The number of amateur radio stations in Japan continues to decline. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications announced the latest numbers for the first quarter of 2026 showing a steady reduction of 1,000+ stations each month. Over the last 10 years Japan’s station count has reduced by more than 100,000 from 435,969 in January 2016 to 332,120 in January 2026.
While an explanation for the decline was not given, Japan has seen significant population loss over the last several years including a reduction of 3 million citizens over the past 5 years.
Source: hamlife.jp