Minorities in Japan

By William Wetherall

Table 1

Estimated Minority Populations in Japan (1974)

a b=a-f c=b-e d=e+f e=e1:e6 f=f1:f6
All Japanese Japanese All National Foreign
Totals Residents Nationals Majorities Minorities Minorities Minorities Notes
Published 104,665,171 103,956,713 101,513,981 3,151,191 2,442,733 708,458 1-2
% of a 100 99 97 3 2 1
Model 110,000,000 109,000,000 105,500,000 4,500,000 3,500,000 1,000,000 3-4
% of a 100 99 96 4 3 1
National e1 e2 e3 e4 e5 e6
Minorities Burakumin Okinawans Hibakusha Kikajin Konketsuji Ainu
Published 1,113,043 945,111 290,000 28,579 50,000 16,000 5-10
% of e 46 39 12 1 2 1
Model 2,000,000 1,000,000 300,000 100,000 80,000 20,000 11-13
% of e 57 29 9 3 2 1
Foreign f1 f2 f3 f4 f5 f6
Minorities Koreans Chinese Americans English Others Tourists
Published 614,202 51,481 19,045 3,001 20,729 660,715 14-15
% of f 87 7 3 0 3 omitted
Model 670,000 70,000 25,000 5,000 30,000 200,000 16
% of f 67 7 3 1 3 20

Notes

  1. Sum of fa through f6 published. Excludes tourist population. See note14.
  2. Sorifu 1973[22]:14. 1970 census. Includes Okinawans and foreign nationals but excludes American military personnel and dependants in Japan under Status of Forces Agreement.
  3. Estimation based on 1970 census and 1975 projection, plus Okinawa. Sorifu 1973[22]:10, 14.
  4. Sum of f1 through f6 estimated. Includes steady state tourist population. See note 16.
  5. Buraku 228[special issue March 1968]:50. 1963 government figures.
  6. Sorifu 1973[22]:14. 1970 census.
  7. Lifton1967:191. 1950s estimate. See Hibakusha section in text.
  8. Homusho 1964:91. 1952-1962 total. See Kikajin section in text.
  9. Trumbull 1967:112. 1930s estimate. See Konketsuji section in text.
  10. Ainu BHTK 1969[1]:12. 1960s estimate. See Ainu section in text.
  11. See Burakumin section in text for explanation of this estimate.
  12. Estimate based on 35 year extrapolation of 10 year rate. See note 8.
  13. Estimate intended to reflect probable increases through 1960s and to include the emerging second generation of mixedblood offspring (the children of marriages involving first generation mixedblood people. See Konketsuji section in text.
  14. Asahi 1973[1]:512. 1971 foreign national entry rate. Excludes residents. Includes sightseeing, business, and transit status foreign nationals only.
  15. Asahi 1973[1]:532. 1970 Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice figures. Excludes foreign nationals on Okinawa, and excludes American military personnel or dependants in Japan or on Okinawa under Status of Forces Agreement.
  16. Estimate of steady state tourist flow (the population of tourists in Japan at any given time of year).