In line with the government's campaign launched in 1983 to boost the number of foreign students in Japan to the 100,000 mark, the figure came to some 117,000 in 2004.

However, the number who switched from a student visa to a work visa that same year amounted to only 5,264, indicating only a negligible percentage of foreign human resources opt, or are allowed, to stay and work in the country.

The situation is largely due to the fact that despite government efforts to welcome students, the immigration and refugee law in principle denies visas to non-Japanese who lack special skills.