It is important to maintain the vitality of our society and ensure sustainable development. It is also important to introduce the vitality of Asian countries which have grown significantly in recent years. On the other hand, there is a need to address problems, including unemployment and unstable employment of long-term foreign residents, and particularly those of Japanese descent. In the light of these changes in social circumstances both at home and abroad, this edition of the plan stipulates the first basic principle, "to promote measures for active acceptance of foreign workers with the aim of maintaining the vitality of our society, ensuring sustainable development in an age of depopulation, and introducing the vitality of other Asian regions".

Recently, the number of illegal residents in Japan has steadily decreased due to implementation of strict countermeasures of illegal entry at the border and measures against illegal residents by the Immigration Bureau. However, there are still many illegal residents, and a wider distribution of employment makes it difficult to carry out efficient detection. There is concern over an increase in false residents who disguise themselves as illegal residents by falsifying their status of residence and purpose of stay in the form of fake marriages, fake students, etc., and countermeasures at the border against foreign nationals who may threaten our national security, such as terrorists and criminals, are still an issue. In view of these changes in the situation of illegal residents, etc., this edition of the plan stipulates the second basic principle, “to strictly prevent terrorists and criminals from entering the country at the border, and strongly promote measures against illegal residents whose number is still quite large and false residents who are expected to increase in future with the aim of maintaining the social order, and the safety and security of the people in our country, as well as to promote proper treatment for offenders against the law”.

Foreign nationals residing in Japan has been increasing in number year after year, and their activities have diversified. Besides, many of them tend to stay for a long period. Under the existing system, the actual situation of their living conditions cannot be sufficiently comprehended, which brings about obstacles to proper residence management. To cope with this situation, the law for amendment to the Immigration Control Act, etc., which included drastic revisions to the residence management system, was enacted in the ordinary Diet session in 2009. The said amended law is supposed to be enforced within three years from the date of promulgation. Its aim is to appropriately administer the new system of residence management as a basis for future immigration control administration, and to ensure fair residence management. It is expected to contribute to the creation of a society in which Japanese and foreign nationals can live together in harmony. In the light of such circumstances, this edition of the plan stipulates the third basic principle, “to appropriately administer the new system of residence management, which will be introduced to accurately keep the living and residence conditions of foreign residents in response to an increase of foreign residents living in Japan and diversification of their activities, as well as ensure fair residence management by utilizing information, and improve the convenience of foreign nationals by providing local authorities with information necessary for smooth implementation of administrative services”.

Finally, in consideration of the recent situation, where it takes longer to examine the application for recognition of refugee status because of the rapid increase in the number of applicants and where the legal status of those to be recognized as refugees should be secured early, the fourth basic principle is “to promote appropriate and prompt refugee protection as a member of the international society”.

Thus, Japan is facing diverse problems arising from a mid-and long-term structural population decline, changing economic conditions and trends, and an increase of foreign residents with the advance of globalization. Therefore,