Thais in Japan

Thais in Japan
คนไทยในญี่ปุ่น

在日タイ人 Zainichi Taijin
Total population
65,398 (in December, 2024) [1]
Languages
Thai, Isan, Japanese
Religion
Buddhism

Thais in Japan consist of Thai migrants that come to Japan, as well as their descendants. In December 2024, there were 65,398 Thais living in Japan. ^[2]

History

There were some contacts between the Ryūkyū Kingdom and the Ayutthaya Kingdom which dates far as the 15th century. Some trade between the two countries were successfully done during the 17th century, as the Japanese community in Ayutthaya began. However, when Japan made a policy of sakoku in 1639, the Japanese community began to fade out. In 1887, Japan and Siam began a new history with the Declaration of Amity and Commerce. ^[3]

Business and employment

Thai restaurant in Kobe

Some Thais in Japan run used car export businesses. This trend was believed to have begun in the late 1970s, when one Thai working in Japan sent a car back to his homeland. The potential for doing business in used cars also attracted more Thais to come to Japan in the 1990s. ^[4]

Notable Thai Temples in Japan

Wat Paknam Japan in Narita, Chiba

• Wat Paknam Japan
• Wat Buddharangsi Tokyo
• Wat Phra Dhammakaya Osaka

Notable people

• Bunshiri, television personality (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Kanita Matsuo, radio speaker (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Manami Oda  [ ja ], gyaru model (Thai parent) ^[5]
• Eri Otoguro  [ ja ], actress (Thai parent)
• Shōta Kaito  [ ja ], sumō wrestler (Thai mother)
• Yurina Katō  [ ja ], tarento (Thai mother)
• Arisa Kotoi, idol (Thai/Japanese mother, raised in Japan)
• Tsubasa Sakakibara, baseball player (Thai mother, raised in Japan)
• Yasuo Sano  [ ja ], baseball player (Thai mother) ^[6]
• Maki Shima  [ ja ], fashion model (Thai mother)
• Krissada Heebthong, baseball player (Thai mother)
• Hitomi Suzuki, idol (Thai mother)
• Masato Seto, photographer (Vietnamese-Thai mother)
• Mina Tanaka, soccer player (Thai mother)
• Chanana Sarina, fashion model (Thai mother) ^[7]
• Kōji Mukai, television personality and member of male idol group Snow Man (Thai mother) ^[8]
• Hiroki Yamada, baseball player (Thai mother)
• Amnaj Khaokhrueamuang, tourism scholar (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Attakarn Wongchanamas, diplomat (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Yokthai Sithoar, muay thai player (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Sorut Sukthaworn, diplomat (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Chanathip Songkrasin, soccer player (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Krit Tankanarat, diplomat (Thai, lived in Japan)
• Vichit Chitvimarn, diplomat (Thai, lived in Japan)
• Pavin Chatchawanpongpun, diplomat (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Chutong Weerasakreck, muay thai player (Thai, lives in Japan)
• Teerasil Dangda, soccer player (Thai, lived in Japan)
• Thitiphan Puangchan, soccer player (Thai, lived in Japan)
• Theerathorn Bunmathan, soccer player (Thai, lived in Japan)

In fiction

• Apachai Hopachai, in the anime series Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple
• Charunee Kusakabe, in the anime series Heaven's Memo Pad
• Phichit Chulanont, in the anime series Yuri on Ice

References

1. 令和6年末現在における在留外国人数について
2. 令和6年末現在における在留外国人数について
3. "Japan-Thailand Relations (Basic Data)". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
4. "Japanese Used Cars for Sale in Thailand". satjapan.com. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
5. "まぁみ (@maaaami79) / X". 2023-09-23. Archived from the original on 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
6. "西武２位 左腕佐野 タイ出身の母に感謝「日本語もあまりしゃべれないのに」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 野球". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-09-23.
7. "ポスト・藤木由貴を探せ！ 期待の新人レースクイーンはハーフ美女「目標はタイのサーキットに立つこと」 - エンタメ - ニュース". 週プレNEWS［週刊プレイボーイのニュースサイト］ (in Japanese). 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2023-09-23.
8. "Snow Manの向井康二さん ライブで映したのは思い出の場所：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 2022-12-28. Retrieved 2023-09-23.