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July 24, 2026
 

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MEXT

The government eyes financial support for local vocational schools that train students for elderly care and other sectors facing personnel shortages.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Jul 21, 2026
Education ministry to aid regional human resources development
The government¡¯s project would help support Japan¡¯s local essential services, from medical and elderly care to construction.
The rate of elementary and junior high school students requiring financial aid for school expenses among all students attending public schools was 13.36% in fiscal 2024.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Jul 8, 2026
Number of students receiving financial aid for school falls for 13th year
Japan¡¯s central government offers financial aid for school expenses to those living on welfare, while boards of education can offer assistance based on their own criteria.
Kyoto University is expected to be designated as a University for International Research Excellence by the end of this summer, which would make it eligible for aid from a Japanese government-financed ?10 trillion ($62.2 billion) fund.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Science & Health
Jul 3, 2026
Kyoto University to be third recipient of world-class research aid
It is expected to be certified as a University for International Research Excellence by the end of summer, which would make it eligible for aid from a ?10 trillion fund.
The country is gradually transforming Japanese-language education from a volunteer-driven system into a professional, government-supported network to better serve its growing foreign population.?
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 2, 2026
Japanese-language education is at a turning point
Once volunteer-based, the system is shifting toward shared responsibility between local governments and trained professionals.
The number of public school students requiring special Japanese-language instruction reached a record high of 84,759 in fiscal 2025.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Jun 9, 2026
Japan to launch language support project for foreign children
The number of public school students requiring special Japanese-language instruction reached a record high of 84,759 in fiscal 2025.
How Japanese-language instruction is provided currently varies widely according to region.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
May 26, 2026
Record number of students in Japan need help learning Japanese
As of May 2025, a total of 84,759 students at public elementary, junior high, high and special needs schools required support, a government survey shows.
"K¨­sen" technical colleges are five-year institutions offering higher education to students who have graduated from junior high school, with the aim of nurturing practical and creative engineers.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
May 24, 2026
Japan may add farming and anime courses to technical colleges
In response to many local governments aiming to establish new ¡°k¨­sen¡± technical colleges, the ministry hopes to develop talent in a wide range of areas.
Education ministry officials announce the findings of an investigation into the fatal boat accident in March off the coast of Henoko, in Okinawa Prefecture, at a news conference in Tokyo on Friday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
May 23, 2026
Government finds school program violated law in wake of deadly Okinawa boat accident
It was the first time since the current basic education law was enacted that the education ministry has found a case in violation of the law on the grounds of political neutrality.
The central government plans to launch a new subsidy program from fiscal 2027 onward to support public high schools nationwide.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
May 7, 2026
Public high schools to receive more aid after private tuition made free
The initiative comes amid concerns full funding of private high school tuition from April could reduce applications to public high schools.
In March 2025, the Tokyo District Court issued a dissolution order to the Unification Church, following a request from the culture ministry.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Crime & Legal
Apr 23, 2026
At least ?40 billion secured in Unification Church liquidation
Claims of losses from large donations to the Unification Church will be accepted for a year from May 20.
A classroom at Ozu Junior High School in Izumiotsu, Osaka Prefecture, looks more like a cafe, and students can sit wherever they want during social studies class.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Apr 20, 2026
At a unique state school in Osaka Prefecture, students take the lead
At Ozu Junior High School, students have determined the look of their uniform, the design of a library and classroom, and even the school¡¯s guidelines.
Aya Puka (left), the vice representative of the Triple-Helix Roundtable for International Ph.D. Talent initiative, Thomas Busch (second from left), the dean of the graduate school at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), Hirokazu Kato (center), director of Nara Institute of Science and Technology¡¯s (NAIST) regional co-creation office, and Naoya Taniguchi (second from right), NAIST assistant professor and program representative, attend an event announcing the program in Tokyo on Wednesday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Apr 15, 2026
Japan universities announce plan to boost foreign Ph.D. recruitment and development
The move comes as the country steps up efforts to strengthen its competitiveness amid intensifying global competition for skilled workers.
Digital textbooks let students check pronunciation and practice instruments with videos, but some worry about potential effects on children's eyesight.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Apr 7, 2026
Japanese government passes bill to make digital textbooks official
Digital textbooks are expected to be used as official learning materials from as early as fiscal 2030 after government screenings in fiscal 2028.
Many high school textbooks to be used from fiscal 2027 have descriptions about generative AI.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Mar 25, 2026
High school textbooks to teach various aspects of generative AI
A total of 220 textbooks for 11 subjects have passed the second round of screenings conducted under the current curriculum guidelines.
The education ministry found that 111, or about 14%, of all universities in Japan offering teacher training courses do not provide classes on sexual violence prevention as required by law.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Mar 16, 2026
Education ministry aims for stricter curbs against teacher voyeurism
Last year, authorities uncovered an incident in which seven teachers secretly shared videos of female students in a social media group chat.
Education minister Yohei Matsumoto bows as he explains about his alleged extramarital affair reported in an online magazine during a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Thursday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Politics
Mar 12, 2026
Takaichi backs education minister after affair report
The allegation of an extramarital affair by Yohei Matsumoto was reported by Bunshun Online, the digital version of the weekly Shukan Bunshun magazine.
Vietnamese students attend a Japanese language class at a job placement company in Hanoi in October 2022.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 6, 2026
The limits of Japan¡¯s immigration charade
Until now, the quality and training of Japanese-language teachers were largely left to the private sector, including academia.
The education ministry noted that schools are struggling to find nonregular teachers to replace young regular teachers leaving for illness, pregnancy, childbirth or other reasons.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Mar 5, 2026
3,827 teacher positions unfilled across Japan: 2025 survey
The figure jumped from 2,065 in the previous survey four years earlier, reflecting the country¡¯s worsening teacher shortage.
Education minister Yohei Matsumoto speaks during a news conference at the parliamentary building on Friday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Feb 27, 2026
Ministry approves Institute of Science Tokyo¡¯s plans to boost research
The institution was selected last month to receive aid from the government¡¯s ?10 trillion fund designed to foster universities with world-class research capabilities.
The education ministry building in Tokyo. The ministry is raising caps on accepting foreign students at three national universities.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø
Feb 19, 2026
Three national universities to raise international student enrollment caps
Universities in Japan typically face penalties if they exceed enrollment limits, but a new framework will allow them to raise caps if they meet specified standards.
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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