rfmcdonald | [LINK] The Nigerians of Japan (Reply)

jrittenhouse, the English-language edition of Mainichi Daily News's examination of Japan's growing Nigerian population.

The number of Nigerians in Japan has increased rapidly, with 958 registering as residents in 2003, compared to just 193 who did so in 1990. Many of the arrivals to Japan had first illegally entered the Netherlands, France, Spain and other European countries, after which they either acquired international refugee documents or some European nationality. With passports issued by an EU country, they could enter Japan for up to 90 days without a visa. Then the would either overstay the permitted duration or marry a Japanese woman, giving them resident status.

According to immigration statistics, Nigerians are presently the most numerous of all African nationalities in Japan, with 2,405 registered as residents enjoying legal status. The breakdown includes 706 with spouse visas, 578 permanent residents, 10 who are spouses of permanent residents and 748 on short-term status. But if illegal sojourners and those who entered the country on forged passports, etc., are included, Tokusatsu Shinsengumi supposes the figure may be considerably higher.

As a percentage of the total Japanese population, or even as a percentage of the total immigrant population, the Nigerian presence in Japan is vanishingly small. But who knows? Things might change.