May 26, 2026
TOKYO – The number of students found to need Japanese language instruction in public elementary, junior high, high and special needs schools reached a record high of 84,759 in fiscal 2025, according to a survey by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
This marked an increase of 15,636 students from the previous survey in fiscal 2023, doubling over the past decade.
The ministry plans to strengthen the environment for Japanese language learning and launch a model project to operate special classes that serve as hubs for early Japanese language instruction, as well as develop teaching materials, starting in fiscal 2027.
The survey covered all 1,788 boards of education nationwide and inquired about the status at the schools as of May 1 last year.
A total of 84,759 students were found to require Japanese language instruction due to insufficient conversational skills, with 73,313 of foreign nationality and 11,446 of Japanese nationality. The increase from the previous survey was chiefly comprised of students of foreign nationality.
The latest survey found students determined to require Japanese language instruction within 12,668 schools, representing 40% of all public schools. There were 28 schools with at least 100 such students.
The number of cities, wards, towns or villages with 20 or more such students increased by 10% compared to the previous survey, while those without decreased by 10%. The survey results also revealed a trend where foreign residents are simultaneously becoming more concentrated in certain areas and more dispersed across others.
Among the students found requiring Japanese language instruction, about 10,000 were judged not to be receiving sufficient support. The ministry aims to establish educational hubs both within and outside schools nationwide, where children who have newly arrived in Japan can learn basic Japanese and familiarize themselves with school rules. To develop a model system, multiple municipalities with both concentrated and dispersed foreign national populations will be selected in fiscal 2027 to compile guidelines for project implementation and operation.
The ministry will also support prefectures and other entities in developing online teaching, with a focus on areas where foreign residents are scattered. Efforts will also be made to develop teaching materials tailored to the ages of children learning Japanese for the first time.
There are regional differences in terms of Japanese language instruction geared for foreign students. Municipalities with large foreign resident populations, such as Yokohama and Hamamatsu, have established centers to provide early language education, while in many others, schools tackle the issue on an individual basis.
In January, the government adopted new basic policies on foreign nationals and plans to fundamentally strengthen early Japanese language instruction for children, starting in fiscal 2027.