This work applies Kellee Tsai's theory of "adaptive informal institutions" (2007) to Japan, making the case that local innovations are leading to the creation of more liberal immigration policies, which may ultimately be formalized through national adoption. Such instances of local policy innovation would contradict the notion that unitary states like Japan are dominated by their central governments. To consider the Japanese case, this study analyzes immigration policy developments in the city of Kawasaki, a notably progressive Japanese municipality, and compares them to changes in national immigration policy. This study contributes to the developing literature on Japanese immigration policy, central-local relations in Japan, as well as decentralization in unitary states. |