Japan's government has drawn up a draft plan to revise the current system to allow fourth-generation Japanese living abroad to obtain long-term resident status in the country.

Currently, up to third-generation Japanese can obtain long-term resident status in Japan. But fourth-generation Japanese need to clear certain conditions, including their parents' residency in the country.

Five years ago, the government launched a system in which overseas fourth-generation Japanese aged 18 to 30 can stay in Japan for up to 5 years, under certain conditions such as having a host family or an employer.

At that time, the government expected to grant long-term resident status to 4,000 people annually.

But as of December last year, only about 120 people were staying in Japan under the system. There have been voices calling for easing the conditions.

The revisions would allow fourth-generation Japanese who are proficient in Japanese to switch to long-term resident status at the end of their 5-year stay.

Long-term resident status for such people would effectively allow permanent residency in Japan.

The government is also considering a plan to raise the age limit to 35 at the time of initial entry into Japan, depending on Japanese language ability.

Government officials are preparing to revise the current system by the end of the year.