As a foreigner married to a Japanese national and living in Japan legally, I find the new laws with regard to immigration quite troubling. I do not disagree with the Japanese government's desire to have a more effective system for visas and immigration of foreigners. However, I do have an issue with the tone and opinion that seems to be motivating these new policies — which is that foreigners are troublesome for Japan and need to be more closely monitored.

Japan has a very small foreign population, which is already very closely monitored. Many of these foreigners are here performing jobs that Japanese themselves either do not wish to perform or do not have the skills to perform, such as English-language teaching and business jobs. I am lucky enough to be from a country that welcomes people from all places. I am also lucky enough to have good employment prospects in my home country.

These new laws make me realize two things: First, Japan has a long way to go with regard to accepting foreigners and becoming an open-minded and welcoming society. Second, my home country suddenly seems like a much more desirable place for me and my Japanese wife to spend our lives together.

The only thing being achieved by these types of laws is making law-abiding, taxpaying foreigners like myself lose respect for Japan as a country and begin to plan their exit, which will not be good for Japan now or in the future.

r. alexander