Ikeda Sumiko 池田寿美子
The growth of Uzbek and Uzbekistani communities in Japan
67th Annual Meeting of the PIAC, Gotemba 2025
This study examines the current situation and social roles of immigrant communities in Japan, focusing on those from Uzbekistan — one of the former Soviet republics.
As of June 2024, the number of long-term residents in Japan stood at approximately 3.31 million, setting a new record high. Following the 1990 amendment to the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act, the majority of immigrants seeking long-term residency in Japan were from Asia and Latin America, regions with significant Japanese diaspora populations. However, in recent years, factors such as increased global mobility, ageing populations and labor shortages have prompted companies to recruit foreign workers from a wider range of countries. This has resulted in immigrants coming from a more diverse range of countries.
This study focuses on Uzbek immigrants who have resided in Japan for an extended period. Since 2010, the number of Uzbek immigrants has increased rapidly, with Uzbek communities emerging in major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Aichi Prefecture. Building on previous research, this study reports on the current activities of these communities. It aims to clarify how they are adapting to Japanese society, and how they are influencing both the Uzbek community and Japanese society in Japan, from the perspectives of language, culture, religion and social customs.