Japanese

A language of Japan

日本語‎ (Nihongo)

User Population

124,000,000 in Japan (2020). Total users in all countries: 125,399,270 (as L1: 125,277,770; as L2: 121,500).

Location

Widespread.

Language Maps

Japan

Language Status

1 (National). De facto national language.

Classification

Japonic

Dialects

Eastern Japanese, Western Japanese, Zu-zu-ben. Possibly related to Korean [kor]. Zu-zu-ben dialects unintelligible to other Japanese, and dying out as standard Tokyo Japanese takes over.

Typology

SOV; postpositions; demonstrative, numeral, adjective, possessive, relative clause, proper noun precedes noun head; adverb precedes verb; sentence final question particle; no articles; passives; tense and aspect; causatives; 15 consonants, 5 vowels, 3 diphthongs; non-tonal; pitch-accentuation pattern.

Language Development

Taught in primary and secondary schools. Fully developed. Bible: 1883–2018.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Japanese

Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Han, Hiragana, and Katakana scripts [Jpan], primary usage. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Buddhist, Shintoist.

Also spoken in:

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American Samoa

Language NameJapanese

User Population

1,500 in American Samoa.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Argentina

Language NameJapanese

User Population

38,000 in Argentina (2018), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Australia

Language NameJapanese

User Population

56,000 in Australia (2016 census).

Location

Major cities.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Also use English [eng].

Language Development

Taught as subject in many primary and secondary schools.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Japanese pearl divers were among some of the earliest immigrants to Australia.

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Brazil

Language NameJapanese

User Population

380,000 in Brazil (2021 Joshua Project). Ethnic population: 2,750,000 (2020 S. Schwartzman).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

All also use Portuguese [por].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Canada

Language NameJapanese

User Population

43,600 in Canada (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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China–Hong Kong

Language NameJapanese

User Population

127,050 in China–Hong Kong, all users. L1 users: 7,050 in China–Hong Kong (2016 census). L2 users: 120,000 (2016 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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China–Taiwan

Language NameJapanese

User Population

14,100 in China–Taiwan (2018 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct).

Language Use

A few older adult aboriginals. Shifted to Mandarin Chinese [cmn]. Used as L2 by Amis [ami], Min Nan Chinese [nan], Puyuma [pyu], Rukai [dru], Seediq [trv].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Denmark

Language NameJapanese

User Population

1,790 in Denmark (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Dominican Republic

Language NameJapanese

User Population

1,700 in Dominican Republic (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Finland

Language NameJapanese

User Population

1,520 in Finland (2018 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Germany

Language NameJapanese

User Population

35,600 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Guam

Language NameJapanese

User Population

2,500 in Guam (2015 World Factbook).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Malaysia

Language NameJapanese

User Population

15,000 in Malaysia (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Mexico

Language NameJapanese

User Population

51,000 in Mexico (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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New Zealand

Language NameJapanese

User Population

20,100 in New Zealand (2013 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Northern Mariana Islands

Language NameJapanese

User Population

1,000 in Northern Mariana Islands (2000 census).

Location

Widespread.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Language Use

Tourist industry, home. Used by all. Positive attitudes.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Palau

Language NameJapanese

User Population

1,120 in Palau, all users. L1 users: 120 in Palau (2008 UNSD). L2 users: 1,000.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Panama

Language NameJapanese

User Population

2,100 in Panama (2021 Joshua Project), based on ethnicity.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Paraguay

Language NameJapanese

User Population

7,000 in Paraguay (2020).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Philippines

Language NameJapanese

User Population

2,900 in Philippines (1990 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous. Japanese Christians fled their home islands to avoid religious persecution during the Spanish colonial rule in the 17th through 19th century, especially in Manila, Davao, the Visayas, and so on. With the American rule after 1900 a new influx came as farm laborers on Davao. There has been much inter-marriage between Filipinos and Japanese, and many of the latter have lost their cultural identity.

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Russian Federation

Language NameJapanese

User Population

33,900 in Russian Federation (2012 UNSD).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Singapore

Language NameJapanese

User Population

4,940 in Singapore (2010 census). Ethnic population: 39,000 (2018 J. Leclerc).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Spain

Language NameJapanese

User Population

6,160 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Sweden

Language NameJapanese

User Population

2,690 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Thailand

Language NameJapanese

User Population

70,700 in Thailand (2010 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United Kingdom

Language NameJapanese

User Population

27,800 in United Kingdom (2011 census).

Language Status

Unestablished.

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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United States

Language NameJapanese

User Population

449,000 in United States (2015 census). Ethnic population: 842,000 (2010 census).

Location

California: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Jose areas; Hawaii.

Language Status

5* (Dispersed).

Language Use

Many also use English [eng].

Other Comments

Non-indigenous.

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Japanese

Primary tabs

A language of Japan

Also spoken in:

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