As many as 67 Nepali citizens have died in Japan over the over ten months, including 25 suicides, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Most of the deceased were individuals who had travelled on student visas and were also working part-time.

The deaths were recorded between mid-July and June 1. While some cases list medical or other causes, many certificates state the reason as “unknown”. Illness-related deaths remain relatively low, officials said.

Acting Nepali ambassador to Japan Harihar Kant Paudyal said the rising number of deaths has made body management increasingly difficult. “In some cases, families complete the final rites in Japan. In others, the embassy is not informed even after cremation,” he said.

Repatriating a body from Japan to Nepal costs around Rs1.2 million. Educational institutions sending students abroad on student visas are not covering these expenses and are often not in contact with the embassy.

Many students arriving for language studies on student visas have been taking up work. However, they are not required to obtain labour permits from the Department of Foreign Employment. As a result, the Foreign Employment Board does not provide financial assistance for repatriation or related support when deaths occur outside the formal labour system.

Deaths and suicides have been reported mainly among workers in construction, Nepal-run hotels and restaurants, and supply companies. Around 6,000 Nepal-operated hotels and restaurants are estimated to be running in Japan, where labour protections such as health insurance and social security are not consistently ensured.

Education consultancies in Nepal have been sending students to Japan by charging high fees and making what critics describe as misleading promises. Japanese government data shows that by 2025, around 116,000 Nepali students were living in Japan, making Nepal the second-largest source of foreign students after China. Overall, Nepalis are the fifth-largest migrant group in Japan, with a total population of about 309,000, including 9,908 permanent residents.

According to the Non-Resident Nepali Association Japan, many students are under severe financial and psychological pressure due to high-interest loans taken in Nepal.

“Living costs in Japan are high, and earnings from 28 working hours a week are not enough for rent, food and tuition,” said NRNA Japan secretary Sachin Acharya. “When families in Nepal demand loan repayments, it adds mental stress. Switching from student visas to work visas requires language proficiency and other conditions, which are difficult. This is contributing to rising suicides.”

He said many students come on student visas due to easier access, but struggle to find stable work. “Some have to rely on money from Nepal. Many Nepalis are being arrested for exceeding the 28-hour work limit,” he said. “The Nepali embassy is understaffed, which makes it difficult to handle prison visits and related cases.”

Nepali student Uma Khatri, currently in Japan, said the reality is far more difficult than expected. “You need strong Japanese language skills before coming here. It is manageable for those who can work hard, but very difficult for students,” she said. “City living is expensive. Rural areas are cheaper, but jobs are scarce. Attendance requirements are strict, and visa renewal can be affected.”

Hira Shrestha from Baglung, who paid Rs1.35 million to reach Japan, said even working beyond permitted hours does not ease financial pressure. “People expect to repay loans quickly, but many struggle for years,” he said. Survival itself is hard.”

He said consultancy firms often present an overly optimistic picture. “They say you can study language for a year and work, but there is no job guarantee. Competition for part-time work is intense,” he said. “Some take multiple jobs to save money, which is illegal and can lead to visa cancellation.”

Only a small number of Nepalis go to Japan as skilled workers, while many enter as trainees in the agriculture and business sectors. The Nepali embassy has urged authorities to avoid sending workers under individual labour permits through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and labour channels.

In the last fiscal year, 18,744 Nepalis received labour approval from the Department of Foreign Employment, including both institutional and individual permits, with 5,800 women among them.

The embassy said it mainly tracks trainee workers sent through approved channels, where employers or agencies can be held responsible in case of death, making repatriation easier. However, it lacks records of students and individuals who arrive outside formal labour approval systems, complicating assistance and monitoring.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the following helplines.

Nepal Mental Hospital suicide hotline: 1166

Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital suicide prevention hotline: 9840021600:

Patan Hospital crisis helpline for suicide prevention: 9813476123

The Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation: 16600102005