Japan's hospitality industry is expressing concerns as it approaches the maximum cap stipulated for foreign workers under the "Specified Skill 1" category. They anticipate a labor shortage, likely to leave many restaurants and eateries understaffed. Stakeholders fear this could significantly disrupt business operations and customer satisfaction levels across the country. The timing of the issue exacerbates matters, with the industry still grappling with the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Japan, well-known for its strict immigration policies, introduced the specified skills visa category with an upper limit on the number of foreign workers, in an effort to invite more labor while managing immigration levels. The industry's labor shortage appears an imminent issue, with chains across the nation reliant on foreign workers. Japan's society is heavily invested in their dining culture, but this looming crisis threatens smooth operations and the quality of customer service.

In contrast, both the US and the EU typically deal with similar problems differently, utilizing immigrant labor without strict upper limits. For example, the US has the H-2B non-agricultural temporary worker program for seasonal and peak-load situations, while the EU employs a "Blue Card" program for skilled immigrant labor, both managed with flexibility based on labor demands.