Lan, tell us about your cultural experiences! June 2022 Issue

When I returned to live in Japan after 10 years, I couldn’t help but be surprised at the changes in the number of Vietnamese people living in Japan. The number of Vietnamese residents in Japan increased tenfold over the past 10 years, from 44,690 in 2011 to 457,645 in June 2021, according to data from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Ministry of Justice). The Vietnamese population in Matsudo City, a commuter town for Tokyo, also increased sharply, from only 181 in 2008 to 2,764 as of the end of January 2021 (data from the Matsudo City Hall). So it’s no wonder that you can hear Vietnamese wherever you go. The reason for those changes is thought to be the revision of the Japanese goverment’s systems regarding the acceptance of foreign workers and international students.

As the number of Vietnamse residents has increased rapidly, so has the number of Vietnamese restaurants and food stores. In addition to some services such as hair salons, transportation run by and for the Vietnamese citizens have also appeared. There is even a certificated Vietnamese Buddhist pagoda in neighboring Saitama prefecture.

Additionally, career paths for Vietnamese students after graduation are no longer limited to Japanese companies. They also have the option of working at Vietnamese companies or starting their own business in Japan. It’s evident that the enviroment for foreigners in Japan has gradually improved.
There is a saying in Vietnamese which means “Birds perch in safe land”. I hope that Japan will be an even better in the future. A place where many birds from abroad can perch.