FOCUS: Foreigner issue under focus as parties rush to ease worries of Japanese voters

TOKYO - Foreign nationals have increasingly become an issue of focus in Sunday's House of Representatives election, with parties rushing to ease voters' growing concerns by discussing policies about how to manage the diverse group, which is reaching record numbers nationwide.

Observers and analysts have warned against categorizing foreigners as a single group while emphasizing the importance of maintaining "order" in a traditionally homogeneous society. They believe that grouping issues facing non-Japanese nationals from various backgrounds together would prevent thorough discussions.