Foreign Residence Increase
As of January 2025, data revealed that in 27 municipalities across Japan, foreign residents accounted for more than 10 percent of the local population—an increase of seven municipalities compared to the previous year. This trend underscores Japan’s ongoing demographic diversification, largely driven by the inflow of foreign workers, including technical intern trainees , specified skilled workers, and permanent residents. The figure significantly surpasses the national average of 3.0 percent, indicating a growing concentration of international communities in certain localities. Shimukappu Village in Hokkaido recorded the highest proportion of foreign residents nationwide at 36.6 percent, equivalent to 582 foreign nationals among a total population of 1,590. This represented an increase of 2.8 percentage points from the previous year. Other municipalities with similarly high ratios include Akaigawa Village in Hokkaido, Ikuno Ward in Osaka City, Oizumi Town in Gunma Prefecture, and Ku...