Survey Results on Farmland Acquisitions by Foreign Entities

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries surveyed farmland acquired from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025, by foreign corporations, foreign residents overseas, corporations whose major shareholders, directors, or equivalent officers are such persons, foreign residents in Japan, and corporations whose major shareholders, directors, or equivalent officers are foreign residents in Japan.

Although the area of farmland acquired varied from year to year, the total in 2025 was 222.03 ha, and the cumulative area from 2017 through 2025 was 731.17 ha. By category, acquisitions by foreign residents in Japan and their related corporations accounted for most of the acquired area.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will ensure the proper use of farmland through the appropriate application of the Agricultural Land Act.

1. Survey method: The survey was conducted based on permits and other documents issued under the Agricultural Land Act, through municipal agricultural committees. The survey covered four categories. Foreign corporations are corporations established under the laws and regulations of a country or region other than Japan; foreign residents overseas are persons residing outside Japan whose nationality and other relevant status are also non-Japanese; and foreign residents in Japan are persons residing in Japan whose nationality and other relevant status are non-Japanese. Major shareholders and equivalent persons are those holding at least 5/100 of voting rights or capital contributions, while directors and equivalent officers refer to officers and others corresponding to the relevant corporate form.

2. Overview of survey results: The area acquired in 2025 and the cumulative acquired area are shown by category: (1) foreign corporations or foreign residents overseas: 0.03 ha and 0.13 ha; (2) corporations whose major shareholders, directors, or equivalent officers are such persons: 1.03 ha and 73.44 ha; (3) foreign residents in Japan: 95.74 ha and 394.46 ha; and (4) corporations whose major shareholders, directors, or equivalent officers are foreign residents in Japan: 125.23 ha and 263.14 ha. The cumulative figures for (3) and (4) are calculated from 2022.

3. Details of survey results: In 2025, the confirmed cases were 0 companies and 0 ha for foreign corporations, 1 person and 0.03 ha for foreign residents overseas, 3 companies and 1.03 ha for related corporations, 369 persons and 95.74 ha for foreign residents in Japan, and 36 companies and 125.23 ha for related corporations of foreign residents in Japan. By nationality of foreign residents in Japan, the People's Republic of China accounted for 115 people and 32.37 ha, Vietnam for 21 people and 11.75 ha, and the Republic of Korea for 32 people and 10.93 ha.

Under the Agricultural Land Act, using all acquired farmland efficiently and satisfying other conditions are requirements for approval; therefore, farmland cannot be acquired for investment purposes. The survey results show breakdowns by municipality and nationality, acquisition cases, acquisitions through inheritance, and cumulative acquisitions already sold to third parties.