Russians in Japan
The Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Tokyo, founded by a Russian Orthodox Christian priest | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 11,982 (in December 2024, only counting Russian citizens living in Japan) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Hakodate, Tokyo, Wakkanai, Kobe, Sapporo, Yokohama, Chiba | |
| Languages | |
| Russian • Japanese | |
| Religion | |
| Japanese Orthodox Church | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Russians in Korea |
Russians in Japan (Japanese: 在日ロシア人, Zai-Nichi Roshia-jin; Russian: Русские в Японии, romanized: Russkije v Japonii) comprises every ethnic Russian living in Japan. They are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Japan, as well as making up to the third largest foreign group from Europe. The first recorded landing of Russians in Japan was in 1739 in Kamogawa, Chiba during the times of Japanese seclusion of the Edo period, not counting landings in Hokkaidō, which was not under Japanese administration at this time. In the 18th century, Russians were sometimes called "Red-haired Ainu" in Japan.
As of December 2023 there were 11,634 Russian citizens holding residency in Japan. According to Japan's Ministry of Justice, a majority of the Russian citizens residing in Japan are permanent residents.