Inflows of foreign nationals to Japan in 2009 reached 297 000 (excluding temporary visitors), a 14% decrease compared with the previous year. The number of new entrants with the status of residence for the purpose of work totalled about 57 100, a decrease of 15 100 (20%) from the previous year. This has been the fifth consecutive year of decline in the entries of foreign workers. The most important category of entry for employment was “entertainers” (31 000). Skilled labour and intra-company transferees account for about 5 000 entries each, which represents a significant decline compared with 2008, by 21% and 28%, respectively.