117,927 international students in Japan as of May 1, 2006, a 3.2% drop from last year.

(1) Number of international students by institutional type

Graduate school	30,910	(2.1% up)
University (undergraduate)/ Junior college/ College of technology	63,437	(2.1% down)
Professional training college	21,562	(14.4% down)
University preparatory course	2,018	(29.1% up)

(2) 5 major countries/regions of origin

China	74,292	(7.8% down)
Republic of Korea	15,974	(2.4% up)
Taiwan	4,211	(1.9% up)
Malaysia	2,156	(2.0% up)
Vietnam	2,119	(21.4% up)

Note: An "international student" means a student from a foreign country who is receiving education at any Japanese university, graduate school, junior college, college of technology, professional training college or university preparatory courses and who resides in Japan with "college student" visa status, as defined in Annexed Table 1 of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act.

1. Trends in Number of International Students by Source of Funds (as of each May 1)

*Note: Foreign government sponsored students were sent by the following countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

2. Trends in Number of International Students by Institutional Type (as of each May 1)

*Note: "University preparatory course" are designated by MEXT for students with school education of less than 12 years in foreign countries. Those who completed these courses are qualified to enter Japanese Universities.