Japan’s foreign resident population exceeds 3 million for first time

16 comments

1. Hi from Nikkei Asia! This is Emma Ockerman from the audience engagement team.

   I thought you guys might be interested in this. Here’s an excerpt from the above article:

   *Japan now has more than 3 million foreign residents for the first time, making up 2.66% of the total population, according to government data released on Wednesday.*

   *The same statistics showed that the number of Japanese citizens fell last year in all prefectures except Tokyo. That comes as Japan’s aging population logged a record-low fertility rate of 1.2 children per woman for 2023, according to separate data released last month, piling pressure on the government to* [*attract more foreign labor*](https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Asia-Insight/Aging-Japan-wants-foreign-workers-but-will-they-come) *to sustain the economy.*

   *Foreign nationals with Japanese residency numbered 3.32 million as of Jan. 1, up by 329,535 in 2023 — an 11% increase on the previous year. That was the largest annual rise on record and the highest total since records began in 2013, according to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.*

   [*As in 2022*](https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Society/Foreign-residents-in-Japan-near-3m-as-citizen-population-takes-record-drop)*, all 47 prefectures saw an increase in their foreign populations in 2023, with Tokyo and Osaka recording the largest jumps in both years. In the capital, foreigners accounted for almost 4.7% of the total population as of January, according to the new figures.*

2. By 2030, it will likely be around 8 to 10 million.

3. I feel so insignificant now.

4. Awesome 👍 We need more motivated people from abroad!

5. Heck yeah! THE MORE THE MERRIER!

6. Honestly, considering how hyped Japan is basically absolutely everywhere, I’m not surprised in the slightest. A lot of the weebs in high school ended up moving there. 

7. You are welcomed!

8. My friend got hired as a professor at the university of Tokyo. He’s one of them.

9. When people read these headlines, they need to keep in mind that neighbouring Asian countries make up the vast majority of the foreign population in Japan. “Westerners” or “English speakers” make up a small fraction only. From the article itself:

   “Vietnamese form the largest group of foreign workers in Japan, at around 25%, followed by Chinese and Filipinos, according to statistics released in 2023 by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.”

10. That’s a hell lot of combinis!!!

11. It would only increase, as someone who came here last year, I have observed some trends.

    1] Labour shortage is too much, and employers are willing throw jobs to people who have a low level of Japanese [talking about part-time jobs].

    2] English is being made widely available, be in it primary schools or just public sign boards, it’s good thing for me as a foreigner.

    3] It’s a safe country with good, clean and pristine environment.

    4] Foreigner’s are ready to immerse themselves in Japanese culture.

12. I’m doing my part! 🫡

13. Power of Pokemons. 💯💚👍

14. Very unfortunate that the country is being invaded by foreigners who have lack of respect for the country and do disgusting things in public

    This applies to the small minority of the foreigners but regardless creating a bad impact

15. Not a good thing.

16. Remittance will become an issue. Japan needs to find ways for foreigners to make Japan their home.