Call for more reform on Immigration.

This article refers to one of the most pressing topics in Japan right now. As the population in Japan faces a negative growth rate and an aging population the need for foreign labor has increased. The current laws that are out there are confusing and not adequate. This article offers solutions based off what other countries have done in the past. The government will have to take this issue on more aggressively than it currently is. The need for major reform of domestic law and bilateral agreements is definitely there, especially with the global financial crisis. It will however be interesting in how the government has to approach the issue because of the government's current lack of popular support. One possible assistance to combating this problem would be the expansion of the APEC business travel card program to more types of labor. This could foster regional development, like that of the EU, which has enjoyed much success. 

http://www.asahi.com/english/asianet/report/eng_2001_26.html