In the reports of Japanese television reporters, Chinese signs, Chinese restaurants, and Chinese-style shops can be seen everywhere on the streets of Tokyo.

Along the way, even the reporter couldn't help but ask: Is this Japan or a Chinese county?

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A new batch of Chinese immigrants has begun to flock to Japan in large numbers.

According to data from the Japan Immigration Services Agency, as of the end of 2024, nearly one-quarter of the residents among long-term foreign residents in Japan are from mainland China, with 873,000 people leading by a wide margin.

Moreover, this number will only increase over the next two years. According to Nikkei predictions, the arrival of a million Chinese immigrants will likely happen as early as 2026.

With the influx of Chinese immigrants, Chinese signs, Chinese restaurants, and other elements have appeared all over the streets of Japan, initiating a "county-style China" transformation in Japan.

However, today, Chinese signs are not only found in old areas on the fringes but have directly moved to the foot of skyscrapers in Tokyo's CBD.

In short, the living tracks of the new batch of Chinese immigrants are increasingly concentrated in the core area of Tokyo.

Data shows that in the past seven years, districts where the number of Chinese people has increased by more than 80% are all in the core areas, such as Bunkyo Ward (109%), Chuo Ward (105.2%), Chiyoda Ward (91.3%), and Shibuya Ward (85.6%).

On one hand, new Chinese immigrants are becoming wealthier.

News about Chinese tycoons buying luxury homes in central Tokyo frequently tops the headlines of Japanese media. In these reports, these affluent groups bring large amounts of cash, directly targeting multi-million-yen central luxury homes.

In early March, a survey by Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Bank revealed that among newly built apartments in Chiyoda Ward, Minato Ward, and Shibuya Ward, the proportion of foreign buyers generally ranges from 20% to 40%, with most being Chinese buyers.

On the other hand, purchasing property is also equivalent to acquiring resources.

In the eyes of Chinese parents moving to Japan, Bunkyo Ward is considered the "Tokyo Haidian." Not only does it house prestigious universities like the University of Tokyo, Ochanomizu Women's University, and the University of Tsukuba, but it also has four top-tier elementary schools in Japan known as the "3S1K" — Kowamachi Elementary School, Sei-no Elementary School, Sengokudai Elementary School, and Showa Elementary School.

The aura of academic prestige spreads quickly, and Chinese parents have quickly flocked in. Data shows that in 2024, there were 467 foreign students in Bunkyo Ward, with 81% being Chinese students.

Nowadays, wealthy middle-class families have become the main force behind Chinese immigration to Japan. They often move with their families and place greater emphasis on their offspring's education.

This has led to the increasing visibility of Chinese newcomers in the core areas of Tokyo.

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To satisfy the desire for an entire family to relocate to Japan, most Chinese applicants opt for the Business Management Visa.

According to statistics from the Japanese Immigration Bureau, as of the end of June 2024, there are a total of 20,500 Chinese holders of the Business Management Visa, which has tripled compared to 10 years ago.

The Business Management Visa is also known as the self-employed visa, requiring the applicant to run a business in Japan.

Interestingly, media interviews found that many Chinese immigrants are not doing business with Japanese people but with Chinese individuals, including those still in mainland China and those who have already settled in Japan.

Three years ago, Mr. Zhang moved to Tokyo from Fujian with his wife and daughter to start a trading career.

Initially, he felt slightly uneasy about running a business in a strange country and language environment, but later discovered that two-thirds of his customers were Chinese, and he felt reassured, "It's like directly doing business with compatriots."

Chinese restaurants are even more so. A staff member at a certain deli store said that eight out of ten customers are Chinese. Although they only know a few words of Japanese, life has never been inconvenient, whether renting a place, applying for a driver's license, buying a mobile phone, or socializing, "Everything can be successfully completed within the Chinese economic circle."

It can be observed that the mentality of this group of new immigrants has undergone a complete transformation. Compared to students who struggled to stay through student visas a few years ago, they seem to just want to change their living environment, rarely using Japanese, and not seeking integration into Japanese society.

Reliant on the Chinese community, new immigrants live comfortably, entertaining Chinese clients, meeting Chinese friends, eating Chinese food, and even using domestic software for online surfing.

Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7498728909052166707/

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