If the acceptance of international students is not progressing due to the restrictions on the entry of international students due to the border measures of the new coronavirus, at least 80 of the Japanese language schools nationwide will be suspended from business within 3 months. A survey by an organization created by a Japanese language education institution revealed that it may be difficult to continue.

The "Six Organizations Related to Japanese Language Education Institutions" conducted a questionnaire targeting 469 affiliated schools in an attempt to investigate the impact of restrictions on the entry of international students, and 320 schools responded.



According to this, 24 schools, which is 7%, decided to suspend the business by the end of this month due to lack of funds.



In addition, 57 schools, which is 18%, may not be able to continue their business within 3 months if the acceptance of international students does not proceed.



We also found that 122 schools, or 38%, may not be able to continue their business within six months to a year.



A person in charge of the group said, "The number of people who want to study abroad in Japan is decreasing, and the number of people who cancel their enrollment is increasing. I hope that we will accept international students who are compatible with infection control as soon as possible."



Regarding the relaxation of border measures, the government announced on the 3rd that it will raise the maximum number of immigrants per day from 5,000 to 7,000 from 14th this month, but about 150,000 international students wish to enter Japan. It is expected that there will be some time before everyone can enter the country.

"Uncertain situation" Deputy principal of a Japanese language school in Tokyo

At a school corporation that has three Japanese language schools in Tokyo, about 740 international students are learning Japanese out of a total capacity of about 2,800.



However, when some international students graduate in the middle of this month, the number of current students will decrease to 178, which is 6% of the capacity.



Currently, more than 1,100 international students are waiting to study abroad at this school corporation's Japanese language school, but it is uncertain when all of them will be able to enter Japan.

Tadakazu Niiyama, Deputy Principal of Sendagaya Japanese Institute, said, "If there is an upper limit, it is uncertain how many international students will enter the country every day. We will follow the rules such as infection control, so we hope that international students can enter the country smoothly. I'm out. "

Experts who say, "If the current situation continues, the foundation for studying in Japan will be damaged."

Professor Hiroshi Ota of Hitotsubashi University, who specializes in international student policy, said, "I think it is very serious. Many international students studying at universities and graduate schools enroll after studying at a Japanese language education institution. The current situation will continue. It means that the foundation of studying in Japan will be damaged. In the medium to long term, studying in Japan may taper off. I would like to request the Japanese government to promptly enter the country of waiting international students. " ..