OSAKA -- Osaka has taken the lead in Japan's social population growth for the second consecutive year, with foreign residents making up more than half of the city's newcomers.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, Osaka's population reached 2,757,642, an increase of 16,055 from the previous year, according to Vital Statistics based on Basic Resident Register data. The city's social population growth -- the net difference between people moving in and out -- was 31,780, the highest in the country and more than double Yokohama's 15,802. Foreigners accounted for 53.5% of this growth, totaling 17,006.

Ikuno Ward, where foreign residents make up 22.55% of the population, has the highest concentration of foreign residents in Osaka. Naniwa Ward (15.29%) and Nishinari Ward (12.82%) also have significant foreign populations. Historically, Ikuno became home to many immigrants from Jeju Island, south of the Korean Peninsula, during Japan's colonial period. All three wards saw their foreign populations increase by more than 1,000 over the past year.

Neighborhoods in these wards reflect their growing diversity, with streets lined with Chinese nameplates, shops selling Asian condiments, and short-term rental properties catering to visitors from overseas.

A 33-year-old man from Zhejiang province, China, who came to Japan about 11 years ago, studied at Osaka City University (now Osaka Metropolitan University) before completing a graduate program and finding employment at a Japanese company. Now living with his wife and 1-year-old child on a "highly skilled personnel" visa, he said, "Considering my child's education, I want to obtain permanent residency in Japan and eventually buy a home in a greener area."

This area, researchers note, was once a "buraku" settlement, a community historically subjected to discrimination. Redevelopment projects over the past decade have turned it into a residential area, attracting many Chinese people buying real estate for settlement or business purposes.

A 69-year-old Japanese man living in the neighborhood remarked, "It felt like people attracted more people, and suddenly the number of foreigners increased rapidly. I don't have opportunities to talk closely with them, but isn't it the same for everyone that we have to work hard without worrying about others?" He added that the influx has revitalized the neighborhood, bringing in Japanese residents as well.

Nishinari Ward, once a hub for day laborers, has also undergone significant changes. Job postings have moved online, and former lodging facilities now serve as welfare apartments for aging workers or hotels for foreign tourists. Japanese language schools for new arrivals are common in Ikuno, Naniwa and Nishinari wards.

The Osaka Municipal Government reports a rise in foreign workers with residency statuses such as "Engineer / Specialist in humanities / International services" and "Specified skilled worker." Many work in tourism-related fields, including as interpreters and hotel staff.

Keitaro Onishi, a 56-year-old real estate agent, noted that foreign residents are no longer confined to specific areas. Many of his clients are Chinese. "They buy land and buildings one after another, saying that they are cheaper than those in Shanghai or Beijing," he said.

Foreigners cite various reasons for choosing Osaka, including connections with acquaintances, affordability, and the city's friendly atmosphere. Lu Lijun, a sociology associate professor at Fukuoka Prefectural University, explained, "Compared to Tokyo, real estate and rents in Osaka are cheaper, and people are friendlier, like casually talking to strangers."

Visiting professor Toshio Mizuuchi of Osaka Metropolitan University attributed the increase in foreign residents in these three wards to factors like affordable housing, proximity to the Minami downtown district, and the availability of Japanese language schools. "Osaka is easy to live in for first-time arrivals," he said, though he stressed the need for stronger safety nets for unemployment and job transitions.

(Japanese original by Kana Takagi, Osaka City News Department)