Farmland in Japan. (File photo)
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Foreign nationals and corporations purchased 175.3 hectares of farmland across Japan in 2024, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. This is about 37 times the size of Tokyo Dome — doubling the previous year's 90.6 hectares. Most of these acquisitions were by Chinese buyers.
Chinese Corporations Lead Acquisitions
The ministry reports that three cases involved foreign corporations, including companies where major shareholders or directors are foreign nationals residing abroad. All three were Chinese companies. They bought 0.9 hectares in Namegata City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and 0.2 hectares each in Koshu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture.
In addition, 377 foreign residents in Japan purchased a total of 95 hectares in 2024. By nationality, the largest groups were Chinese (102 people), followed by South Korean (42), Brazilian (42), American (27), Vietnamese (24), and Sri Lankan (15).
Another 32 corporations with foreign residents as major shareholders or directors acquired a total of 79 hectares, again mostly by Chinese and South Korean entities.
Looking at trends over the years, farmland purchased by foreigners totaled 154.1 hectares in 2022, dipped in 2023, and rose again in 2024.
Ministry Response
The Ministry of Agriculture stressed that, under the Agricultural Land Act, farmland cannot be bought for investment — it must be used for cultivation and agricultural purposes.
They also noted that the 175.3 hectares acquired in 2024 account for only 0.004% of farmland nationwide, so it is misleading to suggest a clear upward trend.
Since September 2023, all farmland purchasers must report their nationality and residency status to the local agricultural committee.
The ministry does not have precise data from before then, but an official said that once the farmland registry system fully tracks nationality, it will be possible to calculate the total amount of farmland purchased by foreigners across Japan.
When Japan joined the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) under the World Trade Organization (WTO), it did not include any provisions that would restrict foreign land ownership. It's unclear how long Japan will continue its lax rules on foreign purchases of farmland.
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
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