Japan to Boost Language Support for Foreign Children
The Japanese government is expected to increase support for beginner-level Japanese language programmes for children newly arrived from abroad, as the need for such education grows due to the increasing foreign population.
According to Kyodo, citing a June 2026 report by an education ministry expert panel, the central government should take a “primary role” in raising national education standards for foreign children. This includes creating model “pre-class” Japanese language programmes and teaching guidelines.
The number of public elementary, junior high, and senior high school students requiring Japanese language instruction reached 84,759 as of May 2025, many of whom are foreign nationals.
While acknowledging ongoing efforts to provide specialised Japanese language curricula and increase the number of relevant teachers, the report stated, “The number of foreign pupils and students is increasing at a pace that is difficult to keep up with.”
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology hopes the “pre-class” programme will also help foreign children become familiar with Japanese culture and adapt to school life.
Yokohama is one area running such a beginner-level language programme. The port city near Tokyo had approximately 4,600 public elementary and junior high school students needing Japanese language instruction as of May 2025.
A facility called Himawari in Naka Ward, which opened in 2017, offers a 12-day programme for elementary and junior high school students, divided into three age groups. Children attend language classes three times a week for about a month, from morning until early afternoon, while still attending their regular schools.
The programme includes language lessons and classroom cleaning activities, a common practice in Japanese schools that foreign children may not be accustomed to. The facility also serves as a place where parents can seek advice when dropping off or picking up their children.
A Chinese teenager who arrived in Japan in April enthusiastically welcomed school life, saying, “I want to make friends at school and join the basketball club.”
“The goal is to help children acquire the basic Japanese language skills they need and then pass the baton of guidance to the schools,” said Masumi Kanazawa, head of Himawari, earlier this year, emphasising the importance of such facilities.
According to the ministry panel’s report, teaching guidelines for the preparatory classes are also expected to include the effective use of digital technology, such as generative AI. Teachers developing individualised learning plans for foreign students are also encouraged to consider additional information, such as previous educational history and the goals of the students and their parents. At the same time, the report suggests using simplified formats to avoid increasing teachers’ workload.
To support foreign students wishing to pursue higher education or find employment, the report urges the central government to publish multilingual documents for students and parents provided by local governments, as well as information on residency status from the Ministry of Justice.