end of 2004 and the end of 2008, rising by 179,092 (up 57.2%) at the end of 2008 from 312,964 as of the end of 2004.

According to statistics by nationality (place of origin), the largest number of permanent residents came from China. The number of Chinese permanent residents was 142,469 as of the end of 2008, followed by Brazil, the Philippines, North and South Korea and Peru. Further, China, Brazil, the Philippines and Peru increased by about 1.5 times, 2.1 times, 1.6 times, and 1.5 times respectively. (Table 8)

Table 8 Changes in the number of registered foreign nationals by status of residence

(People)

Year	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Status of Residence
Total	1,973,747	2,011,555	2,084,919	2,152,973	2,217,426
Professor	8,153	8,406	8,525	8,436	8,333
Artist	401	448	462	448	461
Religious Activities	4,699	4,588	4,654	4,732	4,601
Journalist	292	280	273	279	281
Investor/Business Manager	6,396	6,743	7,342	7,916	8,895
Legal/Accounting Services	125	126	141	145	154
Medical Services	117	146	138	174	199
Researcher	2,548	2,494	2,332	2,276	2,285
Instructor	9,393	9,449	9,511	9,832	10,070
Engineer	23,210	29,044	35,135	44,684	52,273
Specialist in Humanities/International Services	47,682	55,276	57,323	61,763	67,291
Intra-company Transferee	10,993	11,977	14,014	16,111	17,798
Entertainer	64,742	36,376	21,062	15,728	13,031
Skilled Labor	13,373	15,112	17,869	21,261	25,863
Cultural Activities	3,093	2,949	3,025	3,014	2,795
Temporary Visitor	72,446	68,747	56,449	49,787	40,407
College Student	129,873	129,568	131,789	132,460	138,514
Pre-college Student	43,208	28,147	36,721	38,130	41,313
Trainee	54,317	54,107	70,519	88,086	86,826
Dependent	81,919	86,055	91,344	98,167	107,641
Designated Activities	63,310	87,324	97,476	104,488	121,863
Permanent Resident	312,964	349,804	394,477	439,757	492,056
Spouse or Child of Japanese National	257,292	259,656	260,955	256,980	245,497
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident	9,417	11,066	12,897	15,365	17,839
Long-Term Resident	250,734	265,639	268,836	268,604	258,498
Special Permanent Resident	465,619	451,909	443,044	430,229	420,305
Without Acquiring Status of Residence	18,236	15,353	17,415	13,960	13,510
Temporary Refuge	31	30	30	30	30
Others	19,164	20,736	21,161	20,131	18,797

(*) Status of Residence (meaning the status of residence provided for by the Immigration Control Act or the status of “special permanent resident” which allows residence)

On the other hand, the number of registered foreign nationals who were “Special Permanent Residents” that occupied the largest percentage until 2006 is decreasing year by year, while the percentage occupying the total number of registered foreign nationals is decreasing accordingly. Looking at changes over a longer period, the percentage of foreign nationals equivalent to the status of “Special Permanent Residents” occupied approximately 90% from the time just after the war until 1955. However, the decrease in the number of “Special Permanent Residents” itself and the increase of foreign nationals newly visiting Japan with various purposes (so-called newcomers) are both driving the tendency of “Special Permanent Residents” to decrease, which vividly shows the change in the situation in Japan surrounding resident foreign nationals. Also in the future, the total number of