Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
22nd Mar 2023

Japan aims to rebuild foreign enrolment by 2027

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • Japan’s enrolment remained down by nearly 30% last year, from pre-COVID levels
  • The government has set out plans, including more active recruitment and improved language and career transition supports, that aim to rebuild the foreign enrolment base within the next five years

The Japanese government has laid down plans to recover the country's foreign enrolment by 2027. Speaking at a 2022 press conference, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Shinsuke Suematsu attributed Japan's declining international student numbers to extended border closures during the pandemic.

“Because foreign students were unable to enter Japan for a period of time, the percentage of (foreign students) getting a job in Japan also declined, significantly affecting the country’s ability to secure talented workers,” explains an accompanying report from the Ministry.

Commenting on the government's plans, The Japan Times outlines that: "The Ministry plans to rework its strategy on the regions from which it will seek to attract students and their fields of study…It is also planning to strengthen promotional campaigns for educational institutions in cooperation with representatives of Japanese universities abroad, and reinforce alumni networks to aid the recruitment of new students." And finally that, "The Ministry will enhance opportunities for the students to improve their Japanese-language skills, and will increase support for those seeking employment after graduation."

The Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) monitors international enrolment in the country and in its latest figures reports a total of 231,146 foreign students in Japan as of 1 May 2022. That represents a year-over-year decline of about -5%, and the lowest enrolment level for Japan in nearly a decade.

It also amounts to a nearly -26% drop from pre-COVID levels (there were more than 312,000 foreign students in Japan as of May 2019).

Of those enrolled in 2022, roughly 21% were registered with Japanese language schools. More than half (54%) were in higher education with another 22% studied in "specialised training schools".

The vast majority of international students in Japan come from elsewhere in Asia, with China, Vietnam, Nepal, Korea, and Indonesia the five largest senders and combining for 80% of total foreign enrolment in 2022. China remains by far the largest student market for Japanese educators with nearly 104,000 students last year (and accounting for 45% of total enrolment by itself).

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • US Office of Management and Budget grants budget reprieve to key exchange programmes Read More
  • Canada: How is study permit processing taking shape this year? Read More
  • UK study visa grants strengthening in first half of 2025 Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

US Office of Management and Budget grants budget reprieve to key exchange programmes In a highly unusual intervention in an area of Congressional authority, the US Office of Management and Budget...
Read more
Canada: How is study permit processing taking shape this year? There are two important and recurring themes in our conversations with education agents over the last few months...
Read more
UK study visa grants strengthening in first half of 2025 A 21 August 2025 data release from the UK Home Office shows that student visa grants were up...
Read more
Asian destinations show their strength in latest ranking of student cities The QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings were released last month, and, for the first time ever, Seoul...
Read more
Many foreign students want to stay in Germany but need more help with the transition to life after study Early findings from an extensive survey of international students in Germany finds that two-thirds would like to stay...
Read more
How post-study work rights can make or break the return on investment for study abroad The following is a guest post contributed by Tim O’Brien and Claire Clifford from INTO University Partnerships, where...
Read more
Australia prioritises amendments to ESOS Act in legislative agenda The Australian government has signalled that amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 are back...
Read more
UK’s stiffening compliance regime already having an impact on international student recruitment It would be fair to say that compliance is top of mind for international educators in the United...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links