ABSTRACT
In 2011, about two million foreigners were registered in Japan, constituting 1.63 per cent of the total population (Ministry of Justice 2011 : 23). Although this number fluctuates slightly each year, the number of foreigners registered in Japan is steadily increasing (Ministry of Justice 2011 : 18). Among the registered foreigners, those with Permanent Resident status make up the largest group, about 598,000 (28.8 per cent) in 2011. This group is followed by those with Special Permanent Resident status (389,000); College Student (189,000); Spouse or Child of Japanese National (182,000); and Long-Term Resident (178,000). In terms of nationality, the largest group of registered foreign nationals is the Chinese (675,000); followed by Koreans (545,000); Brazilians (210,000); Filipinos (209,000); and Peruvians (53,000). In 2011, 1,867 applied for refugee status in Japan but only 21 received it. Those applying for refugee status in 2011 came from Myanmar (491); Nepal (251); Turkey (234); Sri Lanka (224); and Pakistan (169).
