Highlighting a” critical difficulty “in international mobility, the Japan Association of Overseas Research Studies (JAOS) has actually launched JSARI– the nation’s very first dedicated study abroad think tank– amid slowing outgoing growth and minimal policy research study.
Japan has actually currently surpassed its inbound trainee target 8 years ahead of schedule, reaching 435,000 global students as of June 2025. But its goal of sending 500,000 students abroad by 2033 remains a challenge due to a weak yen, worldwide inflation, and stricter visa guidelines in crucial locations such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.
A study by JAOS, which supported around 80,000 students each year pre-pandemic through its member organisations, discovered that 39 members sent out a total of 70,253 students abroad in 2024.
Additionally, the number of Japanese students heading to the United States fell from 29,580 between January and November 2024 to 26,635 in the exact same period in 2025, according to US government data.
As the government progresses with its study abroad policies, it needs to take advantage of the insights and experience of the private sector better
Tatsuhiko Hoshino, JSARI
According to JAOS, inadequate data and policy analysis are hindering “strategic development” in Japan’s outgoing mobility, with JSARI aiming to build a more powerful research study base to support nationwide interests and provide more reliable insights.
“The main data on Japanese trainees studying abroad, as caught by the federal government, do not consist of those handled primarily by personal study abroad agencies– such as working professionals or K-12 trainees who go abroad for graduation functions without participating in Japanese middle or high schools,” Tatsuhiko Hoshino, the first director of JSARI, told The PIE News.
“JSARI intends to bridge this space. As the government moves forward with its study abroad policies, it needs to utilize the insights and experience of the private sector better. JSARI plans to provide the federal government with the data and data required to make an engaging case for this partnership.”
Led by Hoshino, JSARI is supported by a senior advisory group headed by Mitsuhide Shiraki, professor emeritus at Waseda University, together with a seven-strong panel of academics and policymakers.
JAOS, celebrating 35 years of market leadership, will utilize JSARI to conduct independent studies and analysis on international mobility and worldwide education, producing information and insights on their social and financial impact. It will also utilize these insights to support policy and decision-making for federal governments, educational institutions, and related organisations.
With more Japanese students picking to study in Asia– a 2024 JAOS study found 14,713 students in the region, up from 12,460 in 2019– driven by lower costs and growing TNE options, Hoshino sees an environment where trainees can access international education without leaving Japan or Asia.
“For English language studies, the Philippines has ended up being a primary hub, while Malaysia and Taiwan are progressively functioning as the go-to destinations for degree-seeking students. Furthermore, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea have actually ended up being popular choices for overseas educational journeys arranged by Japanese high schools and universities,” specified Hoshino.
“Key examples of TNE growth in Japan consist of Temple University’s Japan school, which has seen a surge in enrolments, as well as foundation programs released locally by institutions such as the University of New South Wales and UCSI University. At the school level, more than 60 Japanese high schools now use double diploma programs with the Providence Country Day School, enabling students to earn both Japanese and United States certifications.”
JSARI will likewise publish a yearly “White Paper on Research Study Abroad” every November 12, designated “Research study Abroad Day”, combining JAOS’s analytical data with thorough research, with the inaugural edition concentrating on the previous international experiences of trainees pursuing overseas degrees.
“While the particular contents of this year’s White Paper on Research study Abroad are still being settled, it is set to include the yearly JAOS Statistical Survey on Japanese trainees studying abroad.
“In addition, the report will include arise from an approaching research concentrating on Japanese trainees who have registered in abroad universities, particularly investigating whether they had previous study abroad experience and the particular nature of those experiences,” stated Hoshino.