gaikokujin

Gaikokujin (外国人) is a Japanese noun meaning "foreigner" or "a person from a foreign country." It is used to describe people who are not Japanese citizens, or who were born outside Japan, including visitors and residents with non-Japanese nationality. The word is formed from gaikoku ("foreign country") and jin ("person"), and in many contexts it is a neutral, formal descriptor.

In everyday and official usage, gaikokujin is the standard term for non-citizens in Japan. The colloquial term gaijin (外人) exists as well but can be perceived as coarse or impolite in some situations, so many officials and media prefer gaikokujin for neutral reference. It does not imply ethnicity; many foreigners living in Japan come from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. Those who acquire Japanese citizenship are no longer gaikokujin.

The concept is relevant in discussions of immigration, residency, and social integration. Policies and public services targeting gaikokujin residents—such as registration and language access—illustrate the practical implications of the term, though language and attitudes toward foreigners have evolved with globalization.