Myanmar workers head to Japan as turmoil deepens at home

Labor shortages drive demand for nursing and manufacturing jobs in host nation

20250513 Myanmar technical intern

Min Lwin Oo, a technical intern in nursing care from Myanmar, speaks with a patient at a hospital in Kawasaki, southwest of Tokyo. (Photo by Akitoshi Sugiura)

KOJI NOZAWA

TOKYO -- The number of Myanmar nationals working in Japan has surged, as young people fleeing the turmoil following the 2021 military takeover seek opportunities in a country facing a severe labor shortage.

Over the past year, the population of Myanmar citizens living in Japan, including students, has grown nearly 60%. These workers are becoming an essential part of the labor force in the East Asian nation's manufacturing and nursing care sectors, reflecting the country's gradual shift toward accepting more foreign labor.

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