Japanese Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Japan is an island nation in East Asia, famous for its technology, cars, design and ancient traditions. Japanese people in Birmingham include business professionals posted by their companies, academics, students, and families who have made the city their long-term home.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 227 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Japanese; and 135 residents gave Japanese as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Japanese professionals work in engineering, manufacturing, finance and research, and bring a reputation for precision and quality that fits well in a city with Birmingham's engineering heritage. Japanese language teachers and researchers work at the city's universities, and Japanese restaurants have become part of its food scene.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Japanese residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

New Year, cherry blossom viewing in spring and the Obon festival in summer are important dates for Japanese families. Sushi, ramen and katsu curry are now familiar to many Brummies, and Japanese culture, from anime and manga to martial arts and tea ceremony, has a large following in the city.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Japanese community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.