Japan and South Korea are allowing in some foreign workers
They will need to be much more liberal to sustain their economies
THE ubiquitous rule-giving signs of the Icho Danchi district on the outskirts of Yokohama, near Tokyo, speak far more languages than any of its residents could. Motorcycle riding is restricted in Chinese, English, Japanese, Spanish and Vietnamese. Instructions for sorting rubbish, a particularly finicky part of Japanese daily life, are offered in 11, including Portuguese.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Open wide your gates”
Asia November 5th 2022
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