It's a feature for sure. I really am not blaming japan for something that most countries (especially non-americas) have ingrained in their culture. These days, my country Germany, however much it would like to See itself as immigration-friendly as the US, is experiencing exactly that cultural gene which is somewhat allergic to heterogenity.

But from an economical standpoint, it doesn't make much sense to stay "cut off". It never did in history. That's why even the other homogenity-friendly countries periodically had to ease their grip.

And because of economics, if the japanese really care about their nation's idntity and culture, they should make sure that their Numbers of growthless years do not climb too much higher than that of the other Nations. Because at some point even the nicest, Most harmonic society will crumble if some foreign spring break tourist can bend any rule because he can buy anything and anybody because of the decades-Long incompetitiveness. If you're looking for examples of this, I'd say "colonializm", "imperialism" or with regards to japan "convention of kanagawa" or "sakoku".

At some point non-growth will become harmful to what you try to save by avoiding growth: culture, norms, national identity or Even the nation itself.

I think that the parent specifically mentioned highly skilled young workers who would be attracted by the modern lifestyle in Tokyo.

I dont think high skilled young workers, will be looking forward to taking care of the large number of old people, when Japan hits its population cliff. That probably will be a big sector demanding immigration.

Old people could probably take care of even older people, will easily create lots of jobs.

That being said though, a number of potential applicants would probably be discouraged by the 10-14 hour work shift. I'm not sure how much of that is spent working, but that doesn't as much room for leisure, regardless.