Silviase/jgov_v1.4_full_ann huggingface dataset:
Looking at changes in the number of permanent residents between the end of 2008 and the end of 2012, a steady increase was seen, and the number had increased by 132,445 (26.9%) at the end of 2012 from 492,056 as of the end of 2008.

According to statistics by nationality/region, the largest number of permanent residents came from China totaling 191,946 at the end of 2012, followed by Brazil, the Philippines, Korea, and Peru.

On the other hand, the number of special permanent residents which used to account for the largest percentage until 2006 has been decreasing year by year, and therefore its percentage to the total number of foreign residents has also been decreasing accordingly. Looking at the changes over a longer period, the percentage of foreign nationals equivalent to the status of “Special Permanent Resident” accounted for approximately 90% just after World War II until 1955. However, the decline in the number of “Special Permanent Residents” itself and the increase in the number of foreign nationals newly visiting Japan for various purposes (so-called “newcomers”) are both driving the ratio of “Special Permanent Residents” down, which clearly shows the changes in the situation of foreign residents in Japan.

## (2) Foreign Nationals Residing in Japan for the Purpose of Employment in Professional or Technical Fields (Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 1-2 through 6-2)

The number of mid to long-term residents with a status of residence for the purpose of employment in professional or technical fields (excluding the status of residence of “Diplomat”, “Official” and “Technical Intern Training” in Appended Tables I (1) and I (2) of the Immigration Control Act) had decreased by 131 (0.1%) from the end of 2011 to 200,140 as of the end of 2012, accounting for 9.8% of the total. Looking at the changes in this number from the end of 2008 to the end of 2012, the number of foreign residents (registered persons before 2011) had seen an increasing trend from the end of 2008, but actually decreased from the end of 2010. (Chart 19)
Chart 19: Changes in the number of mid to long-term residents by status of residence for employment in professional or technical fields

(*1) The numbers until 2011 represent the number of alien registrations, and the number for 2012 represents the number of mid to long-term residents.

(*2) Excludes “Diplomat,” “Official,” “Technical Intern Training” and “Designated Activities” of Appended Tables I–1, 2 and 5.
The statuses of residence of “Engineer”, “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” and “Intra-company Transferee” which basically correspond to foreign employees working in companies, were 42,273, 69,721 and 14,867, respectively, as of the end of 2012, a decrease of 361 (0.8%), an increase of 1,867 (2.8%), and an increase of 231 (1.6%), respectively, compared with the number of alien registrations as of the end of 2011.

At the end of 2012, the number of mid to long-term residents with such statuses of residence as “Engineer”, “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” and “Intra-company Transferee” as a percentage of the total number of mid to long-term residents for the purpose of employment in professional or technical fields was 21.1%, 34.8%, and 7.4%, respectively.

## (3) “Student” (Data Section 2, Statistics (1) 9-2)

The number of mid to long-term residents with the status of residence of “Student” at the end of 2012 had decreased by 7,686 (4.1%) from the number of alien registrations at the end of 2011 to 180,919, accounting for 8.9% of the total. Due, in part, to the integration of the status of residence of “Pre-College Student” into “Student” in July 2010, the number of alien registrations increased significantly at the end of 2010 by 55,602 (38.1%) to 201,511 $ ^{*} $ , exceeding 200,000 for the first time, but turned to a decline at the end of 2011 and continued to decline as of the end of 2012. According to statistics by nationality/region, the number of Chinese students was 113,980, accounting for 63.0% of the total, followed by Korea (18,643, or 10.3%).
the changes from the end of 2008 to the end of 2012, the status of residence of “Long-Term Resident” has been decreasing as is the case with the status of residence of “Spouse or Child of Japanese National”. At the end of 2012, the number had decreased by 12,982 (7.3%) compared with the number at the end of 2011.

According to statistics by nationality/region, the number of those from Brazil was 53,044 (32.1%), followed by the Philippines (40,707, or 24.7%), and China (27,148, or 16.5%). Looking at the changes from the end of 2008 to the end of 2012, the number of those from the Philippines has consistently been increasing.

## 4 Total Number of Foreign Residents

The total number of foreign residents refers to the total number of foreign nationals residing in Japan with a status of residence or the position of special permanent resident under the Immigration Control Act, and is calculated by adding the number of foreign nationals residing in Japan with a status of residence under the Immigration Control Act, who fall under any of (i) through (iv) below to the number of foreign residents (sum of the number of mid to long-term residents and the number of special permanent residents).

(i) Persons granted permission to stay for 3 months or less,

(ii) Persons granted the status of residence of “Temporary Visitor”,

(iii) Persons granted the status of residence of “Diplomat” or “Official”,

(iv) Persons recognized by the Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as equivalent to the foreign nationals mentioned above (specifically, the staff of the Japanese office of the Association of East Asian Relations (Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, etc.) and the Permanent General Mission of Palestine in Japan who have the status of residence of “Designated Activities”, and their families).

The total number of foreign residents at the end of 2012 was 2,249,720, which was 216,064 more than the number of foreign residents at the end of 2012. Looking at the numbers by status, the number of “Permanent Residents” was 624,501, accounting for 27.8% of the total, followed by “Special Permanent Residents” (381,364, or 17.0%), “Temporary Visitors” (197,128, or 8.8%), and “Student” (180,929, or 8.0%). (Chart 20, 21, Table 10)
Chart 20: Changes in the total number of foreign residents, and changes in the total number of foreign residents as a percentage of the total population of Japan

$ ^{*1} $ The numbers are based on the statistics as at the end of December each year.

$ ^{*2} $ The numbers until 2011 represent the number of alien registrations, and the number for 2012 represents the total number of foreign residents who stayed in Japan with a status of residence or the position of a special permanent resident.

$ ^{*3} $ The “percentage of the total population of Japan” is calculated based on the population as of October 1 every year taken from the “Population Estimates” and the “Population Census” of the Statistics Bureau of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Chart 21: Changes in the total number of foreign residents by major nationality/region

$ ^{*1} $ The numbers until 2011 represent the number of alien registrations, and the number for 2012 represents the total number of foreign residents who stayed in Japan with a status of residence or the position of a special permanent resident.

$ ^{*2} $ "China" until 2011 includes Taiwan, and "China" for 2012 excludes those who were issued with residence cards and special permanent resident certificates and had already been included in "Taiwan" in the nationality/region section. (Hereinafter the same applies to the tables relating to the number of mid to long-term residents)
Table 10 Changes in the total number of foreign residents by status of residence

(People)

Year	Number of registered foreign nationals	Number of foreign residents	Total number of foreign residents
Status of Residence	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2012
Total	2,217,426	2,186,121	2,134,151	2,078,508	2,033,656	2,249,720
Diplomat	8,137
Official	8,468
Professor	8,333	8,295	8,050	7,859	7,787	7,849
Artist	461	490	480	461	438	440
Religious Activities	4,601	4,448	4,232	4,106	4,051	4,051
Journalist	281	271	248	227	223	223
Investor/Business Manager	8,895	9,840	10,908	11,778	12,609	12,609
Legal/Accounting Services	154	161	178	169	159	159
Medical Services	199	220	265	322	412	412
Researcher	2,285	2,372	2,266	2,103	1,970	1,980
Instructor	10,070	10,129	10,012	10,106	10,121	10,121
Engineer	52,273	50,493	46,592	42,634	42,273	42,287
Specialist in Humanities/International Services	67,291	69,395	68,467	67,854	69,721	69,728
Intra-company Transferee	17,798	16,786	16,140	14,636	14,867	14,909
Entertainer	13,031	10,966	9,247	6,265	1,646	3,030
Skilled Labor	25,863	29,030	30,142	31,751	33,863	33,865
Technical Intern Training 1-(a)	2,707	3,991	4,121	4,121
Technical Intern Training 1-(b)	47,716	57,187	59,160	59,160
Technical Intern Training 2-(a)	1,848	2,726	2,869	2,869
Technical Intern Training 2-(b)	47,737	78,090	85,327	85,332
Cultural Activities	2,795	2,780	2,637	2,209	2,320	2,369
Temporary Visitor	40,407	33,378	29,093	23,978	197,128
College Student	138,514	145,909	201,511	188,605	180,919	180,929
Pre-college Student	41,313	46,759
Trainee	86,826	65,209	9,343	3,388	1,804	1,909
Dependent	107,641	115,081	118,865	119,359	120,693	120,707
Designated Activities	121,863	130,636	72,374	22,751	20,159	20,784
Permanent Resident	492,056	533,472	565,089	598,440	624,501	624,501
Spouse or Child of Japanese National	245,497	221,923	196,248	181,617	162,332	162,332
Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident	17,839	19,570	20,251	21,647	22,946	22,946
Long-Term Resident	258,498	221,771	194,602	177,983	165,001	165,001
Special Permanent Resident	420,305	409,565	399,106	389,085	381,364	381,364
Without Acquiring Status of Residence	13,510	12,376	9,874	3,506
Temporary Refuge	30	30	30	29
Others	18,797	14,766	7,893	3,646

$ ^{*} $ The numbers until 2011 represent the number of alien registrations, and the number for 2012 represents the number of foreign residents adding together the mid to and long-term residents and special permanent residents, and the total number of foreign residents staying in Japan with a status of residence or the position of a special permanent resident.
## Section 2 ☐ Examination of Statuses of Residence

Although the total number of cases of permission for statuses of residence has had a tendency to increase in recent years, it peaked out in 2009, and 2012 saw a decline of 359,712 (26.5%) compared to 999,184 in 2011. As described in subsection 5 below, such a substantial decrease was due to a decline in permission for re-entry in 2012 by 393,919 (59.3%) from 2011 as a result of the introduction of the “system for special re-entry permission”. (Table 11)

Residence examination

Table 11 Changes in the numbers of permission examined in status of residence examinations

(Cases)

Year Division	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Total	1,361,844	1,403,250	1,375,705	1,358,896	999,184
Permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence previously granted	133,513	147,528	163,654	136,450	146,920
Permission for change of status of residence	149,214	149,046	188,178	132,834	124,192
Permission for extension of period of stay	434,307	444,330	389,439	377,645	407,570
Permission for permanent residence	57,806	53,960	48,003	41,327	42,029
Permission for special permanent residence	114	139	105	102	147
Permission for acquisition of status of residence	8,957	8,303	7,531	6,528	8,235
Re-entry permission	577,933	599,944	578,795	664,010	270,091

(*1) "Permission for permanent residence" is the permission provided for in Article 22 of the Immigration Control Act.

$ ^{*2} $ "Permission for acquisition of status of residence" includes the permission for permanent residence provided for in Article 22-2 of the Immigration Control Act.

$ ^{*3} $ "Permission for special permanent residence" is the permission for special permanent residence provided for in Article 5 of the Special Act on the Immigration Control of Inter Alia, Those Who Have Lost Japanese Nationality on the Basis of the Treaty of Peace with Japan.

## 1 Permission for Change in the Status of Residence

In 2012, the number of foreign nationals who obtained permission for a change in the status of residence was 124,192, a decline of 8,642 (6.5%) from 2011.

## (1) Change of Status of Residence from the Status of Residence of “Student” to a Status for Employment Purposes

Foreign nationals studying at Japanese universities or vocational/technical schools have the status of residence of "Student". Many of them wish to stay in Japan to work for a company or some other organization in Japan even after finishing their studies at school.

The number of foreign nationals who obtained permission for a change to a status of residence for employment was 10,969, an increase of 2,383 (27.8%) from 2011. While the number had consistently been on the increase since 2003, it turned downward after hitting a peak in 2008. However, the number for 2012 has substantially increased to a level close to the peak in 2008. (Table 12)
Table 12 Changes in the number of cases of permission for change of the status of residence from student, etc. to a status for employment by status of residence

Year Status of Residence	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Total	11,040	9,584	7,831	8,586	10,969
Specialist in Humanities/ International Services	7,863	6,677	5,422	6,006	7,565
Engineer	2,414	2,154	1,390	1,670	2,227
Professor	430	444	512	419	588
Investor/Business Manager	128	128	275	291	356
Researcher	111	97	93	78	119
Instructor	29	31	46	46	41
Medical Services	16	24	54	34	29
Religious Activities	19	3	12	12	9
Skilled Labor	3	4	11	11	4
Artist	2	8	5	5	3
Entertainer	5	2	3	1	2
Others	20	12	8	13	26

According to statistics by nationality/region, the number of foreign nationals who obtained such permission from China was 7,032, accounting for 64.1%, followed by R.O. Korea (1,417, or 12.9%) and Taiwan (352, or 3.2%).

According to statistics by status of residence, foreign nationals who obtained permission to change their status to that of “Specialist in Humanities/International Services” made up the largest percentage, totaling 7,565 (69.0%), an increase of 1,559 (26.0%) from 2011. The number of foreign nationals who obtained permission to change their status to that of “Engineer” was 2,227 (20.3%), and these two statuses of residence accounted for 89.3% of the total. (Table 12, 13)

Table 13 Changes in the number of cases of permission for change of the status of residence from student, etc. to a status for employment by nationality/region

YearNationality/region	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Total	11,040	9,584	7,831	8,586	10,969
China	7,651	6,333	4,874	5,344	7,032
R.O.Korea	1,360	1,368	1,205	1,209	1,417
Taiwan	303	285	279	302	352
Viet Nam	189	161	167	242	302
Nepal	161	173	141	149	224
Thailand	97	101	119	109	170
Bangladesh	164	125	107	139	162
United States of America	65	67	87	107	130
Myanmar	83	94	63	89	106
Sri Lanka	160	141	120	114	91
Others	807	736	669	782	983

$ ^{*} $ “China” does not include Taiwan, Hong Kong or others.
## (2) Permission to Change Status of Residence in Order to Participate in “Technical Intern Training (2)”

The technical intern training program was a system established in 1993 to enable foreign nationals to acquire skills through on-the-job training while in employment, thereby contributing to effective technology transfer and human resources development as part of Japan's international contributions. Since July 1, 2010, new training and technical intern training programs have commenced, and it has been necessary for foreign nationals, who wish to acquire further proficiency in the skills obtained with the status of residence of "Technical Intern Training (1)" and to engage in work requiring the skills already obtained in the program to get permission to change their status of residence to "Technical Intern Training (2)".

“Technical Intern Training (2)” covers skills that are publicly evaluated in Japan and also meets demand in the countries sending the trainees. These skills were categorized into 68 types of work in total as of April 1, 2012. Fifty-three types, including form panel setting and machining, are evaluated based on the National Skills Test under the Occupation Skills Development Promotion Act for Basic Grade 1 and Basic Grade 2. The remaining 15 types, including welding and operation of spinning machines, are publicly evaluated, although not by national examinations, according to a system established by the Japan International Training Cooperation Organization.

Foreign trainees who were permitted to change their status of residence to “Technical Intern Training (2)” in 2012 had increased by 3,739 (8.3%) from 2011 to 48,752. In total, more than 520,000 trainees took part in the program after finishing their training from establishment of the technical intern training program in 1993 up to the end of 2012 $ ^{*} $ .

According to statistics by nationality/region, the largest number of trainees who obtained permission to change their status of residence to “Technical Intern Training (2)” in 2012 came from China (36,448, or 74.8%), followed by Viet Nam (5,520, 11.3%), Indonesia (2,689, 5.5%), the Philippines (2,550, or 5.2%), and Thailand (913, 1.9%). The highest number of trainees by occupation was women/children’s apparel production, followed by welding, and plastic molding. (Table 14, 15)
## 2 Permission for Extension of the Period of Stay

The number of foreign nationals who obtained permission for extension of their period of stay during 2012 was 407,570, an increase of 29,925 (7.9%) from 2011.

## ⑬ Permission for Permanent Residence

The number of foreign nationals who were granted permission for permanent residence marked the highest number at 60,509 in 2007. Although the number declined after that, the number for 2012 was 42,029, an increase of 702 (1.7%) from 2011. (Table 16)

Table 16 Changes in the number of cases of permission for permanent residence by nationality/region

(Cases)

YearNationality/region	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
Total	57,806	53,820	47,898	41,327	42,029
China	16,140	16,957	16,714	16,436	17,471
Philippines	8,982	9,248	9,157	7,210	7,373
Brazil	16,824	11,430	7,549	5,172	4,867
Korea	3,914	4,060	3,760	3,221	2,902
Peru	2,783	2,389	1,756	1,335	1,116
Others	9,163	9,736	8,962	7,953	8,300

$ ^{*1} $ “China” until 2011 includes Taiwan, Hong Kong and others.

$ ^{*2} $ “China” for 2012 includes Hong Kong and others.

## 4 Permission for Acquisition of a Status of Residence

The number of foreign nationals who obtained permission for acquisition of a status of residence in 2012 was 8,235, an increase of 1,707 (26.1%) from 2011.

## 5 Re-entry Permission

The number of foreign nationals who were granted re-entry permission in 2012 was 270,091, marking a substantial decrease of 393,919 (59.3%) from 2011.

This is because foreign nationals holding a valid passport or a valid residence card are no longer required, in principle, under the “system for special re-entry permission”, to obtain re-entry permission, as long as they re-enter Japan in order to continue their activities in Japan within one year of departing from Japan.

The number of foreign nationals who departed from Japan with re-entry permission in 2012 was 1,691,563, of which the number of foreign nationals departing from Japan under the system for special re-entry permission was 390,170.

## ⑨ Permission to Engage in an Activity Other Than Those Permitted by the Status of Residence Previously Granted

The number of foreign nationals who obtained permission to engage in an activity other than those permitted by the status of residence previously granted was 146,920, an increase of 10,470 (7.7%) from 2011.
## Section 3 ☐ Number of Issuances of Residence Cards and Special Permanent Resident Certificates

## Number of Issuances of Residence Cards

The number of issuances of residence cards was 642,454 in 2012. Taking a look by category, 362,256 residence cards were issued for permission in connection with landing or the status of residence, accounting for 56.4% of the total, followed by 222,957 (accounting for 34.7%) in connection with applications for issuance of a renewal, 29,216 (accounting for 4.5%) in connection with applications for issuances in advance, and 10,679 (accounting for 1.7%) in connection with applications for new issuance.

By category of regional immigration bureaus, the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau issued 374,184 residence cards, accounting for 58.2% of the total, followed by Nagoya (121,166, or 18.9%), Osaka (78,482, or 12.2%), and Fukuoka (23,015, or 3.6%). Table 17)

Table 17 Number of issuances of residence cards (2012)

Regional immigration bureaus	Total	Landing/ residency status-related permission	Notification of change in descriptions other than address	Extension of validity period	Application for re-issuance	Application for issuance for renewal	Application for new issuance	Application for issuance in advance
Total	642,454	362,256	6,279	1,865	9,202	222,957	10,679	29,216
Sapporo	5,385	3,906	16	10	93	1,203	157	-
Sendai	12,545	6,437	117	29	99	5,479	384	-
Tokyo	374,184	212,784	4,733	1,031	5,538	115,720	5,162	29,216
Nagoya	121,166	63,230	989	487	1,636	53,209	1,615	-
Osaka	78,482	44,320	150	191	1,058	30,967	1,796	-
Hiroshima	20,204	11,675	110	67	262	7,494	596	-
Takamatsu	7,473	5,232	54	22	103	1,734	328	-
Fukuoka	23,015	14,672	110	28	413	7,151	641	-

$ ^{*} $ The number of residence cards for which applications for issuance in advance were submitted are included in Tokyo, as all applications received by each regional immigration bureau were processed by the Tokyo Immigration Bureau.

## ② Number of Issuances of Special Permanent Resident Certificates

The number of issuances of special permanent resident certificates was 12,234 in 2012. Taking a look by category, 5,668 special permanent resident certificates were issued in connection with applications for issuance of a renewal, accounting for 46.3%, followed by 2,868 (accounting for 23.4%) in connection with applications for issuances in advance, 1,439 (accounting for 11.8%) in connection with applications for re-issuance, and 684 (accounting for 5.6%) in connection with notification of changes in descriptions other than the address. (Table 18)

Table 18 Number of issuances of special permanent resident certificates (2012)

Permission for special permanent residence (Article 4)	Permission for special permanent residence (Article 5)	Notification of change in descriptions other than address	Extension of validity period	Application for re-issuance	Application for issuance for renewal	Application for new issuance	Application for issuance in advance	Total
Number of issuance"	487	72	684	660	1,439	5,668	356	2,868	12,234