As Japan’s labor shortage continues to affect many sectors, one industry stands out for its heavy reliance on foreign workers: restaurants. According to a veteran leader in the field, it has become almost impossible to operate without international staff.

Yasuhiro Inoue, Vice Chairman of the Osaka Restaurant Management Association (ORA), has decades of experience running multiple food businesses. He’s seen firsthand how essential foreign employees have become in keeping restaurants open and thriving.

“Without foreign workers, many restaurants simply couldn’t operate,” he says.

A Workforce Restaurants Can’t Do Without

Running over a dozen restaurants himself, Inoue explains that the food service industry often struggles to attract local workers. The jobs tend to offer lower wages and require working during holidays and weekends — times when many prefer to rest.

As a result, foreign staff have stepped in to support daily operations. In Inoue’s company, international employees make up the majority of full-time staff. He also emphasizes that everyone, regardless of nationality, receives the same pay and is treated equally.

Bringing Innovation from Different Cultures

Hiring foreign talent has brought more than just labor — it’s introduced new perspectives. Inoue recalls how some staff from abroad have suggested creative ways to reduce food waste, including using fruit peels in recipes based on traditional cooking from their home countries. These ideas have helped lower costs and inspired fresh approaches to food preparation.

“Their cultural background sparks innovation. Conversations with them often lead to new business ideas,” Inoue shares.

Working Toward Fairer Hiring Practices

Since 2016, Inoue has led initiatives through ORA to improve hiring systems for foreigners. This began after he discovered a Vietnamese worker had paid nearly ¥1 million in agency fees to come to Japan. Shocked by the lack of transparency, he traveled across Asia to understand how workers were being sent abroad — often at great cost to them.

With support from JETRO and his own international staff, he launched training programs and study sessions. ORA has since collaborated with legal experts and professors to help restaurant owners adopt ethical, legal, and practical hiring methods. They also advocate for government policy improvements to better protect foreign workers.

Tackling Misinformation and Bias

As discussions around immigration heat up ahead of national elections on July 20, Inoue warns about misleading claims — especially on social media — that accuse foreigners of exploiting welfare systems.

“Our foreign employees pay the same taxes and insurance as everyone else,” he says. “If problems exist in the system, they should be fixed, but it’s unfair to target only foreigners. Abuse can happen on both sides.”

A Growing Sense of Unease Among Foreign Workers

The shift in public tone has made some foreign workers feel uneasy. One senior staff member even asked Inoue, “Are foreigners disliked in Japan?” after reading negative online posts. He hopes public discussions become more fact-based and respectful — especially from political leaders.

Diversity on Display at the Osaka Expo

At the Osaka Kansai Expo, ORA is showcasing the power of diversity through its “Utage” food pavilion. Twenty-four foreign staff — many still learning Japanese — are serving visitors alongside bilingual colleagues. Despite language barriers, the team has welcomed close to one million guests without major issues.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” Inoue says. “We want to show that language isn’t a barrier to great service — diversity is a strength.”