Hong Kong media outlet Hong Kong 01 reported on May 30 that the number of foreign students studying in Japan has updated its past record, and Chinese students account for the largest share of 30%.

According to data released by the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) on the 29th, the number of foreign students studying in Japan as of May 2025 reached 408,069, setting a new record high. This means that the Japanese government's target of "400,000 international students" by 2033 was achieved ahead of schedule.

According to the same data, the number of international students fluctuated significantly due to the impact of the novel coronavirus, falling from approximately 310,000 in 2019 to 230,000 in 2022. Since then, it has continued to recover for three consecutive years.

By country/region of origin, Chinese students were the most numerous at 131,097, accounting for approximately 30% of the total. They were followed by Nepalese students at 100,239 and Vietnamese students at 43,366. The increase in students from South Asia and West Asia was particularly significant.

On the other hand, the number of Japanese students studying abroad as of 2024 was approximately 91,000. Although this was a 2.1% increase from the previous year, it remained at about 80% of the peak in 2018 (approximately 110,000). The background to this is analyzed as being related to factors such as the rise in study abroad expenses due to the weak yen and the continued high cost of living overseas. (Translated/Edited by Kitada)