Migratory and social stratification in Japan: labour market pressures and the persistence of hierarchical incorporation

Japan’s migration regime is characterised by restrictive and highly selective policies that incorporate foreign residents into a hierarchical structure shaped by governance and narratives of national homogeneity. This hierarchy reflects not only patterns of arrival but also political choices and perceived cultural proximity. This article examines how migratory stratification shapes immigrants’ social positions by analysing the interaction between migration policy, labour market dynamics and cultural narratives. Despite labour shortages and demographic decline, these stratifications persist, illustrating how economic demand coexists with institutional and cultural mechanisms that reproduce unequal forms of access to rights, opportunities and social recognition.