Japan

Summary

Official Name: Japan
Population: 125,836,000
Principal Languages: Japanese
Literacy Rate: 99% (Roser and Ortiz-Ospina 2018)
International Conventions: CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006), UNDRIP (2007)
General References: Campbell and King 2011, Shibatani 1990, Wurm and Hattori 1981
Deaf Population: 24,000–300,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Japan is 17. All are living languages. Of these, 16 are indigenous and 1 is non-indigenous. Furthermore, 1 is institutional, 2 are developing, 1 is vigorous, 10 are in trouble, and 3 are dying. Also listed are 17 unestablished languages.

Languages

Ainu ain: Hokkaido prefecture: Kuril and Tsishima islands. Users: 2 (2008 A. Vovin). Ethnic population: 13,000 (2019 E. Jozuka). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Ainu Itak Autonym: アイヌイタㇰ‎ (Aynu itak) Classification: Language isolate
Amami Koniya Sign Language jks: Kagoshima prefecture: Amami island, Koniya town. Users: 4 (2020 Y. Osugi). One family. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Amami-Oshima Shuwa Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language
Amami-Oshima, Northern ryn: Kagoshima prefecture: north Amami-Oshima and northwest Okinawa islands. Users: 9,800 (Leclerc 2020b). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Northern Amami-Osima, Oosima, Oshima, Osima Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Amami-Okinawan, Northern Amami-Okinawan
Amami-Oshima, Southern ams: Kagoshima prefecture: south Amami-Oshima, Kakeroma, north Okinawa, Uke, and Yoro islands. Users: 1,800 (2004). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Southern Amami-Osima Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Amami-Okinawan, Northern Amami-Okinawan
Bengali ben: Users: 69,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Eastern, Bengali-Assamese
Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 549,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Min Nan nan: Users: 75,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Wu wuu: Users: 7,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
Chinese, Yue yue: Users: 36,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Users: 10,973,000 in Japan, all users. L1 users: 73,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). L2 users: 10,900,000 (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Users: 6,300 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Japanese jpn: Widespread. Users: 122,000,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Total users in all countries: 123,404,290 (as L1: 123,282,790; as L2: 121,500). Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Autonym: 日本語‎ (Nihongo) Classification: Japonic
Japanese Sign Language jsl: Scattered. Users: 126,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimate assuming 0.1% of total population. Other estimates vary widely: 23,900 (2008 WFD); 317,000 (Van Cleve 1986). Status: 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2013, Basic Act of Persons with Disabilities), guarantees the opportunity to choose ‘sign language’, but no further details. Alternate Names: JSL, NS, NSG, Nihon Shuwa, Nihon Shuwa Gengo, Shuwa, Temane Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Kikai kzg: Kagoshima prefecture: Kikai and northeast Okinawa islands. Users: Ethnic population: 13,000 (Leclerc 2020b). Those under 20 are mainly monolingual in Japanese (1989 T. Fukuda). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Amami-Okinawan, Northern Amami-Okinawan
Korean kor: Kyoto prefecture: Gion area; Osaka prefecture: Imazato-Shinchi and Tsuruhashi; Tokyo prefecture: Mikawashima, Okubo, and Ueno areas; Yamaguchi prefecture: Shimonoseki; mainly urban areas. Users: 825,000 in Japan (2019 Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), based on nationality. Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Zainichi Korean Classification: Koreanic
Kunigami xug: Okinawa prefecture: central and north Okinawa island; Ie-jima, Iheya, Izena, and Sesoko islands. Users: 4,900 (Leclerc 2020b). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Amami-Okinawan, Southern Amami-Okinawan
Malay zlm: Users: 9,900 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Malayic, Malay
Miyako mvi: Okinawa prefecture: south; Ikema, Irabu, Kurima, Minna, Miyako, Ogami, and Tarama islands. Users: Ethnic population: 66,000 (Leclerc 2020b). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Miyako-Ikema Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Sakishima
Miyakubo Sign Language ehs: Ehime prefecture: Oshima island, Miyakubo village. Users: 70, all users. L1 users: 20 (2020 U. Yano). L2 users: 50 (2020 U. Yano). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Ehime Oshima Shuwa, Ehime-Oshima Sign Language, Miyakubo Shuwa Classification: Sign language, Shared sign language
Nepali npi: Users: 61,000 in Japan (International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2019), based on nationality. Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Eastern, Eastern Pahari
Oki-No-Erabu okn: Kagoshima prefecture: north central Okinawa, Oki-no-erabu island. Users: 3,200 (2004). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Amami-Okinawan, Southern Amami-Okinawan
Okinawan, Central ryu: Okinawa prefecture: Aguna Islands, Kerama Islands, Kume-jima, southern Okinawa island, Tonaki, and islands east of Okinawa island. Users: 1,180,000 (Leclerc 2020b). Ethnic population: 1,200,000 (2000 Y. Uemura). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Luchu, Okinawan Autonym: ウチナーグチ‎ (Uchināguchi) Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Amami-Okinawan, Southern Amami-Okinawan
Persian, Iranian pes: Users: 50,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Iranian, Western, Southwestern, Persian
Portuguese por: Users: 266,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Portuguese-Galician
Punjabi, Eastern pan: Users: 70,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Intermediate Divisions, Western, Panjabi
Spanish spa: Users: 168,000 in Japan, all users. L1 users: 108,000 in Japan (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 60,000 (2013). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Tagalog tgl: Users: 499,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog
Thai tha: Users: 9,900 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Kra-Dai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern
Toku-No-Shima tkn: Kagoshima prefecture: northern Okinawa, Toku-no-shima islands. Users: 5,000 (Leclerc 2020b). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Amami-Okinawan, Northern Amami-Okinawan
Turkish tur: Users: 3,650 in Japan (2010 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Turkic, Southern, Turkish
Vietnamese vie: Users: 14,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese
Yaeyama rys: Okinawa prefecture: Aregusuku, Hateruma, Hatoma, Iriomote, Ishigaki, Kohama, Kuroshima, and Taketomi islands. Users: Ethnic population: 46,000 (Leclerc 2020b). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Yayeyama Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Sakishima
Yonaguni yoi: Okinawa: south; Yonaguni island. Users: 800 (2004). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Sakishima
Yoron yox: Kagoshima prefecture: north central Okinawa, Yoron islands. Users: 950 (2004). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Japonic, Ryukyuan, Amami-Okinawan, Southern Amami-Okinawan

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Japanese

[jpn] 1 (National). De facto national language. 122,000,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). Total users in all countries: 123,404,290 (as L1: 123,282,790; as L2: 121,500).

5 (Dispersed)

Korean

[kor] 5* (Dispersed). 825,000 in Japan (2019 Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs), based on nationality.

5 (Developing)

Japanese Sign Language

[jsl] 5 (Developing). Recognized language (2013, Basic Act of Persons with Disabilities), guarantees the opportunity to choose ‘sign language’, but no further details. 126,000 (2021 DBS/DOOR/SIL). Estimate assuming 0.1% of total population. Other estimates vary widely: 23,900 (2008 WFD); 317,000 (Van Cleve 1986).

6a (Vigorous)

Miyakubo Sign Language

[ehs] 6a (Vigorous). 70, all users. L1 users: 20 (2020 U. Yano). L2 users: 50 (2020 U. Yano).

7 (Shifting)

Amami-Oshima, Northern

[ryn] 7 (Shifting). 9,800 (Leclerc 2020b).

Amami-Oshima, Southern

[ams] 7 (Shifting). 1,800 (2004).

Kikai

[kzg] 7 (Shifting). Ethnic population: 13,000 (Leclerc 2020b). Those under 20 are mainly monolingual in Japanese (1989 T. Fukuda).

Kunigami

[xug] 7 (Shifting). 4,900 (Leclerc 2020b).

Oki-No-Erabu

[okn] 7 (Shifting). 3,200 (2004).

Okinawan, Central

[ryu] 7 (Shifting). 1,180,000 (Leclerc 2020b). Ethnic population: 1,200,000 (2000 Y. Uemura).

Toku-No-Shima

[tkn] 7 (Shifting). 5,000 (Leclerc 2020b).

Yaeyama

[rys] 7 (Shifting). Ethnic population: 46,000 (Leclerc 2020b).

Yonaguni

[yoi] 7 (Shifting). 800 (2004).

Yoron

[yox] 7 (Shifting). 950 (2004).

8a (Moribund)

Amami Koniya Sign Language

[jks] 8a (Moribund). 4 (2020 Y. Osugi). One family.

Miyako

[mvi] 8a (Moribund). Ethnic population: 66,000 (Leclerc 2020b).

8b (Nearly extinct)

Ainu

[ain] 8b (Nearly extinct). 2 (2008 A. Vovin). Ethnic population: 13,000 (2019 E. Jozuka).

Unestablished

Bengali

[ben] Unestablished. 69,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Chinese, Mandarin

[cmn] Unestablished. 549,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Chinese, Min Nan

[nan] Unestablished. 75,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Chinese, Wu

[wuu] Unestablished. 7,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Chinese, Yue

[yue] Unestablished. 36,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

English

[eng] Unestablished. 10,973,000 in Japan, all users. L1 users: 73,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b). L2 users: 10,900,000 (2020).

French

[fra] Unestablished. 6,300 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Malay

[zlm] Unestablished. 9,900 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Nepali

[npi] Unestablished. 61,000 in Japan (International Organization for Migration (IOM) 2019), based on nationality.

Persian, Iranian

[pes] Unestablished. 50,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Portuguese

[por] Unestablished. 266,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Punjabi, Eastern

[pan] Unestablished. 70,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Spanish

[spa] Unestablished. 168,000 in Japan, all users. L1 users: 108,000 in Japan (Instituto Cervantes 2017). L2 users: 60,000 (2013).

Tagalog

[tgl] Unestablished. 499,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Thai

[tha] Unestablished. 9,900 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Turkish

[tur] Unestablished. 3,650 in Japan (2010 census).

Vietnamese

[vie] Unestablished. 14,000 in Japan (Leclerc 2020b).

Maps

Japan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Japan with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Japan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Japan with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Japan is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Japan in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Japan ($149.95, 24 page PDF)

Japan

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Japan

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action