The British Council has issued a warning regarding Japan’s stagnant growth in outbound travel. This trend could adversely affect young people and potentially undermine the country’s future competitiveness and strength.
Recent data indicates a decline in Japanese overseas travel. A 2018 survey revealed that 53% of young people in Japan expressed a reluctance to study abroad. In response, the British Council has proposed strategies for UK universities to enhance Japanese student mobility.
Stakeholders in Japan acknowledge that high costs and English language proficiency pose challenges. However, they emphasize that travel abroad should not be confused with studying abroad. In 2023, study abroad programs recovered to 83% of pre-COVID levels.
Tatsuhiko Hoshino, executive secretary of JAOS, commented, “The recent surge in studying abroad costs due to yen depreciation and inflation in host countries is a challenge. Nevertheless, students who genuinely wish to study abroad are not giving up on the idea. They are choosing less expensive cities, shortening their study durations, and exploring alternative ways to study abroad.”
Despite Japanese overseas travel being at only 60% of pre-COVID levels in 2023, JAOS data shows that the number of students studying abroad increased by 218% from the previous year. This growth is partly attributed to enhanced government subsidies for universities and schools that sponsor study abroad programs. Last year, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set ambitious internationalization targets, aiming to send 500,000 Japanese students abroad by 2033, stating that studying abroad is “the key to transforming society.”
There is rising interest among students in the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Korea, with many opting for more affordable options closer to home. The number of Japanese students studying abroad surged to 66,007 last year. However, education experts caution that significant progress is still needed.
Hoshino noted, “Simply increasing scholarships and organizing study abroad fairs will not achieve Kishida’s ambitious goal.” He stressed the necessity for greater support from universities and schools.
A survey by Japan’s Ministry of Education (MEXT) identified financial constraints, lack of language skills, and concerns about repeating a year or taking a leave of absence from their home universities as the main barriers to studying abroad, according to Yuji Kikuchi, deputy director of MEXT’s international affairs division.
To address these challenges, Hoshino proposed implementing detailed measures to reform English education, such as incorporating IELTS and TOEFL into Japan’s university entrance exams. He suggested creating more environments where students can connect with studying abroad from junior high school onward. He also recommended nationwide events that allow Japanese students to engage online with alumni of study abroad programs.
The UK’s higher English language requirements were noted as a specific deterrent for Japanese students. The British Council suggested that institutions offer pre-sessional English courses for students with lower language proficiency as part of study abroad exchange programs.
Another recommendation was to increase international university partnerships where fees for Japanese students on exchange programs could be waived. In 2019, Japan’s overseas travel exceeded 20 million for the first time, yet passport ownership dropped from 24% in 2019 to 17% in 2023, raising concerns about study abroad participation.
Hiroyuki Takahashi, chairman of the Japan Association of Travel Agents, expressed at a conference on September 26, “With the world changing rapidly and travelers’ attitudes evolving, we cannot expect to recover by maintaining the status quo. Overseas travel must be redefined.”
To encourage more schools to organize overseas travel, Takahashi proposed offering free passports to 18-year-olds or providing passports to students upon completing junior high school.
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