Japan Restaurants in Crisis as Foreign Worker Visa Freeze Hits

Japan's restaurant industry is facing a labor emergency after the government suspended visas for foreign workers. The freeze halts applications for a key program that allows restaurants, fast-food chains, and other food service operators to hire staff from overseas. Many Japanese restaurants already struggled to find local workers due to an aging population and low birth rate. The visa suspension now cuts off their main source of new employees. Without these foreign workers, some restaurants may be forced to reduce hours or even close. The program, officially called the "Technical Intern Training Program," was designed to bring workers from other countries to fill low-skilled jobs. Restaurants have relied on it heavily to keep their kitchens and dining rooms running. Industry experts warn that the freeze could worsen Japan's labor shortage. For now, restaurant owners are urgently seeking other solutions, but few options remain quickly available.