The number of foreign nationals resident in Japan steadily increased throughout the 1980s. In 1993 the number registered in accordance with the alien registration law reached 1,320,748; not included in this number are non-visa tourists in Japan fewer than 90 days, children under 2 months old, and foreign diplomatic service personnel.

The breakdown of the 1,320,748 people is as follows:

 

North and South Korean ancestry:	682, 276	51.7%
China and Taiwan	210,138	15.9%
Brazil	154,650	11.7%
The Philippines	73,057	5.5%
The United States	42,639	3.2%

International marriages between Japanese and non-Japanese spouses also increased between 1970 and 1990. From 1975, the number of Japanese men marrying foreign women from China, Korea, and the Philippines surpassed the number of Japanese women marrying foreigners, thereby reversing the historical trend.

Although foreign spouses share many common experiences, until now there has not been any organization in Japan that can provide a community for them.

UMJ was established to bring together these individuals, spouses, and families of international members in order to exchange support, information, and professional and personal cooperation for mutual benefit.

The organization is committed to uniting to promote and defend the rights of foreign nationals in Japan. Our efforts involve educating the Japanese government about our needs and making recommendations as to how to improve the situation occupied by legal foreign residents. Projects include the advocation of voting rights for permanent residents, legal rights of foreign spouses and permanent residents, as well as basic human rights of individual people, UMJ members, and the community as a whole.

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