Japan restaurants hit by visa pause for high-demand foreign workers

TOKYO - Restaurant operators in Japan have been forced to review their approach to hiring foreign workers since the government suspended the issuance of special visas needed to work in the sector, as the number of holders nears its preset quota.

The sudden suspension by Japan's immigration authorities has raised the specter of fierce competition for foreign talent as the country, long known for its strict immigration policy, has been increasingly counting on foreign workers amid labor shortages.