“How Have International Students’ Lives Changed Over 10 Years?”
“More Than 50% Hope to Build Their Future in Japan After Graduation”
The number of international students studying in Japan is on the rise. Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused a temporary decline, the weaker yen and Japan’s relative safety have contributed to a record high in 2024, especially among students from Asia. Over the past decade, the number has increased by 80%. Many students actively take on part-time jobs, making them an essential workforce in labor-strapped sectors such as food service and retail. Nikkei has published an article highlighting the realities of international students who study, work, and consume in Japan.
According to the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), the number of international students studying in Japan reached 336,708 as of May 2024, marking a 21% increase from the previous year. Over the past decade, this figure has grown by 80%, setting a new all-time high.
Of these students:
- 229,467 are enrolled in higher education institutions, such as universities, graduate schools, and vocational colleges. This includes 87,421 undergraduate students and 58,215 graduate students.
- 107,241 are enrolled in Japanese language institutions, such as language schools.
Based on this data and the Ministry of Education’s 2024 School Basic Survey, international students account for 3.3% of undergraduate students, but a significantly higher 23.3% of graduate students (master’s and doctoral programs), indicating a sharp rise in proportion at the graduate level.
When comparing the growth of international student enrollment in universities/graduate schools versus Japanese language schools, the latter shows a more notable increase. While the number of students in higher education has only slightly risen since 2019 (pre-COVID), enrollment in Japanese language schools has grown by nearly 30%.
Unlike students in higher education institutions, who often have access to scholarships from universities or local governments, many students at Japanese language schools have limited access to financial aid. The proportion of privately funded international students has increased from 92% in 2011 to 96%, highlighting a growing reliance on personal finances.
Rising prices are having a direct impact on the lives of international students. According to the Survey on the Living Conditions of Privately Financed International Students published by JASSO in October 2024, 71.4% of respondents cited “high cost of living” as the most significant challenge they faced after arriving in Japan.
According to the same survey, the average monthly expenditure for international students across Japan is ¥170,000. Part-time work for international students is legally restricted to 28 hours per week during academic terms, and up to 40 hours per week during long vacation periods.

When broken down by country or region, Chinese students remain the largest group among international students in Japan. Although their share has declined from 51% in 2014 to 37% in 2024 over the past decade, they still represent the largest nationality cohort.
University entrance exams in China are known for their intense competition, and some view pursuing higher education in Japan as a relatively easier alternative. With growing uncertainty surrounding China’s economic outlook and persistent social instability, more students are choosing Japan as their study destination. Many cite reasons such as “wanting to avoid the exam war and earn a degree in Japan” or “seeking a safer and more stable life in Japan.”

One of the fastest-growing groups by nationality is international students from Myanmar, where a military coup in February 2021 triggered ongoing political turmoil. Over the past decade, the number of Myanmar students in Japan has increased by a factor of 8.6.
More than half of international students hope to find employment in Japan after graduation. While rising living costs force many to be resourceful, data suggests that their overall standard of living has improved compared to a decade ago. According to JASSO’s 2024 survey, 65% of privately financed international students work part-time—a figure that has declined by 10 percentage points over the past ten years.
Japan’s cost of living may feel relatively affordable for some international students, partly due to economic growth in their home countries and the weaker yen. “Living expenses in Japan are about the same as in Costa Rica—or even cheaper,” says Gadi Matelson, a 28-year-old student from Costa Rica, smiling from his shared house room in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward.
Matelson spends over ¥120,000 a month on rent and utilities, and despite eating out daily, his food expenses range from ¥40,000 to ¥60,000. After studying architecture at university and working in Costa Rica, he came to Japan in March 2024. He is currently studying Japanese at a language school, living off his savings—but thanks to the weak yen, he says life in Japan is more affordable than he expected, without any sense of hardship.
He lives in a shared house in Tokyo’s Suginami Ward, operated by Oakhouse (based in Toshima), which runs share houses nationwide. The monthly rent, including internet and utilities, is just over ¥120,000. The atmosphere resembles that of a backpacker hostel, with many other international students living there.
Matelson says anime and manga sparked his interest in Japanese culture. His bookshelf features items like a movie pamphlet for Jujutsu Kaisen and volumes of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. “Good housing, good food, and a good social life—living in Japan is incredibly comfortable,” he says with a smile.
What kind of career paths do international students pursue? According to a survey by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), 54% of respondents said they hope to find employment in Japan after graduation—the most common response. Another 10% expressed interest in starting a business in Japan, suggesting that the majority wish to continue living in the country.
Matelson has recently begun job hunting, aiming to work at an architecture firm. “I’m still getting used to Japan’s unique job-hunting culture,” he says, “but I’m fascinated by contemporary architecture that draws on traditional Japanese design.”
Japan’s “300,000 International Students Plan,” launched in 2008, reached its target in 2019. In response, former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida set a new goal: to increase the number of international students in Japan to 400,000 by 2033.
Currently, international students make up only 5% of all students enrolled in Japan—significantly lower than the 20% in the UK and 30% in Australia.
In an increasingly globalized and multipolar world, expanding international student enrollment is crucial for Japan to remain competitive. While some countries, such as the United States, have temporarily restricted international student admissions, the global number of international students continues to rise, and a fierce competition to attract them is already underway.
The Ministry of Justice is advancing discussions on medium- to long-term policies for accepting foreign nationals as part of efforts to promote social coexistence. To establish a basic policy framework, a project team (PT) has been launched within the Immigration Services Agency.
As labor shortages intensify across the country due to population decline, reliance on foreign workers is accelerating. The government has expressed a clear policy to actively accept foreign nationals with specialized skills, and the number of foreign residents is expected to continue rising.