Most Japanese expats choose to live in other Asian countries

Most Japanese expats choose to live in other Asian countries
The Yomiuri Shimbun

Tokyo, Japan, Aug. 19, 2007 (Yomiuri Shimbun) - Asia has become the top region for long-term nonimmigrant expatriate Japanese for the first time since the Foreign Ministry began in 1968 surveying Japanese living abroad, it has been learned.

According to the survey, 267,064 expatriate Japanese were staying in Asia for three months or more as of Oct. 1, 2006, excluding permanent residents. North America had been the top location since the survey began, but came in second this time, with 263,756.

An official of the ministry's Consular Affairs Bureau said: "Many people stay overseas for a long time for business purposes. I suppose the reason Asia has topped the list is the increase of companies actively investing in China and Southeast Asian countries."

By country, the United States came in first, with 246,988 Japanese. China came in second at 124,476, followed by Britain at 48,289. By city, New York topped the list with 48,439 Japanese, followed by Shanghai with 43,960, and Los Angeles at 38,711.

The number of Japanese living overseas--combining long-term and permanent residents--came to 1,063,695, a 5 percent increase from the previous survey, which topped the 1 million mark for the first time.