Over the past 10 years, while the number of Japanese children fell by 2.58 million, the number of foreign children in Japan increased by nearly 120,000. Although the number of children is declining due to a severe low birthrate, some basic local governments have seen overall child numbers grow because of an increase in foreign children.

NHK reported on the 26th that, based on the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Basic Resident Register (resident registration), a comparison and analysis of the number of children aged 0 to 14 in about 1,741 municipalities nationwide in 2015 and 2025 found that the number of Japanese children decreased by 2.58 million. In contrast, foreign children increased by 117,000. As of January 1 last year, there were 299,000 foreign children in Japan.

NHK said that in particular, foreign children increased in 56% of all municipalities, and among them 45% saw the number of foreign children more than double. In Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture, the number of foreign children grew by about 84 times; in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, by 15.5 times; and in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, by 11 times.

Yotsukaido and Kashiwa in Chiba Prefecture, and Chofu in Tokyo, saw their total child populations rise compared with 10 years ago as foreign children filled the decline among Japanese children.

NHK analyzed that one reason for the rise in foreign children is the ‘Family Stay’ residence status in the residence status system. ‘Family Stay’ is a status that grants residence to the spouses or children of foreigners engaged in professional occupations such as ‘Technology·Humanities Knowledge·International Work’ or ‘Management·Administration’, and the number of foreign spouses and children residing in Japan under this status has increased 2.5 times compared with 10 years ago.

Keizo Yamawaki, a Meiji University professor and expert on foreigner policy, told NHK, “The number of foreign children is expected to continue to rise,” adding, “To avoid (social) friction and division, it is also necessary to enhance support for acquisition of the Japanese language for coexistence.”