Ten days into his new job, Justice Minister Takashi Yamashita said one of his major goals is to strike a balance between management and coexistence when it comes to foreign nationals in Japan.

¡°As we accept foreigners to Japan, I believe the government must carry out proper residency management including getting an accurate account of foreign residents¡¯ status to avoid problems such as illegal employment,¡± Yamashita said in a group interview with media organizations on Thursday.

¡°On the other hand, it is important for the country to have some responsibility to provide support to foreigners,¡± he said, adding that the Justice Ministry is working on compiling comprehensive measures related to living alongside foreign nationals by the end of this year. ¡°We must balance management and coexistence.¡±