Cambodians in Japan consist of ethnic Khmer people that were born in or have immigrated to Japan. As of June 2024, there were 25,384 Cambodians living in Japan.[2]

Cambodians in Japan
在日カンボジア人
ជនជាតិខ្មែរនៅប្រទេសជប៉ុន
Cambodia Japan
Total population
25,384 (2024)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Yokohama, Tokyo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Hamamatsu
Languages
Khmer, Japanese
Religion
Buddhism, Shintoism
Related ethnic groups
Khmer people, Vietnamese people in Japan, Thais in Japan, Burmese people in Japan

History

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The first settlements of Cambodians in Japan were already in the 17th century when their first trade began.[3]

In 1953, when Japan and Cambodia established diplomatic relations, many Cambodian workers came to Japan.

Since 2010s, the Cambodian population in Japan has increased due to the better Japanese visa policy for Cambodians. Most of them are students, factory workers and people who work in Cambodian or Thai restaurants. Both countries being a monarcy, both countries have good relations for long years. There are also many Cambodian festivals organised by Cambodian community in Japan, held mostly in Tokyo.[4] From 23,750 Cambodians, almost 3,000 Cambodians resides in Kanagawa Prefecture alone making it the Prefecture with most Cambodians where most of them works in Tokyo or Yokohama.

There were also many protests in Japan held by Cambodian residents, mostly against the politics of Cambodia, similar to the protests held by Burmese residents in Japan.[5]

Notable Khmer temples in Japan

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  • Cambodia Temple, Isehara, Kanagawa
  • Cambodian culture center, Aikawa, Kanagawa

Notable people

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ 令和6年6月末現在における在留外国人数について
  2. ^ 令和6年6月末現在における在留外国人数について
  3. ^ RAVINA, M. (2015). Tokugawa, Romanov, and Khmer: The Politics of Trade and Diplomacy in Eighteenth-Century East Asia. Journal of World History, 26(2), 269–294.
  4. ^ Japan and Cambodia growing closer than ever
  5. ^ Cambodians take to Tokyo streets to protest PM Hun Sen's Japan visit