根據 jp-mirai.org 公布的數據，2024年日本的外國居民人數持續上升，且呈現出愈加多元的格局。中國公民依舊是日本最大的外籍群體，總數達到844,187人。他們大多透過留學、就業與長期居留等方式在日本生活，長期以來始終是日本移民結構的核心。緊隨其後的是越南居民，總數高達600,348人。越南人在日人數近年快速攀升，主要原因是日本的技能實習生制度、大量勞動力輸入，以及不斷增加的留學生人口，使得越南成為日本社會中新興的重要群體。

位居第三的則是韓國居民，總數達411,043人。韓國與日本有著長久的歷史、文化與地緣聯繫，這樣的背景使得韓國人長期在日本保持著龐大的居住人口規模。除此之外，菲律賓、巴西與尼泊爾等國的居民數量也不容小覷。巴西移民社群的歷史可以追溯到20世紀的大規模遷徙潮，而尼泊爾人口則因日本的教育資源與勞動需求，近年急速增加。

這些數據顯示，日本正在逐步形成一種獨特的多元文化格局。過去以東亞與東南亞居民為主的結構，如今已被來自南美洲與南亞的群體補充，顯示日本的移民來源正在朝著更廣泛的全球化發展。推動這股變化的因素相當多元，其中包括日本經濟發展帶來的工作機會、優質的教育資源吸引留學生，以及外交與雙邊交流深化所帶來的人口流動。

綜合來看，日本外國居民的增加不僅是數字上的擴張，更代表著社會結構的變遷。隨著更多元的群體進入並定居，日本的社會文化正在經歷一場漸進式的轉型，未來將不再只是以東亞人口為主，而會發展成兼具亞洲、南美洲與南亞特色的多元社會。

According to data released by jp-mirai.org, the number of foreign residents in Japan continued to grow in 2024, showing an increasingly diverse demographic structure. Chinese nationals remain the largest foreign community, reaching 844,187 people. Most of them live in Japan through study, employment, or long-term residence, and they have long been at the core of Japan’s immigration profile. Closely following are Vietnamese residents, totaling 600,348 people. The Vietnamese population has surged in recent years, largely due to Japan’s technical intern program, the demand for labor, and the rising number of international students, making Vietnam one of the most significant emerging groups in Japanese society.

Ranking third are South Korean residents, numbering 411,043. The deep historical, cultural, and geographical ties between the two countries have ensured that South Koreans remain a sizable community in Japan. Beyond these, residents from the Philippines, Brazil, and Nepal also represent notable populations. The Brazilian community’s history in Japan can be traced back to the large-scale migration waves of the 20th century, while Nepalese numbers have risen sharply in recent years due to Japan’s educational opportunities and labor market demand.

These figures reveal that Japan is gradually forming a unique multicultural landscape. While East and Southeast Asians have long made up the majority, the growing presence of South American and South Asian groups indicates a more globalized trend of migration. Several key factors are driving this transformation, including Japan’s economic opportunities, its attractive educational resources that draw international students, and the strengthening of diplomatic and bilateral exchanges that facilitate population mobility.

Overall, the growth of foreign residents in Japan is not just a matter of numbers, but also a sign of structural change within society. With increasingly diverse groups settling in, Japan’s social and cultural fabric is undergoing a gradual transformation. In the future, it will no longer be a society dominated solely by East Asians, but one that reflects a richer mix, incorporating the influences of Asia, South America, and South Asia into its evolving multicultural identity.