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A language of
Japan
Location
Widespread.
Also spoken in:
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American Samoa
Language Name
Japanese
User Population
1,500 in American Samoa.
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Argentina
Language Name
Japanese
User Population
38,000 in Argentina (2018), based on nationality.
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Australia
Language Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
User Population
43,600 in Canada (2016 census).
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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China–Hong Kong
Language Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
User Population
1,520 in Finland (2018 census).
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Germany
Language Name
Japanese
User Population
35,600 in Germany (2020 census), based on nationality.
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Guam
Language Name
Japanese
User Population
2,500 in Guam (2015 World Factbook).
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Malaysia
Language Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
User Population
20,100 in New Zealand (2013 census).
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Northern Mariana Islands
Language Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
User Population
7,000 in Paraguay (2020).
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Philippines
Language Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
User Population
33,900 in Russian Federation (2012 UNSD).
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Singapore
Language Name
Japanese
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 Name
Japanese
User Population
6,160 in Spain (2020 census), based on nationality.
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Sweden
Language Name
Japanese
User Population
2,690 in Sweden (2020 census), based on nationality.
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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Thailand
Language Name
Japanese
User Population
70,700 in Thailand (2010 census).
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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United Kingdom
Language Name
Japanese
User Population
27,800 in United Kingdom (2011 census).
Language Status
Unestablished.
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
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United States
Language Name
Japanese
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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