The number of international students studying in Japan has reached its highest level in 14 years since 2011.
According to statistics compiled by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), an independent administrative institution under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, as of May 1 last year, the number of international students in Japan stood at 336,000, marking a 21% increase compared to the previous year.
The number of international students in Japan surpassed 310,000 in 2019 but began to decline due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching only around 230,000 in 2022. However, it started to rise sharply again in 2023.
Among all international students, 229,000 enrolled in higher education institutions such as universities and vocational schools, while the remaining 107,000 attended Japanese language schools.
Looking at international students by country of origin, the number from China was 123,000, reflecting a 6.9% increase. Meanwhile, the number from Nepal (65,000) grew by 71.1%, Vietnam (40,000) by 11.0%, and Myanmar (17,000) by 113.5%.
The number of South Korean students in Japan was 15,000, showing a 2.5% decrease compared to the previous year, ranking fifth among international student populations by country. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese students studying in South Korea during the same period surged by 79% year-on-year to approximately 8,000.
Source: Nikkei 30 April, 20225