Five candidates in Oita’s 1st district discuss coexistence with foreigners as the prefecture’s foreign workers rise to about 14,400. Tsutsumi Junta says foreigners should not be treated as cheap labor and that costs for education and security must be considered; Eto Hiroaki argues against extreme 0/100 policies, advocating managing overall intake and studying cultural friction; Nonaka Shinsuke says he does not seek to exclude foreigners, stresses that some tasks can be handled by Japanese and foreigners should not be used as cheap labor while respecting local customs; Kira Shiji notes that Japan faces labor shortages and foreigners should be treated with equal respect with concrete measures to improve coexistence; Yamashita Kai emphasizes human rights for all and working with local residents to advance coexistence. Voting is on February 8.