The number of high schools accepting Chinese international students is increasing. Kamogawa Reitoku High School in Chiba Prefecture, which began admitting international students around 2014, now has Chinese students making up **50%** of its student body. While the school does not forcibly recruit international students, their presence is said to have a positive impact on Japanese students as well.
According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) report, *Acceptance of Foreign Students in High Schools (for stays of three months or more)*, the number of Chinese students in Japanese high schools was **448 in the 2021 academic year** and **869 in the 2023 academic year** (biennial survey). Among all foreign students, Chinese students accounted for the largest group, nearly doubling over the two years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, according to MEXT, the population of **15-year-olds**, which was **1.21 million in 2010**, declined to **1.08 million in 2023**. It is projected to fall below **1 million by 2029**, reaching **990,000**. With the worsening decline in birth rates, many high schools are struggling to secure sufficient student enrollment.
Source: Toyokeizai education × ICT, 7 May 2025