Japan's Fishing Future Hinges on a Single Cannery

Across Japan, factories and fisheries now depend on foreign workers. But as wages rise in neighboring countries, many business owners fear Japan is losing its appeal. In the fishing port town of Choshi, east of Tokyo, one cannery shows both this dependence and the fight to keep workers. Ho Thi Thuy Nhung, 38, starts her assembly line job at 8 a.m. She is one of roughly 100 Vietnamese workers at Yamaki Canning Co. They make up half of the workforce. Japan's severe labor shortage, caused by an aging population, hits coastal towns like Choshi especially hard. Young Japanese people often leave for cities. "For the fishing industry here to survive, we need foreign workers," says a company executive. But retaining them is a new challenge. To compete, Yamaki offers more than just pay. It provides Japanese language lessons, help with shopping, and dedicated foreign staff support. The company also petitions the government for better visa policies. The goal is to allow workers to stay longer and bring their families. Industry experts warn that without such efforts, Japan's crucial seafood processing sector could collapse. For now, the survival of towns like Choshi is on the line.