Sociocultural Aspects of Attracting Foreign Labor to the Japanese Service Sector

The article focuses on the sociocultural aspects of attracting foreign labor to the Japanese service sector in light of the current labor shortage in Japan. The process of attracting foreign labor is analyzed in terms of Japan’s openness to interacting with other cultures and considering the Japanese model of borrowing and processing the elements of external cultures. The Japanese service model is viewed as a unique sociocultural phenomenon and a field of intercultural interaction that demonstrates Japan’s readiness to engage with the global community.
The author aims to illustrate, using the Japanese hospitality industry as an example, the interaction between Japanese and non-Japanese values, and to delve into the sociocultural aspects of the current economic challenges Japan’s service industry is facing. The first part of the article explores the evolution of Japanese service in the post-war period, from the gradual increase in the service sector’s contribution to Japan’s GDP to the international promotion of the traditional concept of omotenashi as a unique way of welcoming guests for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The second part examines the crisis situation in the Japanese labor market and its impact on the service sector today, while the third part discusses the repercussions of the current scenario and the measures Japanese companies are taking to uphold the standard of Japanese service in a diverse sociocultural context.
The author concludes that both Japanese companies and government agencies responsible for immigration policy are cautious in their approach, aiming to minimize external influences on the service industry. While it is crucial for companies to maintain the service standards, the government is seeking to safeguard national interests in the economic and political realms. Amidst increasing intercultural interactions, Japan leans on the concept of omotenashi as a cultural bridge between different societies.

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