Britons in Japan

Last updated
Britons in Japan
Total population
19,909 (in December, 2023) [1]
Regions with significant populations
Tokyo  · Osaka
Languages
Japanese  · English  · Welsh  · Scottish Gaelic  · Scots  · Hong Kong Cantonese
Religion
Predominantly Christianity,
Minority : Buddhism and Shinto
Related ethnic groups
British diaspora

Britons in Japan make up one of the slightly larger foreign resident communities in Japan.

Contents

Overview

As of December 2023, according to data released by the Ministry of Justice Immigration Bureau, there were 19,909 people from the United Kingdom. [1]


==Overview==

As of last updated December 2023, according to data released by the [[Ministry of Justice (Japan)|Ministry of Justice]]at2020 Immigration Bureau, there were 19,909 people from the [[United Kingdom]], Hong Kong (Bno) count as British who were classified as either permanent or long-term residents in Japan.


As Hong Kong was once a British colony, even after its return to China, its residents still hold British Nationals (Overseas) (abbreviation: BN(O)) passports, and as British citizens, they are allowed to live in Japan. It is possible to enter and stay in the country. According to a 2020 Japanese government document(国勢調查)but last updated information was at 2023, 1929 number of Hongkongers are using the Bno passport as registration in Japan.

Professional associations

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.

Education

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.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foreign relations of Hong Kong</span>

Under the Basic Law, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is exclusively in charge of its internal affairs, whilst the central government of China is responsible for its foreign affairs and defence. As a separate customs territory, Hong Kong maintains and develops relations with foreign states and regions, and plays an active role in such international organisations as World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in its own right under the name of Hong Kong, China. Hong Kong participates in 16 projects of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British National (Overseas)</span> Class of British nationality

British National (Overseas), abbreviated BN(O), is a class of British nationality associated with the former colony of Hong Kong. The status was acquired through voluntary registration by individuals with a connection to the territory who had been British Dependent Territories citizens (BDTCs) before the handover to China in 1997. Registration for BN(O) status was limited to the 10-year period preceding the transfer as a transitional arrangement for former BDTCs; current residents cannot newly acquire this nationality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport</span> Passport issued to permanent residents of Hong Kong who are Chinese citizens

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, since the handover in 1997, the passport has been issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong under the authorisation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. As the official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English, the passport is printed bilingually in both Chinese and English. In addition, unlike Chinese passport which can be issued by Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, the Immigration Department of Hong Kong is the only issuing authority for HKSAR passports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British nationality law and Hong Kong</span> Status of Hong Kong people in United Kingdom law

British nationality law as it pertains to Hong Kong has changed over time since it became a British colony in 1842. Hongkongers were given various nationality statuses, such as British subjects, Citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, British Dependent Territories Citizen and British Nationals (Overseas).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British passport</span> Passport issued to British nationals

The British passport is a travel document issued by the United Kingdom or other British dependencies and territories to individuals holding any form of British nationality. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance with visa requirements and serves as proof of citizenship. It also facilitates access to consular assistance from British embassies around the world. Passports are issued using royal prerogative, which is exercised by His Majesty's Government; this means that the grant of a passport is a privilege, not a right, and may be withdrawn in some circumstances. British citizen passports have been issued in the UK by His Majesty's Passport Office, an agency of the Home Office, since 2014. All passports issued in the UK since 2006 have been biometric.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macao Special Administrative Region passport</span> Passport issued to permanent residents of Macao SAR who are Chinese citizens

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Consulate General of the United Kingdom, Hong Kong</span> British Consulate General serving Hong Kong

The British Consulate General Hong Kong (BCGHK), located at 1 Supreme Court Road, Admiralty, Hong Kong Island, is one of the largest British consulates general in the world and is bigger than many British embassies and high commissions. It is responsible for maintaining British ties with Hong Kong and Macau.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Taiwan</span> Policy on permits required to enter Taiwan (ROC)

Visitors to the Republic of China (Taiwan) must obtain a visa or authorization in advance, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose nationals are eligible for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens</span> Administrative entry restrictions

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa policy of Hong Kong</span> Policy on permits required to enter Hong Kong

The visa policy of Hong Kong deals with the requirements in which a foreign national wishing to enter Hong Kong through one of the 15 immigration control points must meet to obtain an entry permit or Visa, which depending on the traveller's nationality, may be required to travel to, enter, and remain in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Visitors from over 145 countries are permitted without Visa entry for periods ranging from 7 to 180 days, to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for tourism or certain business-related activities. All visitors must hold a passport valid for more than 1 month.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens</span> Entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Pakistan

Visa requirements for Pakistani citizens are the requirements by other countries to obtain a visa before entry on an ordinary Pakistani Passport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Chinese citizens</span>

Visa requirements for Chinese citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of China residing in the Mainland by the authorities of other states.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Hong Kong</span> Administrative entry restrictions

As of 2024, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 170 countries and territories, ranking the passport 18th in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.It is ranked 16th by the Global Passport Power Rank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Visa requirements for Tuvaluan citizens</span> Administrative entry restrictions

Visa requirements for Tuvaluan citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Tuvalu. As of 20 December 2020, Tuvaluan citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 127 countries and territories, ranking the Tuvaluan passport 45th in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British National (Overseas) passport</span> British passport for persons with BN(O) status

The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for people with British National (Overseas) status. BN(O) status was created in 1987 after the enactment of Hong Kong Act 1985, whose holders are permanent residents of Hong Kong who were British Overseas Territories citizens until 30 June 1997 and had registered as BN(O)s.

Visa requirements for British Nationals (Overseas) are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states and territories placed on British National (Overseas) passport holders. Several million people, the vast majority with a Hong Kong connection, hold this passport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automated border control system</span> Type of automated self-service barrier

Automated border control systems (ABC) or eGates are automated self-service barriers which use data stored in a chip in biometric passports along with a photo or fingerprint taken at the time of entering the eGates to verify the passport holder's identity. Travellers undergo biometric verification using facial or iris recognition, fingerprints, or a combination of modalities. After the identification process is complete and the passport holder's identity is verified, a physical barrier such as a gate or turnstile opens to permit passage. If the passport holder's identification is not verified or if the system malfunctions, then the gate or turnstile does not open and an immigration officer will meet the person. E-gates came about in the early 2000s as an automated method of reading the then-newly ICAO mandated e-passports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Responses to the 2020 Chinese involvement with Hong Kong national security law</span>

In early May 2020, the Chinese Government announced plans to draft a new national security law for Hong Kong, something required under Hong Kong Basic Law but which should explicitly be written and enacted by Hong Kong's own government. In response to apparent mainland intent to bypass Hong Kong's local legislature, the United Kingdom – which administered Hong Kong until 1997 – announced that if a security law drafted by China was approved, Britain would open a route for all Hong Kong residents born under British rule to become British citizens. Other nations and organisations have given various responses to the decision, to legislation plans, and ultimately the law itself as passed by the Chinese Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on 28 May 2020 with 2878 votes "for", 1 vote against, and 6 blank votes. At 9:30 am, 30 June 2020, the same Standing Committee unanimously voted to enact the law. The law became effective at 11 pm on the same day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of reactions to the 2020 Hong Kong national security law (January 2021)</span> December events of the 2019-2020 pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong

A dramatic manifestation of the far reach of the Hong Kong national security law was the mass arrest of 54 pro-democracy activists on 6 January. The arrested stood accused of subverting state power, a crime under the national security law, for their participation as candidates or in other capacities, in the 2020 Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries, which was part of a plan to increase pressure in parliament for democratic reform. Most of them were released on bail the following day. For the first time, the National Security Department of the police cited the national security law to block the website of HKChronicles. There were also several convictions in relation to the 2019-2020 Hong Kong protests.

References