As the world grappled with the effects of the pandemic, Japan saw a decline in the number of foreign students. However, there is good news on the horizon as a recent public survey by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) revealed a promising rebound in 2023.
Thanks to the gradual lifting of COVID-19 travel restrictions by the government in 2022, the number of foreign students in Japan surged by 20.8% to 279,274, with a significant increase in enrolment in Japanese-language schools.
Although the numbers have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, the growth is an encouraging sign for the international education sector in Japan. Notably, students from China still dominate the demographic, but there has been a notable increase in students from Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and the United States.
Additionally, the survey also highlighted a fivefold increase in Japanese students studying abroad, with popular destinations including the United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.
Overall, the recovery in foreign student enrolment and the rise in Japanese students studying abroad indicate a positive trend for global education despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.