Society While population drops, foreign residents number close to 3m

[thomas]

Today, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications reported that the number of Japanese citizens has fallen in every prefecture for the first time, while the number of foreign residents is nearing 3 million, helping underpin communities. The population with Japanese citizenship totalled 122.4 million as of 1 January, down 800,523 from a year earlier for the most significant drop in data going back to 1968.

The number of citizens declined in all 47 prefectures, suffering the first drop in Okinawa, which enjoys a relatively high birthrate. Meanwhile, the number of foreigners holding residency cards climbed by 289,498 nationwide, reaching 2.99 million. This figure increased for the first time in three years as cross-border travel recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in foreign residents is the largest in data going back to 2013.

Every Japanese prefecture recorded an increase in foreign residents. Tokyo is home to the largest number of such residents, and saw the biggest gain -- rising by 63,231 to a total of 581,112. While the number of Japanese citizens in Tokyo declined, the addition of foreign residents lifted the prefecture's overall population. Next came Osaka with an increase of 24,963 foreign residents, followed by Aichi, home to Nagoya, with 19,326.

Of 1,747 Japanese municipalities, 1,499 -- or 85.8% -- added more foreign residents. Foreigners will account for 10.2% of Japan's population in 2067, according to an estimate by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research. Foreign residents will become a more significant part of life, not just in big cities but in rural areas as well.

Paywall alert:

Foreign residents in Japan near 3m as citizen population takes record drop

Number of Japanese citizens declines in all regions for the first time

asia.nikkei.com

Immigration and demographic reshuffle are already happening while you read these lines.

 

[Lothor]

Immigration and demographic reshuffle are already happening while you read these lines.

And yet the ghosting stays the same. It was reported in NHK news this morning that there were 122 million Japanese people in Japan without any mention of the 3 million non-Japanese. Yet the broadcast had time to go on at length about some rather technical voting disparities that resulted from these population changes. Once again, I'm reminded that I'm both officially and unofficially not considered part of Japanese society despite living here for 20 years.

 

[nice gaijin]

And yet the ghosting stays the same. It was reported in NHK news this morning that there were 122 million Japanese people in Japan without any mention of the 3 million non-Japanese. Yet the broadcast had time to go on at length about some rather technical voting disparities that resulted from these population changes. Once again, I'm reminded that I'm both officially and unofficially not considered part of Japanese society despite living here for 20 years.

From one gaijin to another,

 

[mdchachi]

And yet the ghosting stays the same. It was reported in NHK news this morning that there were 122 million Japanese people in Japan without any mention of the 3 million non-Japanese. Yet the broadcast had time to go on at length about some rather technical voting disparities that resulted from these population changes. Once again, I'm reminded that I'm both officially and unofficially not considered part of Japanese society despite living here for 20 years.

As a kagemusha I don't believe you are to be officially or unofficially acknowledged. All you have to do is take the fall.

 

[musicisgood]

On the Shimanami Kaido Islands, you can't believe all the foreign workers there are. At around 5:30 pm the convenience stores are packed with them and the parking lots are full of bicycles.

 

[thomas]

And yet the ghosting stays the same. It was reported in NHK news this morning that there were 122 million Japanese people in Japan without any mention of the 3 million non-Japanese. Yet the broadcast had time to go on at length about some rather technical voting disparities that resulted from these population changes. Once again, I'm reminded that I'm both officially and unofficially not considered part of Japanese society despite living here for 20 years.

And this news from yesterday sadly proves your point.

Foreign nationals are not to be considered (municipal) citizens.

Kumamoto omits ‘foreign national’ from proposal defining citizens | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Lothor]

And this news from yesterday sadly proves your point.

Foreign nationals are not to be considered (municipal) citizens.

Kumamoto omits ‘foreign national’ from proposal defining citizens | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

It makes me wonder if the mayor received any threats that caused such a climbdown.

 

[johnnyG]

I think there was another 'population' thread, but this is the one I found. Here's a positive spin on what may be happening:

Towards a new Golden Generation

Japan is in a demographic sweet spot that empowers the young and forces real change in corporate culture

japanoptimist.substack.com

(Or, the thread about companies wanting employees to return to the office?)

 

[Lothor]

The name of the website says it all really: a site in which every story about Japan is positive, my favourite article title being 'Three Cheers for Governor Kuroda'! With the internet so full of shills, I can't help wondering about the origins of a site like this one.

And if the labour shortage was going to really usher in a golden age for the Japanese employee, why hasn't it happened in the last twenty years, during which there has been a labour shortage?

 

[thomas]

In 2023, the number of foreign nationals residing in Japan reached a record high of over 3.4 million. This surge was driven by the country's efforts to address its acute labour shortage, with employment-related visas experiencing significant growth. As of the end of December, 3,410,992 foreigners were living in Japan, representing a 10.9 per cent increase from the previous year, marking a record high for the second consecutive year, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

The number of specified skilled workers jumped 59.2 percent to around 208,000, while trainees under Japan's technical internship program grew 24.5 percent to around 404,000 to approach the record high level marked in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, the data showed. The specified skilled workers visa, which allows the holder to immediately take on jobs in designated industries without the need for training, was introduced in 2019 in response to Japan's severe labor shortage resulting from its declining birthrate, with the aim of attracting foreign workers. Meanwhile, permanent residents, who made up the largest group by residential status, stood at around 891,000, up 3.2 percent. Engineers, specialists in humanities and international services, including foreign language teachers, rose 16.2 percent to around 362,000. By nationality, Chinese accounted for the largest population of foreign residents at around 821,000, followed by Vietnamese at around 565,000 and South Koreans at around 410,000.

Record 3.4 million foreign residents in Japan as work visas rise - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan hit a record high of over 3.4 million in 2023, government data showed Friday, with

mainichi.jp

 

[mdchachi]

In 2023, the number of foreign nationals residing in Japan reached a record high of over 3.4 million. This surge was driven by the country's efforts to address its acute labour shortage, with employment-related visas experiencing significant growth. As of the end of December, 3,410,992 foreigners were living in Japan, representing a 10.9 per cent increase from the previous year, marking a record high for the second consecutive year, according to the Immigration Services Agency.

Record 3.4 million foreign residents in Japan as work visas rise - The Mainichi

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan hit a record high of over 3.4 million in 2023, government data showed Friday, with

mainichi.jp

On my last trip I was a little surprised by the number of non-Japanese manning the konbini registers and in restaurants as well. I don't remember it being that way 25 years ago. Or even 10.

 

[musicisgood]

On my last trip I was a little surprised by the number of non-Japanese manning the konbini registers and in restaurants as well. I don't remember it being that way 25 years ago. Or even 10.

Actually I just took a job at McDonald's and 80% of the people that work during my shift are foreigners yeah can you believe that 80% and I'm actually the first American this McDonald's here has ever hired the rest are from Nepal Cambodia Vietnam and a few other countries so yes I was really shocked to see 80% of the employees are actually non-japanese at McDonald's.

 

[bentenmusume]

On my last trip I was a little surprised by the number of non-Japanese manning the konbini registers and in restaurants as well. I don't remember it being that way 25 years ago. Or even 10.

Absolutely nothing to be surprised about in the past 5, 6, 7, 8 years.

It depends on the particular location (probably more common in certral touristy locations and less common in, e.g. my residential area) but I actually consider it somewhat of an interesting rarity when I encounter Japanese (usually おばちゃん) conbini employees.

I don't partake of fast food so I have no idea who's manning the レジ's at Mickey D's and the like.

 

[salyavin]

Actually I just took a job at McDonald's and 80% of the people that work during my shift are foreigners yeah can you believe that 80% and I'm actually the first American this McDonald's here has ever hired the rest are from Nepal Cambodia Vietnam and a few other countries so yes I was really shocked to see 80% of the employees are actually non-japanese at McDonald's.

How is that job going now that it has been a few months?

 

[thomas]

How is that job going now that it has been a few months?

Yep, patiently waiting for a journal entry here.

 

[thomas]

The demographic trends for 2023 are in:

Total population (1 Jan 2024): 121,561,801
Population decline: -861,237 (-0.7%)
Foreign residents: +329,535


Japan's population experienced its most significant annual decline since records began in 1968, with the three major metropolitan areas—Tokyo, Kansai, and Nagoya—also seeing decreases. However, due to internal migration, Tokyo's population increased for the first time in three years. The population of foreign nationals rose by 329,535 to 3,323,374, surpassing 3 million for the first time since 2013. Japan's population, which peaked in 2009, has been declining for 15 consecutive years, driven by a falling birth rate, which saw a record low of 729,367 births last year and a record high of 1,579,727 deaths, resulting in a natural decrease of 850,360.

Population falls again, but foreign residents hit 3.3 million | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Lothor]

The 1.83% decrease for Akita-ken is eye-opening. That would correspond to a 30% population drop in the next 20 years.

The discussion in the article about the popular wards of Tokyo was also interesting. In the longer term, I think many of those people buying homes in Chuo and Taito are going to regret it. The low height above sea level, increasingly erratic weather and the large amount of water make eastern Tokyo a disaster waiting to happen. But people are going to carry on living as if climate change isn't happening.

 

[thomas]

The number of foreigners living in Japan just hit a new record high! Over 3.5 million people from other countries call Japan home right now.

According to the Immigration Services Agency, 3,588,956 foreign nationals resided in Japan as of the end of June, up 177,964 from the end of 2023, with the number of specified skilled workers surging 20.8 per cent to 251,747. The visa for such workers was introduced in 2019, allowing them to take on jobs in designated industries without requiring training. The number of trainees under Japan's technical internship program grew by 5.2 per cent to 425,714. Meanwhile, permanent residents, who made up the largest group by residential status, stood at 902,203, up 1.2 per cent. The number of foreign arrivals, including tourists, rose to 17,820,629 in the first half of 2024.

No. of foreign residents in Japan hits record 3.5 mil. as of June

The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan reached a record high of over 3.5 million in the first of 2024, government data showed Friday, as the country grapples with a labor shortage amid an aging society and declining birthrate.

english.kyodonews.net

 

[mdchachi]

The number of foreigners living in Japan just hit a new record high! Over 3.5 million people from other countries call Japan home right now.

No. of foreign residents in Japan hits record 3.5 mil. as of June

The number of foreign nationals residing in Japan reached a record high of over 3.5 million in the first of 2024, government data showed Friday, as the country grapples with a labor shortage amid an aging society and declining birthrate.

english.kyodonews.net

As long as they don't dilute the Japanese DNA maybe it's ok.

 

[Maciamo]

The number of foreigners living in Japan just hit a new record high! Over 3.5 million people from other countries call Japan home right now.

In other words if all foreigners in Japan were a city it would be the third most populous city in the country after Tokyo and Yokohama!

Within Tokyo's 23 wards, 17% of the populations are foreigners. That's nearly one in five person, or 2.3 million people.

 

[thomas]

In other words if all foreigners in Japan were a city it would be the third most populous city in the country after Tokyo and Yokohama!

Within Tokyo's 23 wards, 17% of the populations are foreigners. That's nearly one in five person, or 2.3 million people.

Roughly calculated, well over 60% of that fictional city's population would come from China, Vietnam, South Korea, the Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, and Taiwan. It would be some sort of giant Chinatown.