The number of foreign nationals newly entering Japan had been on the rise, and in 2005, it was 6,120,709 (up by 11.1% from the previous year), exceeding 6 million for the first time (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Immigration Control).
  Among foreign nationals newly entering Japan in 2005, those from Asia were largest in number, accounting for 67.7%, followed by those from North America, Europe, Oceania, South America, and Africa. By nationality, those from South Korea (1,607,457 persons or 26.3%) accounted for the largest portion, followed by those from Taiwan (1,248,248 persons or 20.4%), the United States (746,921 persons or 12.2%), China (excluding Taiwan and Hong Kong; hereinafter the same in this Section) (463,273 persons or 7.6%) (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Immigration Control).
  Among the foreign nationals newly entered Japan in 2005, "temporary visitors" for sightseeing, etc., were the majority at 93.9%, followed by "entertainers" (1.6%), "trainees" (1.4%), "long term residents" (0.6%), "spouses, etc., of Japanese nationals" (0.4%), "college students" (0.4 %) and "pre-college students" (0.3 %) (Source: The Immigration Bureau, Ministry of Justice).
  Alien registration has increased year by year, and registrated foreign nationals were 2,011,555 as of December 31, 2005 (rose by 1.9% compared to the same date of the previous year), exceeding 2 million for the first time (Source: Annual Report of Statistics on Immigration Control).