More workers head to big cities after cap on new visas sparks urban wage hikes
Soba chain Yudetaro System has been able to hire foreign workers thanks to an internal referral system. (Photo by Mizuho Miyazaki)
Nikkei staff writers
October 16, 2026 03:05 JST
TOKYO -- More than six months after Japan suspended hiring of new foreign restaurant workers, competition to recruit such individuals already in the country has exacerbated gaps between major cities with higher wages and smaller businesses in rural areas.