KUTCHAN, Japan – In the small town of Kutchan, near the internationally renowned Niseko ski slopes in Japan, a barren field once planted with potatoes has become a flashpoint for a national conflict over labour, tourism and immigration.

On that plot of land, developers are planning to construct lodging for up to 1,200 seasonal workers, most of whom will be foreigners. These labourers are needed to operate the area’s resorts and construction sites. Local residents, however, are petitioning the government to block the facility, citing concerns over safety and a perceived decline in social order.