Japanese cram schools open their doors to Chinese students

Cram schools in Japan are targeting Chinese students under 15, as the number of Japanese students declines due to an aging population.

A yellow Chinese sign on the door of a cram school belonging to the Ena school chain in Tokyo in early September - Photo: NIKKEI ASIA

At the Ena school chain of the Gakkyusha Group in Japan, many facilities have hung signs in Chinese stating that many Chinese students are enrolled, in an attempt to show their welcome.

According to the Japanese Immigration Agency, the number of Chinese children under 15 with mid- and long-term residency in Japan exceeded 90,000 by the end of 2024, up 70% from a decade ago.

Due to China's tough entrance exams and tighter regulations on private tutoring starting in 2021 under President Xi Jinping, more and more Chinese families are turning to Japan in search of a more comfortable learning environment.

According to Nikkei Asia , a person knowledgeable about cram schools in Japan said that each class at prestigious schools in Tokyo has 1-2 Chinese students.

The education industry sees attracting talented Chinese students as a positive factor for business.

"As the market shrinks due to a falling birthrate, Chinese students are essential for the stable operation of cram schools," an executive at the Yotsuya Otsuka cram school chain said, adding that they plan to consider hiring Chinese-speaking staff and setting up a Chinese-language website.

In Tokyo, some schools in the Ena chain have up to 40% of their students being Chinese, while large centers such as Sapix or Yotsuya Otsuka have also recorded a rapid increase in the number of Chinese students.

Some centers in Kawaguchi city say as many as 80% of students are of Chinese origin, reflecting a widespread trend.

“The Chinese have a tradition of taking exams since the imperial examinations, so they are very compatible with the Japanese examination system. Now, cram schools all want more Chinese students,” said Tatsuhiro Son, director of online exam school Rizapuro.

However, the schools stressed that they do not carry out separate advertising campaigns or preferential policies for Chinese students, to avoid being seen as "pro-China" amid the cautious mentality in Japanese society.

KHANH QUYNH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/truong-luyen-thi-nhat-rong-cua-don-hoc-sinh-trung-quoc-20251023124253777.htm