Chinese immigrants are flowing to every corner of the world, from workers seeking to start businesses in Mexico to investment immigrants heading to developed countries. Those who choose Japan among Chinese immigrants are often wealthy or well-educated individuals, as well as students seeking immigration through studying in Japan. They are attracted by Japan’s relaxed lifestyle, rich culture, and immigration policies favorable to high-skilled professionals.
As Japan relaxes its visa requirements, the number of immigrants from China continues to grow, providing opportunities not only for the wealthy but also for the middle class. By 2026, the number of Chinese residents in Japan is expected to exceed one million.
An article in “The Nikkei Asia” on March 9 highlighted the influx of Chinese students attending Japanese art schools and ultimately seeking permanent residency.
The report mentioned 28-year-old Li Yalin, a second-year master’s student at a private art university in Kyoto, who moved to Japan in 2019 after obtaining a degree from a university in China. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, she was studying Japanese at a language school in Tokyo.
Li Yalin was forced to return to China, feeling frustrated but determined to return to Japan after the pandemic. She passed the online entrance exam for Kyoto University of Art and Design and now resides in Kyoto, specializing in character design for electronic games and other products.
Growing up in a middle-class family in Guangzhou, Li Yalin has always been fond of Japanese culture. “I have always admired Japan and I want to continue living here,” she told “The Nikkei Asia.” “The lifestyle in Japan suits me well. My current dream is to bring the game characters I design to the market.”
A study by “The Nikkei” revealed a significant increase in the number of Chinese students at top art universities in Japan. Currently, Tokyo University of the Arts has 245 Chinese international students, Musashino Art University has 462, Tama Art University has 448, Kyoto University of Art and Design has 692, and Kyoto Seika University has 823.
Chinese students now make up approximately 70% of all international students in Japanese art schools.
The high admission rate of Chinese students in Japanese art universities is closely related to the opportunity to obtain permanent residency in Japan, explained a migration consulting company in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
Over the past decade, Japan has relaxed its once strict immigration policies due to low birth rates and an aging population. Currently, foreigners make up about 2% of Japan’s population of 125 million. Data from the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research in Tokyo shows that this proportion is expected to increase to 12% by 2070.
In 2017, Japan amended rules for obtaining permanent residency, allowing “high-skilled foreign professionals” to apply for permanent residency after residing in Japan for one to three years. These rules came into effect at the end of March 2017, replacing the previous requirement of at least five years of residency.
“High-skilled foreign professionals” are defined as foreigners who score at least 70 points on an immigration point card, based on assessments regarding professional qualifications, education level, and annual salary. Professionals scoring 80 points can apply for permanent residency after residing in Japan for one year.
Furthermore, to promote the development of popular culture industries such as animation and design in line with the “Cool Japan” initiative, the Japanese government has implemented preferential measures for foreign workers in the arts field by relaxing the standards to obtain work visas. As a result, professions in the gaming, animation, and design sectors have become a quick path to obtaining permanent residency, increasing the attractiveness of art schools for Chinese students.
Ren Junying, a 30-year-old from Hebei, has obtained the qualification of a high-skilled foreign professional and currently resides in Tokyo. She completed her doctoral degree in jewelry design at Tokyo University of the Arts last spring and is now working as a jewelry designer.
Despite working for less than a year, Ren Junying has already scored 90 points as a high-skilled foreign professional. She is actively planning her future in Japan, stating, “I plan to get married here and have my children receive education here.”
Ren Junying is preparing to apply for permanent residency.
Li Yalin has also secured a position at a gaming company in Tokyo and will begin working there after graduating this spring. Though she recently arrived in Japan, she is already exploring the possibility of obtaining permanent residency.
Japanese government data shows that Chinese nationals make up the largest number among new immigrants, with 822,000 Chinese immigrants among the over three million foreigners living in Japan last year. This figure is higher than 762,000 a year ago and 649,000 a decade ago.
Many wealthy Chinese individuals are purchasing luxury apartments in Tokyo, leading to some areas being referred to as “Chinatown” or “Digital Chinatown,” the latter due to many property owners working in the high-tech industry.