Britons in Japan make up the 19th largest foreign resident communities in Japan. The United Kingdom is the third largest source of foreign residents outside Asia, following Brazil and the United States.[1]
As of December 2023, according to data released by the Ministry of Justice Immigration Bureau, there were 19,909 people from the United Kingdom. This number does not include those naturalised as Japanese citizerns, those staying as government officials or diplomats, or short-term residents.[1]
The prefectures with the highest concentration of British nationals were Tokyo (7,266), Kanagawa (1,791), Osaka (1,227), and Hokkaido (1,113). Permanent residents comprised 6,880 of the population, followed by those on professional visas (3,350) and those staying as spouses of Japanese nationals (3,037).[2]
Since Hong Kong was once a British colony, after its return to China, residents have retained British National (Overseas) passports (abbreviated as BN(O)), allowing them to enter and stay in Japan as British Subject.[citation needed] Statistically, they are counted as British nationals, with no distinction made between them or other British subject.[citation needed]
The British Chamber of Commerce in Japan is an independent non-profit organisation that promotes trade and networking opportunities for member firms and business professionals living and working in Japan.
The British School in Tokyo provides an English language based educational curriculum for students of over 50 different nationalities. The school serves a number of children of British heritage living in the city.
