Overseas student numbers in Japan up by 12 per cent

The number of international students in Japan increased by 12 per cent last year to reach 267,042, with the majority coming from other countries within Asia, new data show.

Figures from the Japan Student Services Organisation (Jasso) reveal that 188,384 foreign students were studying at higher education institutions in the country in May 2017, a 10 per cent increase since the previous year, while a further 78,658 were at Japanese language institutes (a 15 per cent increase).

The 10 countries that sent the most international students to Japan were all in Asia.

China was home to the largest share with 107,260 students, followed by Vietnam (61,671), Nepal (21,500) and South Korea (15,740).

A Jasso official told The Japan Times that a rise in the number of Japanese companies operating in other nations in Asia has meant that “people in the region feel familiar with [the idea of] studying or working in Japan”.

ellie.bothwell@timeshighereducation.com