Photo/Illutration Candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election at party headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 22. From right: Shinjiro Koizumi, Sanae Takaichi, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Toshimitsu Motegi and Takayuki Kobayashi (Takeshi Iwashita)

Candidates in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election vowed to crack down on crimes committed by foreigners in Japan and address problems caused by the constant increase in tourists.

As the official campaign for the leadership election kicked off on Sept. 22, the candidates delivered their policy speeches at LDP headquarters in Tokyo’s Nagatacho district, with several calling for stricter regulations on foreigners.

Sanae Takaichi, 64, a former economic security minister, presented the most hard-line position. The candidate devoted about half of her 15-minute speech to foreigner-related issues, making her conservative stance unmistakably clear.

She opened the speech with examples of misbehavior by foreign tourists, including visitors kicking or hitting deer in her home prefecture of Nara.

”If people from abroad come here to take pleasure in trampling on Japanese feelings, we have to do something about it," she said.

Emphasizing that people here must strictly follow the law, she said, “Those who come to Japan for economic reasons and claim refugee status should be sent home.”

Former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, 69, echoed Takaichi’s approach, stating his goal of “zero illegal foreigners” and pledging to “ensure strict compliance with laws and regulations.”

“The acquisition of land by foreigners and foreign capital has become a concern for the region,” Motegi said. 

Such land acquisitions will be centrally managed and that “unjust issues” will be dealt with strictly under his leadership, he added.

Another former economic security minister, Takayuki Kobayashi, 50, reiterated the policies he has promoted since declaring his candidacy.

“Public anxiety is growing due to some foreigners who do not follow the rules,” he said.

He called for tighter immigration controls and restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate.

Farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 44, said, “The reality is that illegal employment of foreigners, friction with local residents, and deteriorating public safety are causing anxiety among local residents.”

Under his leadership, Koizumi said, the party will “strengthen the command center function for foreigner-related issues and advance comprehensive countermeasures.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, 64, was the only one at the event who did not speak about his policy on foreigners.

All five candidates ran in last year’s leadership race, when the problem with foreigners was not a big issue.

But the LDP has said its recent election losses in the Diet stem from conservative voters throwing their support behind other parties, particularly anti-immigration Sanseito.

The LDP leadership election will be decided by 295 votes from party-affiliated lawmakers, excluding the speakers of both houses, and 295 votes from party members and supporters.

A total of 915,574 party members hold voting rights, and their say is expected to heavily influence the outcome.

If no candidate secures a majority in the first round of voting, a runoff will be held between the top two contenders.

The new LDP president will serve the remainder of outgoing leader Shigeru Ishiba’s term, about two years.

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