Japan described as "deplorable" US President Joe Biden's comment that "xenophobia" stifles the economic growth of the Asian country, reports "Reuters".
Last week, Biden noted that "xenophobia" in the economies of China, Japan and India hinders their growth, and migration is good for the US economy.
"We have stated to the United States that the comment is not based on a correct understanding of Japan's policy and is regrettable," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a regular press conference.
However, he was quick to add that Japan's security ties with its US ally are stronger than ever and Tokyo will seek to strengthen them further.
In April, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Washington for a summit with Biden and unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects from rockets to moon landings to strengthen ties to counter China and Russia.
At a fundraiser last week for his re-election campaign this year, Biden said: "One of the reasons our economy is growing is because of you and so many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants. Why China is stuck so badly economically, why Japan has problems, why Russia, why India - because they are xenophobic. They don't want immigrants. Immigrants are what make us strong.
Japan prides itself on its homogeneity and has long been reticent about immigration, although a declining birth rate and a rapidly aging population portend acute labor shortages in the coming decades.
Asked if he wanted to encourage immigration to stop population decline, Kishida said Japan should consider inviting skilled workers, but ruled out a comprehensive immigration program.
"We would like to allow highly capable and motivated workers to be invited to Japan to provide support to Japanese society," he said in an interview last week.
"A section of Japanese society still opposes the idea of continuous, unrestricted labor immigration from abroad.