KUALA LUMPUR - The number of foreign students in Japan’s public schools requiring Japanese language support has tripled over the past 20 years.

A Kyodo News analysis showed the figure reached 57,718 in fiscal 2023.

This accounts for about 40 per cent of all foreign students in public elementary, junior and senior high schools.

The increase comes amid a broader rise in Japan’s foreign resident population.

Many of the students are children who moved to Japan with their families.

They often use their native languages, including Chinese and Portuguese, in daily life.

Foreign students are allowed to enrol in public schools if they choose but not subject to Japan’s compulsory education requirements.

The rise in students needing language support was recorded in 41 of Japan’s 47 prefectures.

Aichi Prefecture reported the highest number at 11,924 students, Kanagawa followed with 6,182 students, and Tokyo recorded 5,373.

Shizuoka and Osaka had 4,275 and 3,908 respectively.

Aichi also saw the steepest increase over the period.

The number of students requiring language support there rose 4.3 times from 2,776 in fiscal 2003.

In addition, 11,405 students with Japanese nationality were found to lack sufficient language proficiency.

Many of them had lived abroad for extended periods.

The total number of children requiring Japanese language instruction reached 69,123.

Government data showed that the total number of foreign students in public schools stood at 129,449 in fiscal 2023.

Shiga Prefecture recorded the highest proportion of students needing language support at about 84 per cent.

Students requiring language assistance were identified in around 1,000 municipalities nationwide, representing about 60 per cent of all municipalities.

Education experts say the trend poses challenges for schools in securing sufficient support staff.

Satoshi Takeyama, an education adviser for foreign students, emphasised the importance of inclusive learning approaches.

“At a stage when students are expected to learn properly structured, theoretical concepts, knowledge can take hold if they think in their native language.

“However, if they study in unfamiliar Japanese, much of it may be lost,” he said.

Takeyama also serves as a teacher at a Tokyo metropolitan senior high school.

The findings were based on education ministry data comparing fiscal years 2003 and 2023.