Lekh Juneja, the Indian-born CEO of Kameda Seika, a leading Japanese rice cracker manufacturer, has issued a stark warning: Japan must embrace immigration to regain its economic vitality.
Juneja, who has lived in Japan for decades, expressed concern that the country has lost its competitive edge, a stark contrast to its booming post-war era. He believes that a stagnant mindset and a reluctance to embrace foreign talent are hindering Japan’s progress.
“Forty years ago, I came to Japan because it was an economic powerhouse,” Juneja said. “But at some point, Japan became complacent. The ‘hungry spirit’ to innovate and go global started to diminish.” 
Japan’s economic stagnation, coupled with a rapidly aging population, presents significant challenges. The country faces a severe labor shortage, with many industries struggling to fill vacancies. While some immigration reforms have been implemented, they fall far short of what is needed to address the demographic crisis and drive economic growth.
Juneja argues that Japan “has no choice” but to significantly increase its foreign worker intake. He emphasizes that this requires not only a change in immigration policies but also a shift in cultural attitudes towards foreigners.
“We need to create a more inclusive environment for immigrants,” Juneja said. “Language barriers and cultural differences can be significant obstacles. We need to address these challenges to attract and retain skilled foreign workers.”
Kameda Seika, under Juneja’s leadership, has been actively seeking to diversify its workforce. The company employs foreign nationals in various roles, including research and development. However, Juneja acknowledges that challenges remain, particularly in promoting foreign talent to higher levels of leadership.
“There are very few foreign-born CEOs in Japan,” Juneja said. “This needs to change. We need to learn from countries like the United States, where individuals from diverse backgrounds hold top leadership positions in major corporations.”
While acknowledging the occasional negative experiences of foreign CEOs in Japan, Juneja believes that these isolated incidents should not overshadow the broader need for a more inclusive and internationalized workforce. He emphasizes that embracing diversity is crucial for Japan’s future economic success.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the provided information and may not reflect all aspects of the interview.
