As Japan's visa requirements have been relaxed, not only wealthy individuals but also the middle class from China are moving to Japan. The number of Chinese residents in Japan is expected to exceed 1 million by 2026. With the increase in Chinese migration to Japan, several cities are seeing the emergence of Chinatowns, while lifestyles, education systems, and cultural traditions are changing.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on the 23rd, there are currently 840,000 Chinese residents in Japan. Notably, the number of Chinese individuals with residency permits who have lived in Japan for a long time has increased. There are 330,000 Chinese nationals with permanent residency in Japan, which is more than those from other countries. The number of Chinese permanent residents has increased by about 100,000 over the past eight years since 2016, and there are no signs of a slowdown in this upward trend.

Chinatown created around the north exit of Ikebukuro Station. /Courtesy of Nikkei.

Of the 1,741 municipalities in Japan's basic local government, 1,603, or 92%, have Chinese residents. There are 128 municipalities where over 1,000 Chinese individuals reside, primarily located near Tokyo. As of June 2024, 30% (about 240,000) of Chinese residents in Japan live in the 23 wards of Tokyo. They predominantly reside in Takadanobaba and Okubo, situated between Ikebukuro and Shinjuku.

Additionally, it has been shown that Chinese individuals mainly reside in rural areas. For instance, in Shimukappu in central Hokkaido, 5% of the total population of 1,600 are Chinese. Many of them have moved there to enjoy ski resorts. A significant number of Chinese residents also live in Kawakami, Nagano, the largest lettuce-producing area in Japan.

With the increase in the Chinese population, Chinatowns are springing up everywhere. A new Chinatown has emerged northwest of Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo. This area features restaurants serving authentic Chinese cuisine, stores selling Chinese products, and mobile phone shops targeting Chinese customers. A publishing company employee (35) who moved to Tokyo three years ago noted, 'It is easy to find a Chinese person who can assist with everything from finding an apartment to setting up a smartphone and applying for a driver's license.'

The Shinazono apartment complex in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Half of the residents are Chinese. /Courtesy of Nikkei.

The Shinazono apartment complex in Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, is managed by the Urban Renaissance Agency, a quasi-governmental organization that develops rental dwellings. Approximately half of the 2,454 units in this complex are occupied by Chinese residents. Shops around the plaza are all operated by Chinese nationals and include restaurants targeting Chinese customers, grocery stores with Chinese price tags, pharmacies owned by Chinese individuals, and daycare centers for Chinese children.

Originally, the Shinazono complex was built in 1978 during a period of rapid economic growth in Japan. However, the nearby elementary and middle schools that opened when the complex was completed closed due to a declining birth rate. Chinese residents have filled the void left by the decreasing Japanese population.

Wang Yukun (39), who works at a grocery store in the housing complex, said, 'I have forgotten all the Japanese I learned in college, but since two-thirds of the customers are Chinese, I no longer need to worry.' Wang Yukun is originally from Shenyang, Liaoning Province, and moved to Japan in 2019.