Press Release
Number of Japanese studying abroad, including working adults, appears to exceed 200,000-“JAOS 2017 Survey on the Number of Japanese Studying Abroad” Report[Introduction]
JAOS aims to promote the healthy development of the study abroad industry and provide instruction
and guidance to improve and maintain quality of service providers in Japan. JAOS consists of 66
private and public-sector organizations based in Japan. In August 2017, JAOS organized the “JAOS2017 Survey on the Number of Japanese Studying Abroad”, a survey of 40-member education agencies
that provide study abroad services. The survey collected from these 40 organizations the number ofJapanese who used their study abroad support services. As a result, JAOS survey revealed that these40-member education agencies helped nearly 80,000 people (79,123) study abroad in 2016. Taken
together with the results of other surveys conducted by various entities in Japan, these numberssuggests that we can surmise that more than 20,000 Japanese people studied abroad during the year.

*Reference attached: Number of Japanese people studying abroad by country, “JAOS 2017 Survey
on the Number of Japanese Studying Abroad”[Background of the survey]
Prior to this JAOS survey, most widely publicized statistics on the number of Japanese people
studying abroad were provided by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)’s “Survey ofJapanese Students Studying Abroad Based on Student Exchange Agreements between universities”,

and from surveys published by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology(MEXT), for example the OECD survey. However, MEXT statistics include only Japanese people who
study at overseas institutions of higher education such as universities or graduate schools. JASSO
also include only those students who study abroad via Japanese universities. It means that thesurveys did not include students who do not use a university program to go abroad, junior high school
students who study abroad, or working adults who go abroad to study a language. These omissions
led JAOS to conduct a new yearly survey of its own to produce statistical data that includes juniorhigh school students and working adults: the “JAOS Survey on the Number of Japanese Studying
Abroad”. Our goal is to paint a more accurate picture of the number of Japanese people studying
abroad and thereby help the study abroad industry develop appropriately.

*Reference attached: Number of Japanese people studying abroad by country, “JAOS 2017 Survey on
the Number of Japanese Studying Abroad”[Summary of the numbers revealed by the survey]

*For this survey, JAOS outsourced to a neutral third-party organization to survey 40 JAOS member
education agencies which provide study abroad services to provide the number of students they helped
send abroad.
*Student numbers from study abroad education agencies that are not members of JAOS are notincluded in this survey.
[Study abroad trends in 2016]
1) Europe and North America hold a large share of the market, but Asia's share rose significantly toover 17%
Countries in North America, Europe, and Oceania remain unquestionably the most popular
destinations for Japanese people who study abroad, receiving over 80% of all students. However,Asian countries such as the Philippines, Singapore, China, South Korea, and Taiwan received over
17% of all students, indicating that there is a sizeable number of Japanese people studying in Asia.
2) Among these Asian countries, the Philippines is enjoying the largest increase in popularity,
surpassing New Zealand to take fifth place
The Philippines have become a popular study abroad destination in recent years. On the list ofcountries that receive the most Japanese students, the Philippines ranked in the top 5 behind theUnited States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, leaping over New Zealand.
3) Junior high school students and high school students account for 19.2% of the total number ofJapanese studying abroad
As the 2020 reform of the university entrance examinations approaches, English education in Japanis undergoing dramatic changes. English instruction in junior high schools and high schools is also
being revised. Study abroad option appears to attract as a way to motivate students by helping themrealize the value and impact of language study and its importance to help students accumulate many
hours of practical speaking lessons in a way that is impossible to attain inside Japan.

[Study abroad trends in the future]1) The 2020 reform of the university entrance examinations will encourage students to go abroad ata younger age
Continuing a trend first seen in 2016, students will continue to go abroad at a younger age as the2020 reform of the English entrance examination approaches. We can surmise that increasing
numbers of students will go to study abroad accompanied by their parent(s) and increasing numbers
will go during junior high school. As English instruction in elementary schools continues to change,
we believe that the number of elementary school students who go to study abroad will also increase.
2) The number of Japanese students continuing their education at overseas universities will increase
It is likely that examinations such as Eiken, TOEFL, and IELTS will be used as part of the 2020reform of the English entrance examination. As high school students upgrade their ability tocommunicate globally in English, the number of students who attain eligible level scores to apply tooverseas universities will increase as well. We can infer that by, or around 2020, the number of highschool students who aspire to pursue their education at overseas institutions instead of Japanese
universities will increase.
3) The globalization of Japanese companies and increasing inbound tourism demand will lead to moreworking adults studying abroad
As the globalization of Japanese companies continues year in year out, there is a great demand withincompanies for people who can communicate in English on a practical business level. An increasing
number of working adults are sent abroad for corporate training and in similar contexts. In addition,
an increasing number of working adults are taking paid leaves to study abroad for one or two weeks,particularly career-oriented people in their twenties and thirties. However, the number of working
adults who choose to study abroad with an eye on their career or lifestyle while they consider new
career options is also on the rise. As inbound tourism demand brings increasing numbers of foreigners
to Japan, Japanese people who originally did not consider going abroad will increasingly realize aneed for language study abroad, particularly those who are employed in the tourism or service
industries.
[The number of Japanese studying abroad appears to exceed 200,000]
This survey enabled us to deliver information about Japanese people who go to study abroad via
private education agencies, especially working adults. These students had not been counted by othersurveys on Japanese people studying abroad. If we combine the statistics obtained by JAOS withthose presented by JASSO and MEXT, and if we also add in the likely number of students who goabroad via education agencies that are not members of JAOS, our most educated estimate suggeststhat the real number of Japanese people who study abroad every year now exceeds 200,000 or is atleast very close to reaching 200,000. It is difficult to obtain precise statistics of the total number ofstudents. However, JAOS will continue to expand the reach of its “JAOS Survey on the Number ofJapanese Studying Abroad” to deliver correct information and contribute to the development of theentire study abroad industry in Japan.
Referential information-Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), “Status of JapaneseStudying Abroad” (released in March 2017): 53,197 people*Summary of statistics from the OECD, etc. Mainly Japanese students who are studying abroad at
institutions of higher education.
-Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), “Survey of Japanese Students Studying Abroad
Based on Student Exchange Agreements” (released in March 2017): 54,455 people*The number of Japanese university students who went abroad via a study abroad program or thelike organized by a Japanese university. About 90% studied abroad for less than one year.
[General information about the statistical survey]
Period: January 1st, 2016 - December 31st, 2016
Surveyed: 40 JAOS member education agencies that provide study abroad services[About JAOS]
Established in 1991, our mission is to promote the healthy development of the study abroad industry
in Japan by establishing ethical best practice guidelines for organizations, educating and training
study abroad counselors and advisors, and engaging in various other promotional activities toincrease awareness of, and further the development of a safe and rewarding environment forJapanese study abroad students.
Recognized by the Japanese government as a General Incorporated Association in 2008, JAOS
membership consists not only of private companies but also includes public organizations such as theAustralian Embassy Marketing Office and the British Council, as well as various trade-relatedassociations. As of 2018, total membership now exceeds 65 organizations. JAOS is also an active
member of the international association FELCA (The Federation of Education and Language
Consultant Associations). By representing Japan through this membership, JAOS is able to educateand promote Japanese market needs to industry providers and assist them in developing the optimal
study abroad environment for Japanese study abroad students.
[ For more information and inquiry]
Tatsu Hoshino
Executive Secretary, JAOS
hoshino@jaos.or.jp
TEL: +81-3-3269-8446

http://www.jaos.or.jp/top-eng