Fed: - Sony chairman says Japan must open up to migrants to prosper

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2004
Fed: - Sony chairman says Japan must open up to migrants to prosper

The chairman of the giant Sony Corporation says the time is fast approaching when Japan
will have to end its long cultural isolation and open itself up to mass immigration.

And Professor IWAO NAKATANI, one of Japan's leading opinion makers, says Japan has
much to learn from Australia's example, through its sometimes difficult but successful
transformation towards a multicultural society.

Prof NAKATANI was speaking at the Australian National University where he received
an honorary doctorate of laws yesterday.

He says globalisation and Japan's own falling birthrate means its current low migrant
population of just over one per cent will have to be increased to as much as 10 per cent
within the next 20 years.

He says the resulting impact on Japanese society will be difficult, but it nevertheless
has to be tackled for the sake of Japan's prosperity.

AAP RTV dep/sw/jv/psm/

KEYWORD: NAKATANI (CANBERRA)

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