Last year, as Singapore was reeling from the global economic downturn, a large number of expatriate professionals, including those from Japan, were forced to pack up and go home, taking their families with them.

But recently, as business has picked up, increased opportunities for foreigners to set up businesses and regional headquarters here have encouraged the return of more Japanese expatriates.

The Japanese Association of Singapore's (JAS') secretary-general, Mr Kazuo Sugino, told The Straits Times he has seen a 'moderate increase' in the number of his fellow-countrymen moving to Singapore for work in the past few months. This in turn has increased membership numbers at the JAS.

In March, the association saw its highest membership since 1980, with 4,431 ordinary members registered, compared to 4,078 in 2007. The figures do not include corporate or family members, but Mr Sugino estimates that currently, around 12,000 Japanese have ties with the association here.

They make up about half the total number of Japanese living and working in Singapore.

The growing Japanese expatriate community marks a different trend from a year ago, when the JAS saw many of its members returning to Japan, due to the downturn. Mr Sugino, who has been the association's secretary-general since 1987, attributes the rising number of Japanese working in Singapore to the expansion of business operations by Japanese firms.

He said: 'The Singapore Government has created many incentives, such as lower corporate taxes, which has encouraged Japanese investors and companies to set up regional headquarters here.'

As the period between March and April is when Japanese contracts traditionally end or are renewed, Mr Sugino expects many more expatriates to arrive over the next few months.

Mr Junichi Azuma, secretary-general of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Singapore, agreed, adding that several Japanese firms such as logistics service providers Yamato Asia and Nippon Express have set up regional offices here recently.

Other Japanese companies have set up, or are looking to launch, research and development centres here. Electronics company Panasonic, for example, opened one last month, said Mr Azuma.

Among the Japanese expatriates here is Mr Ichiro Nakajima, 40, who has worked as a director of regional human resources with Japanese IT company NEC Asia Pacific since 2007.

Noting that his company has recently posted more Japanese staff to work here, Mr Nakajima said there were more work opportunities for Japanese expatriates in Singapore than two years ago.

'We expect a high economic growth rate in this region. Having a presence here in Singapore will help foreign companies expand their foothold in this region,' he explained.

With more Japanese making Singapore their home again, retail and other businesses that cater to the market are also expanding.

At Liang Court – a shopping mall popular with Japanese - new tenants like Kopitiam will open a Japanese-themed food court next month.

Ms Stephanie Ho, general manager of AsiaMalls Management, which runs Liang Court, said on average, up to 600,000 shoppers currently visit the mall each month, and the number of Japanese shoppers who participate in its promotions has grown.

Existing mall tenant Greenberry Loft, which sells babies' and children's apparel from Japan, has expanded its business by doubling its shop space to 500 sq ft late last month.

Ms Miho Terawaki, the shop's owner, said she decided to expand because she had increased her inventory hoping to attract more Japanese customers.

Her decision seems to have paid off. 'Since I relaunched the shop, I've seen more Japanese customers,' she said.

Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Reprinted with permission.