Statistics show that 5,286,310 foreigners who had landed in Japan in 2001 hit a 0.3% record growth over 2000 and of these a greatly increased number of Chinese were statistically put on a tour of Japan.

According to Chinese Review Weekly, 444,441 Chinese had descended in Japan in 2001 for a 15.4% increase over 2000, including 225,357 or an 18.4% growth on their first tour of Japan.

Statistics also show a predominant number of Chinese students among a large student body of foreign students starting on a study program or research mission in Japan.

Of these, Chinese students were placed at 11,261 or 48.1% of their aliens in Japan; scholars under a research program number 32,894 or 55.7% of their alien total. Of Japan's large alien student body, Chinese students have also had their influence being felt as the second largest having been given the right of abode leading a married life in Japan.

Statistics from the host country's survey also reveal 777,673 foreign nationals from China's Taiwan in 2001. But a drop of 11.9% less than 2000 of these has been reported and 72,024 or 53.9% up over 2000 from China's Hong Kong.

( June 6, 2002)