adopts the method of respondents selecting a nationality from the options above,55 and it is impossible to estimate the number of stateless parents from the statistical results of “Other Countries”. (4) Immigration Control Statistics The Immigration Control Statistics count foreigners entering or departing from Japan by nationality and region. According to these statistics, in 2015, 967 foreigners who entered Japan were stateless. 56 Likewise, the same number, 967 foreigners, who departed from Japan were stateless. In 2014, 800 stateless persons entered Japan and 801 stateless persons departed from Japan.57 The Statistics Relating to the Deportation and Departure Order System also officially indicate the number of stateless persons who illegally stay in the country. These statistics show that in 2015, detention orders (Article 39 of ICRRA) were issued to 11 stateless persons while a deportation order (Article 51 of Immigration Control Act) was not issued 55 Inquiry to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (26 November 2015). See below for the report format. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Jinkou Doutai Chousa Shusshouhyou [Vital Statistics Report]”, at http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/chousahyo/0006661_h26_01.pdf. Vital Statistics are compiled based on data from reports made by heads of municipalities when they receive notification of birth/death/still birth/marriage/divorce. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, “Jinkou Doutai Chousa [Vital Statistics]”, at http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/list/81-1b.html. Registration of Birth has a column for Registered Domicile where foreign nationals indicate their nationality; by checking this column, it may be possible to confirm the number of stateless persons. However, statistics based on registration of birth, instead of Vital Statistics reports, do not seem to exist. For a sample Registration of Birth, see Ministry of Justice, “Shusshou Todoke [Registration of Birth]”, at http://www.moj.go.jp/content/000011715.pdf. 56 Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, “Shutsunyuukoku Kanri Toukei 2015 Nen Nenpou, Shutsunyuu (ki) kokushasuu [Immigration Statistics, 2015 Annual Report, Number of Departure and Entry (Return)]” (June 2016), at http://www.e-stat.go.jp/SG1/estat/List.do?lid=000001153767. 57 Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, “Shutsunyuukoku Kanri Toukei 2014 Nen Nenpou, Shutsunyuu (ki) kokushasuu [Immigration Statistics, 2014 Annual Report, Number of Departure and Entry (Return)]” (June 2015), at http://www.e-stat.go.jp/SG1/estat/List.do?lid=000001135406. These statistics show that, to the extent that the Immigration Bureau is aware, the number of stateless person entering Japan from other countries has not changed much. However, this does not necessarily indicate that the number of stateless persons staying in Japan has not increased. That is because stateless persons might be born in Japan or staying in Japan irregularly, such as by landing without landing permission or by landing as a person with nationality under a different name. 34