The first group of some 200 Indonesian caregivers and nurses arrived Aug. 7 to find jobs in Japan under the two nations' economic partnership agreement that took effect July 1.

This is the first time Japan has allowed a large number of foreigners to work in hospitals and nursing homes.

Care facilities are suffering from an acute labor shortage that is being made worse by the rapidly growing elderly population.

Japan is preparing to make similar arrangements with its other regional neighbors, including the Philippines.

The Indonesian group consists of 104 nurses and 101 caregivers, with women accounting for some 60 percent of the group.

They will go through Japanese-language and other training programs at government-affiliated organizations across Japan for six months, and will start work at around 100 institutions from January or February.

Japan will accept up to 400 nurses and 600 caregivers over two years.