Foreign-background students outnumber reserved high-school spots in Tokyo and nearby prefectures

The education ministry’s questionnaire, conducted from early to mid-August, covered 20 prefectures that have set aside admission quotas for foreign-background students. In Tokyo, 517 candidates applied for just 250 places reserved for those requiring basic Japanese lessons, marking the seventh consecutive year of oversubscription since 2020. Osaka recorded 347 applications for 132 slots, Kanagawa 236 for 229, and Hyogo 25 for 15, each exceeding their quotas for multiple years.

By contrast, at least five prefectures, including Ibaraki and Aichi, saw applications match or fall short of available seats. Officials in Yamanashi and Fukui noted language barriers and poor school-parent communication as additional hurdles. At Osaka Wakaba High School, over 30% of students need fundamental Japanese instruction, prompting teacher Natsumi Koda to stress the need for support for children of foreign residents who contribute to Japanese society.