Japan is experiencing a “demographic crisis” as its population ages and deaths outnumber births year on year. But as the native population shrinks, the number of foreigners calling the country home has moved steadily in the opposite direction and has of late been propelled to new heights by an acute labour shortage. There are now 2,667,000 foreigners living in Japan – an increase of about 170,000 from 12 months earlier, according to annual statistics released this month by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
