Japan Overseas Remittances Top ¥1 Trillion for First Time

Japan’s overseas remittances exceeded ¥1 trillion for the first time in fiscal 2025, which ended in March, The Japan Times reported. The Finance Ministry recorded a total of ¥1.004 trillion, an 11.5 percent increase from the previous year and more than double the ¥464.8 billion sent in fiscal 2015.

Vietnam received the largest share at ¥288.8 billion, followed by Indonesia at ¥89.8 billion and the Philippines at ¥67.2 billion.

The rise occurred alongside growth in Japan’s foreign workforce. As of October 2025, 2.57 million foreign workers were in the country, an 11.7 percent increase from a year earlier, according to Health Ministry data. Vietnam supplied 606,000 workers, China about 432,000 and the Philippines about 261,000.

A 2024 survey by the Japan Payment Service Association of 1,270 foreign workers from six Asian countries found that around 95 percent send money to family members. Most respondents were in their 20s and held technical trainee or specified skilled worker visas.

Hui En Lam, a 28-year-old employee at the nonprofit Japan-Vietnam Cultural Association, said she sends about 20 percent of her income each month to her parents and younger sister in Vietnam.

“Because of the weaker yen, I need to send more money,” she said. The Japanese government projects the foreign population will reach approximately 5.86 million by 2040.