Apr 16 (Japanese Comedian Meshida) - Recently, many Japanese people have been complaining about Japanese politicians, saying they treat Chinese people better than Japanese citizens. Today, I want to talk about this issue. To my Chinese friends—this is not a complaint about you. I’m complaining about our government.
1. Visa Relaxation
Japan’s Foreign Minister has announced relaxed visa requirements for Chinese tourists. Under the new rules, regular Chinese tourists can stay in Japan for up to 30 days, and wealthy Chinese nationals can now obtain a 10-year tourism visa.
While there are concerns about the behavior of some Chinese tourists, I’m not going to complain. After all, we Japanese used to behave like that too—back when we were six years old! (Come on, I’m a comedian, I’m joking!)
That said, the Foreign Minister has also been accused of accepting bribes from Chinese companies. Maybe he’s even put the whole country up as collateral for his dark secrets. He claims the relaxed visa rules will boost tourism and revitalize Japan’s local attractions. But to many of us, it looks more like the Chinafication of our tourist spots.
Chinese companies are opening businesses that cater specifically to Chinese tourists at major Japanese destinations. At this rate, our tourist areas might soon be taken over, turning into Chinese-run shopping centers—just like Okinawa. Ironically, Chinese tourists may end up buying tons of souvenirs in Japan without realizing most of them are made in China. At least they’ll be bringing some of those Chinese souvenirs back to China.
2. Scholarship Issues
Right now, 3,545 Chinese students are enrolled at the University of Tokyo—Japan’s top university. That’s about 12% of the total student population. In the graduate school, Chinese students make up nearly 25%. At this rate, it might soon be renamed the University of Chinese Tokyo.
In the Japanese studies department, it was recently revealed that about 30% of government grants for PhD students—worth up to 2.9 million yen per person per year—go to Chinese graduate students. These grants have no nationality restrictions and don’t need to be paid back.
Out of 10,564 total recipients, 4,125 are international students, and 2,094 of them are Chinese. Meanwhile, 55% of Japanese undergraduates and around 60% of graduate students are forced to take out student loans, ending up with an average debt of around 3.38 million yen.
Because of this debt, some male students end up doing dangerous part-time jobs. Some female students work in the sex industry or engage in "papa-katsu"—a form of compensated dating. It’s a sad reality. Politicians seem to prefer being the "sugar daddies" of these women rather than solving the root issue. Japan has become a country where foreign students are treated better than its own citizens.
3. Medical Costs
In the past, foreigners had to live in Japan for at least a year to qualify for National Health Insurance. But since 2024, that law has changed. Now, foreigners who stay in Japan for three months or more can register as residents and join the insurance system.
Insurance premiums are based on income tax paid in the previous year. So if a foreigner comes to Japan without having earned any income here, their premium will be extremely low. Japan has effectively become a healthcare paradise for foreigners.
More and more Chinese people are coming to Japan for medical treatment, paying only a fraction of the cost. If a foreigner works for a Japanese company, they can even add relatives—up to three generations—to their health insurance. That includes grandparents.
While this system requires strict documentation, some people have learned how to make it work. Japanese citizens, on the other hand, pay their full share, including up to 40% of healthcare costs through taxes. Foreigners who haven’t paid a single yen into the system are receiving special treatment.
Congratulations, Japan—you’ve officially joined the ranks of developed nations where taxpayers fund healthcare for undocumented foreigners!
4. Real Estate
Recently, large amounts of Japanese land have been purchased by Chinese buyers. The problem is that some of this land includes sensitive areas—locations near Self-Defense Force bases, water sources, nuclear power plants, resort towns, and tourist spots.
Japan doesn’t have any laws restricting foreign nationals from buying land, so it’s legal and easy for foreigners to do so. In 2021, Japan finally passed a law to regulate land use near critical infrastructure, within 1 kilometer. But even this only restricts how the land is used—not whether it can be purchased.
Foreigners often say Japan lacks diversity. But we Japanese allow foreigners to buy our land—how much more diverse can we be? Or maybe what we’re really promoting is "China-city."
Japan is also known as a spy’s paradise. We don’t have laws to prevent espionage. Our anti-espionage laws are apparently delayed or blocked by spies working undercover in politics.
A former KGB officer once said, "Spies don’t want to work in Japan because they have to work too hard. Japan is hell for spies." The amount of information here is so overwhelming they can’t even take holidays. That’s the Japanese strategy: exhaust them through overwork. Same as what we do to our own employees!
It’s well known that many Japanese politicians change to a pro-China stance after visiting Beijing. They are treated like royalty, and rumor has it their hearts—and their lower bodies—start glowing red. If you want to get rich and sleep with beautiful women, becoming a celebrity or a businessman isn’t the best route. The best way is to become a politician and visit China. All your dreams will come true.
As for me, I’d love to perform in China someday. If I ever become a successful comedian, I’ll praise China and support them—just like our politicians do.
China is number one!
Meshida is a Japanese stand-up comedian who performs in English, known for his humorous takes on Japanese culture. After leaving his corporate job in Japan, he pursued a comedy career in the United Kingdom, performing in cities like Tokyo, New York City, and London. He has hosted numerous English stand-up comedy shows in Tokyo, attracting both locals and tourists.
Source: Japanese Comedian Meshida
