overseas Japanese; Japanese expatriate
Rare term referring to Japanese people living abroad, especially in a temporary or sojourning capacity. Often contrasted with 和僑 (わきょう), which refers to Japanese who have returned from overseas. The term is largely obsolete and found mainly in historical or specialized contexts.
See also: 和僑
Before the war, many overseas Japanese ran businesses in Southeast Asia.
The term '日僑' is hardly used nowadays.
Compound of 日 (にち, 'Japan') and 僑 (きょう, 'temporary residence abroad'). The character 僑 is rare and carries the nuance of sojourning rather than permanent settlement. The exact historical origin of the compound is uncertain, but it likely emerged in the early 20th century to describe Japanese expatriate communities.