On that plot of land, developers are planning to construct lodging for up to 1,200 seasonal workers, most of whom will be foreigners. These laborers are needed to operate the area’s resorts and construction sites. Local residents, however, are petitioning the government to block the facility, citing concerns over safety and a perceived decline in social order.
The tensions in Kutchan, on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, underscore a dilemma for the country’s booming $50 billion tourism sector, which is now its second-largest export after cars. Japan’s population is shrinking and aging rapidly, emptying out many small towns like Kutchan.
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