KUALA LUMPUR - The number of foreigners detained in Japan over the five years to 2025 fell by 40 per cent from levels recorded two decades earlier, despite a sharp rise in the foreign population.

An analysis of data from the National Police Agency showed that 56,706 foreign nationals were processed by police between 2021 and 2025, as reported by The Mainichi.

This marked a steep decline from 93,899 cases recorded between 2001 and 2005, according to official crime statistics.

The number of cases fell by half in 14 of Japan’s 47 prefectures during the same period.

The decline occurred even as the number of foreign residents nearly doubled from 2.01 million to 3.95 million over the past 20 years.

Police data showed that enforcement cases involving foreign nationals, excluding permanent residents and United States military personnel, fell in 40 prefectures.

Nagano Prefecture recorded the largest drop, with cases falling 73.2 per cent from 1,679 to 450.

Significant declines were also reported in Tokushima Prefecture, Ehime Prefecture, Wakayama Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture.

By absolute numbers, Tokyo saw a decrease of 22,344 cases, followed by Kanagawa Prefecture with 3,358 and Shizuoka Prefecture with 2,241.

The findings contrast with xenophobic claims on social media that a growing foreign population is worsening public safety.

Police data showed that the proportion of foreign residents involved in crime has declined over the past two decades.

“Although the number of foreign nationals entering Japan is increasing, there is no clear impact on the deterioration of public safety.

“We will continue necessary enforcement regardless of nationality,” a senior police official said.

Single-year figures showed that foreign detentions in 2025 rose five per cent from the previous year to 12,777.

This marked the third consecutive annual increase.

The rise was attributed to a rebound from unusually low crime levels during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Police said the increase remains proportionally lower than the annual growth of about 300,000 foreign residents.

Historical data showed that total detentions, including Japanese nationals, exceeded 600,000 annually in the early 1950s.

The figure fell to around 300,000 in the early 2000s and has remained near 200,000 in recent years.

Authorities said community patrols, expanded surveillance camera networks and crackdowns on organised crime have helped sustain the long-term decline.