More Illegal Foreign Workers on the Farm in Japan

Ibaraki is one of the prefectures in Tokyo metropolitan area and a leading agricultural region producing varies of vegetables - lettuce, green pepper, miduna, lotus root, etc. The prefecture ranks among the top ten.

Now, the problem of aging and manpower shortage plagues this prefecture like any other farming regions in Japan. According to a survey compiled in 2010 by Kanto Regional  Agricultural Administration Office, the total number of farming households dropped by 45,000 in a decade. Of the current 100,000, 70% are farmers 60 years of age or elder. No sign of improvement since the last survey was conducted five years ago.

Meanwhile, a number of helping hands from Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries are supplying much needed manpower. They are mostly young, hard working and less paid. They are blessings to the farmers but more illegal immigrants are blending into them to cause problems.

A local newsman well informed of foreign workers in Ibaraki accounts recent problems for a policy shift on the part of the administration. More short-stay tourists come to Japan from the Southeastern countries visa-free and often outstay their permitted period of stay. On top of that, rumors circulate - "You can work in Ibaraki" and more flock from outside.

"Problem is that you cannot take count how many they are", points out the reporter. There used to be manpower brokers controlling ins and outs, but lately people make contact individually by LINE and other social network systems, he added. "Southeast Asians who used to work in the red-light district in Tsuchiura and thereabouts are said to be controlling communication", hinted the reporter. Asiatics in Ibaraki live mostly in the southwestern areas where farming is the prime industry. Among them are Southeast Asians and their children on whom illegal immigrants depend for support.

Manpower shortage and aging present a chain of problems in the farming community in Ibaraki.