Replacing Labor with AI.

A new political force led by AI engineers, known as Team Mirai, made waves in the February 2026 elections by securing 11 seats. Their platform suggests a radical shift in how Japan handles its severe labor shortage and super-aged society. Rather than increasing the inflow of low-wage foreign labor, the group proposes a technology-first approach. They are advocating for the rapid deployment of humanoid robotics and AI in white-collar sectors to maintain public services as the working-age population continues to shrink by nearly one million people per year. Major firms like Fujitsu have already begun automating entire software development lifecycles this month to adapt to new 2026 regulatory changes, proving that the shift from labor-intensive models to AI-driven ones is already underway in the private sector.

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