[RadioKid]

Originally Posted by Nyororin

That isn`t quite right as it`s only the number of visas issued during that year.
More accurate data would be here;
http://www.moj.go.jp/PRESS/080601-1.pdf
Unfortunately I can`t find the same document in html, but here is the same thing from 2006; http://www.moj.go.jp/PRESS/060530-1/060530-1.html

It has a nice breakdown of the number of foreigners and their countries of origin.

Thank you for your pointing out. I could not find the amount who are in Japan legally without visa.

The difference between yours and mine are the 一般永住者 and 特別永住者.
Do you know what the 特別永住者 is?

I see. 特別永住者 are the foreign people and their descendant who was in Japan as of Sep/2/1945.