Japanese Students Abroad

Japanese students study abroad less than other East Asian countries, why is that? It is reported that only 46% of high school students in Japan desire tos study abroad, which is a drastic difference from the 82% of Chinese and Korean students that want to study abroad. The number of Japanese students studying abroad is decreasing as time goes on, as Japanese students are looking inward for higher education.

Some of the factors causing this decrease of Japanese students studying abroad are the 2008 financial crisis and the increasing number of first generation college students emerging in Japan. The 2008 financial crisis resulted in the decrease in average household income in Japan. This means that for many of these Japanese students, studying abroad is no longer an affordable option, and it would be much cheaper to receive an education within Japan and possibly even while living at home.
The arising number of first generation college students amongst the Japanese student population results in less of these students studying abroad because there is a lack of confidence that may come with being the first person in your family to aim for a higher education. As a result, many of these students stay home, as they feel unprepared to start a new life in a foregn country. This lack of confidence is also related to the expensive cost of going abroad, as it’s a high risk, and many feel that if they fail abroad they will find themselves and their family in major debt. Additionally, some of these Japanese students may not feel confident in their foreign language skills, and may not receive an education as easily in a different country where Japanese is not spoken in the classroom.

Another reason many Japanese students do not want to study abroad as much as other east asian students is simply because Japan has high quality higher education. These students recognize that Japan has the resources they need to be successful, and they do not need to go to a foreign country to succeed. Instead, they can stay where they are comfortable, and easily network in Japan therefore leading to more career opportunities within Japan.

Writer: Kayley Hill