THE KATANA AND THE GATE: JAPAN’S IMMIGRATION POLICY AND THE NATIONALIST DEFENSE

Abstract

This thesis investigates Japan’s contemporary immigration policies and exclusionary practices. By situating Japan’s approach within broader political theories of nationalism and immigration, the study explores how their state policy is shaped by an enduring narrative of national identity that resists multicultural integration. Drawing on both historical context and present-day policy analysis, this research develops a framework from literature on nationalism and immigration theories to evaluate Japan’s restrictive immigration policies.