February, 2013
Result of an annual survey of
international students in Japan 2012
Japan Student Services Organization(JASSO) has conducted an annual survey of international
students in Japan at the graduate school, university, junior college, college of technology,
professional training college and university preparatory course, with the aim of understanding the
students enrollment and gathering basic information for international student exchange policies.
Note1. Ministry of education, culture, sports, science and technology (MEXT) has conducted this
survey until 2003. JASSO was established in April 2004 and succeeded conducting this survey.
Note2. International student on this survey is defined as a student from a foreign country who is
receiving education at any Japanese university, graduate school, junior college, college of technology,
professional training college or university preparatory course and who resides in Japan with College
student visa status.
Note3. Although status of residence College student and Pre-college student were unified on
July 1, 2010, the results of survey of the Japanese language institutes (former Pre-college student
status of residence) are released as reference data for convenience.
Note4. Japanese government scholarship student on this survey is defined as a student who
studies in Japan under the Japanese government (MEXT) scholarship program established in 1954
and another Japanese government scholarship program.
Note5. Foreign government sponsored student on this survey is defined as a student getting
scholarship sponsored by his/her own country/region, Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource
Development Scholarship (JDS) and joint scholarship sponsored by Korean government.
Note6. Short-term international student on this survey is defined as a student from a foreign
country who is receiving education in Japan for a period of one year or less. The purpose of a
student is not necessarily to obtain a degree but rather to study at Japanese university, to
experience a Japanese culture, or to master Japanese language.
Note7. University preparatory course is a course that has been designated by MEXT for
students from countries where the number of years required for the completion of secondary
education is less than 12 years. Upon completion of this course, students are permitted to enter a
Japanese university.
Note8. The sum total of the number of each items may not match with the number of the total
column in the table because of using the rounded-off number.
Trend in number of international students by source of fundsAs of each May 1
Unit: person
150,000
141,774
Total number of international students
(Higher education institution
140,000
138,075
137,756
132,720
130,000
Japanese government scholarship
students
120,000
121,812
118,498
125,124
119,317
124,939
117,302
Privately financed students
110,000
109,508
Foreign government sponsored
students
100,000
127,920
123,829
105,592
117,927
111,225
110,018
106,297
106,102
95,550
98,135
90,000
--
85,024
80,000
78,812
70,000
64,011
60,000
53,847
50,000
41,347
45,066
40,000
38,775
31,251
30,000
55,755
51,298
52,405 53,787 45,245
48,561
43,573 51,047
45,439
41,804
44,783 45,577
41,273
53,640
41,390
35,360
25,643
22,154
15,009
20,000
12,410
10,428
10,000
52,921
68,270
20,549
18,631
14,659
9,267 11,733
25,852
17,701
9,923
6,880 7,371 8,051 8,250 8,323 8,774 8,930 9,173 9,009 9,746
9,869 10,020
9,804 9,891
10,168
10,349
9,396
8,588
7,483
4,465 4,961 5,219 5,699 6,408
3,458 4,118
3,505
3,235
2,345 2,502 3,077
1,903
1,517
4,044
1,585
1,542
1,072
1,524
1,058
2,082
1,026
1,906
1,214
1,297
1,231
1,369
1,330
1,627
1,441
995
976
934
895
3,740
1,956 2,181 2,681
0 863 798 774
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
ReferenceInternational students in Japanese language institutes (As of May 1, 2012)24,092 persons Not included in above mentioned total number year
Trend in number of international students by institutional typeAs of each May 1
Unit: person
150,000
Total number of international students
(Higher education institution
140,000
141,774
138,075
137,756
132,720
130,000
120,000
123,829
121,812 118,498
Graduate school
117,302
110,000
100,000
90,000
117,927
University(Undergraduate)/Junior
college/College of technology
Specialized training colleges
109,508
95,550
University preparatory course
-2 -
78,812
80,000
72,665
71,361
70,000
64,774
64,011
57,911
55,755
52,405 53,787 53,847
50,000
48,561
50,321
52,921 51,047
39,097 39,749
31,592
30,278 30,910
32,666
39,641
35,405
31,251
27,872
28,542 29,514 25,197
22,399
26,229
27,914
25,052 25,159
18,710
25,146
25,753
23,677 25,009 25,47725,504
22,154
23,833
25,463
23,585
21,364
16,390
22,679
21,233
20,483
21,562
12,410
13,486
18,631
19,856
17,173
19,779
18,645
11,246
12,383 13,816
16,592 17,740
10,428
15,009
9,803
15,004
10,568
12,324
8,291
12,574 12,540 12,193 12,136
5,693 6,216 7,201
8,815
11,038
8,035 9,354
2,140
2,018
7,197
6,838
9,725 7,638
1,563
2,348 2,235 2,293
1,619
6,139 5,656 6,916 999 1,840 1,827 1,822 1,644
3,905 4,590 5,384 3,502 4,316 5,043
1,604 2,424
830
25,643
63,437
63,175
51,298
39,502
10,000
67,108
45,066
41,347
40,000
20,000
62,159
62,311
60,000
30,000
71,244
26,160
30,612
25,167
1,587
1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
ReferenceInternational students in Japanese language institutes (As of May 1, 2012)24,092 persons Not included in above mentioned total number
year
Number of international students by region of origin
In the number of international students according to home region, 92.3% previous
year: 93.5% of the students came from Asia, and 5.0% previous year: 4.0% from
Europe and North America.
Regarding the short-term international students, 61.7% previous year: 67.9% of
the students came from Asia, and 34.0% previous year: 28.4% from Europe and
North America.
Region
Number of
students
Short-term students
% of total
Number of students
% of total
127,178
92.3
6,876
61.7
(129,163)
(93.5)
(6,192)
(67.9)
4,456
3.2
2,240
20.1
(3,722)
(2.7)
(1,597)
(17.5)
2,435
1.8
1,551
13.9
(1,742)
(1.3)
(992)
(10.9)
1,112
0.8
45
0.4
(1,018)
(0.7)
(35)
(0.4)
1,106
0.8
66
0.6
(1,136)
(0.8)
(58)
(0.6)
926
0.7
101
0.9
(886)
(0.6)
(94)
(1.0)
543
0.4
267
2.4
(408)
(0.3)
(152)
(1.7)
137,756
100.0
11,146
100.0
(138,075)
(100.0)
(9,120)
(100.0)
Asia
Europe
North America
Middle East
Africa
Latin America
Oceania
Total
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
-3-
Number of international students by nationality
Number of international students by nationality
Students from China, Republic of Korea and Taiwan account for over 78.2% previous year:
79.5%of the total number of international students.
Country/region
Number of students
% of total
Country/region
China
86,324
(87,533)
62.7% (63.4)
Republic of Korea
16,651
(17,640)
Taiwan
4,617
(4,571)
3.4%
Vietnam
4,373
(4,033)
Nepal
2,451
Malaysia
Philippines
Number of students
% of total
497
(498)
0.4%
(0.4)
12.1% (12.8) United Kingdam
429
(364)
0.3%
(0.3)
(3.3)
Saudi Arabia
413
(336)
0.3%
(0.2)
3.2%
(2.9)
Australia
338
(231)
0.2%
(0.2)
(2,016)
1.8%
(1.5)
Russia
333
(331)
0.2%
(0.2)
2,319
(2,417)
1.7%
(1.8)
Cambodia
311
(326)
0.2%
(0.2)
Indonesia
2,276
(2,162)
1.7%
(1.6)
Canada
302
(286)
0.2%
(0.2)
Thailand
2,167
(2,396)
1.6%
(1.7)
Brazil
272
(272)
0.2%
(0.2)
U.S.A
2,133
(1,456)
1.5%
(1.1)
Sweden
244
(193)
0.2%
(0.1)
Myanmar
1,151
(1,118)
0.8%
(0.8)
Laos
223
(248)
0.2%
(0.2)
Mongolia
1,114
(1,170)
0.8%
(0.8)
Iran
213
(229)
0.2%
(0.2)
Bangladesh
1,052
(1,322)
0.8%
(1.0)
Egypt
213
(235)
0.2%
(0.2)
France
740
(530)
0.5%
(0.4)
Singapore
211
(186)
0.2%
(0.1)
Sri Lanka
670
(737)
0.5%
(0.5)
Uzbekistan
203
(191)
0.1%
(0.1)
Germany
566
(393)
0.4%
(0.3)
Others
4,409
(4,082)
3.2%
(3.0)
India
541
(573)
0.4%
(0.4)
Total
137,756
(138,075)
100.0% (100.0)
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
-4-
Number of short-term international students by nationality
52.9% previous year: 57.5% from China, Republic of Korea and Taiwan, and 20.4% previous
year: 15.4% from U.S.A, France and Germany.
Country/region
Number of students
% of total
Country/region
Number of students
% of total
China
3,478
(3,434)
31.2 (37.7)
Italy
92
(55)
0.8
(0.6)
Republic of Korea
1,595
(1,205)
14.3 (13.2)
Spain
72
(47)
0.6
(0.5)
U.S.A
1,409
(877)
12.6
(9.6)
Mongolia
55
(67)
0.5
(0.7)
Taiwan
823
(605)
7.4
(6.6)
Norway
54
(35)
0.5
(0.4)
France
454
(274)
4.1
(3.0)
Singapore
45
(35)
0.4
(0.4)
Germany
415
(256)
3.7
(2.8)
Poland
45
(52)
0.4
(0.6)
Thailand
301
(299)
2.7
(3.3)
Malaysia
44
(33)
0.4
(0.4)
United Kingdam
297
(233)
2.7
(2.6)
Philippines
43
(42)
0.4
(0.5)
Australia
223
(125)
2.0
(1.4)
New Zealand
43
(26)
0.4
(0.3)
Indonesia
196
(185)
1.8
(2.0)
Switzerland
41
(43)
0.4
(0.5)
Vietnam
158
(149)
1.4
(1.6)
Belgium
38
(22)
0.3
(0.2)
Canada
142
(115)
1.3
(1.3)
Brazil
37
(29)
0.3
(0.3)
Sweden
122
(88)
1.1
(1.0)
Mexico
34
(39)
0.3
(0.4)
Russia
102
(83)
0.9
(0.9)
Denmark
34
(31)
0.3
(0.3)
Netherlands
99
(66)
0.9
(0.7)
Others
563
(494)
5.1
(5.4)
Finland
92
(76)
0.8
(0.8)
Total
11,146
(9,120) 100.0 (100.0)
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
-5-
Number of international students by gender
Gender
Number of students
% of total
Male
70,518
(70,540)
51.2
(51.1)
Female
67,238
(67,535)
48.8
(48.9)
Total
137,756
(138,075)
100.0
(100.0)
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
Number of international students by institutional type
National
Number of
students
Graduate
school
University
(undergraduate
)
Junior college
College of
technology
Professional
training
college
University
preparatory
course
Total
Local public
% of total
Number of
students
% of total
Private
Number of
students
Total
% of total
Number of
students
% of total
24,680
62.3
1,680
4.2
13,281
33.5
39,641
100.0
(24,937)
(62.7)
(1,713)
(4.3)
(13,099)
(33.0)
(39,749)
(100.0)
10,293
14.9
1,636
2.4
57,345
82.8
69,274
100.0
(9,931)
(14.4)
(1,495)
(2.2)
(57,475)
(83.4)
(68,901)
(100.0)
0.0
0.4
1,597
99.6
1,603
100.0
(0)
(0.0)
(7)
(0.4)
(1,820)
(99.6)
(1,827)
(100.0)
432
89.3
0.2
51
10.5
484
100.0
(470)
(91.1)
(2)
(0.4)
(44)
(8.5)
(516)
(100.0)
0.0
12
0.05
25,155 99.95
25,167
100.0
(0)
(0.0)
(13)
0.05
(99.95)
(25,463)
(100.0)
0.0
0.0
1,587 100.0
1,587
100.0
(0)
(0.0)
(0)
(0.0)
(1,619)
(100.0)
(1,619)
(100.0)
35,405
25.7
3,335
2.4
99,016
71.9
137,756
100.0
(35,338)
(25.6)
(3,230)
(2.3)
(99,507)
(72.1)
(138,075)
(100.0)
(25,450)
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
-6-
Number of international students by major field
Major field
Number of students
% of total
Humanities
28,074
(27,873)
20.4
(20.2)
Social science
54,187
(55,732)
39.3
(40.4)
Science
2,140
(2,123)
1.6
(1.5)
Engineering
23,316
(23,320)
16.9
(16.9)
Agriculture
3,105
(3,196)
2.3
(2.3)
Health care
3,068
(3,003)
2.2
(2.2)
Home economics
2,930
(2,684)
2.1
(1.9)
Education
3,349
(3,277)
2.4
(2.4)
Arts
4,594
(4,491)
3.3
(3.3)
Others
12,993
(12,376)
9.4
(9.0)
Total
137,756
(138,075)
100.0
(100.0)
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
-7-
Number of international students by region and prefecture of Japan
Region
Number of
students
% of
Prefecture
total
Number of
students
Region
Number of
students
% of
Prefecture
total
Mie
Shiga
Hokkaido
Tohoku
2,737
2.0%
(2,734)
(2.0)
Hokkaido
2,737 (2,734)
25,691
Kinki
Number of
students
946 (1,025)
454
(470)
18.6%
Kyoto
6,900 (6,246)
(24,807) (18.0)
Osaka
10,521 (10,325)
Hyogo
5,128 (4,959)
Nara
1,463 (1,490)
Aomori
281
(413)
Wakayama
279
(292)
Iwate
350
(375)
Tottori
183
(183)
Shimane
195
(230)
3,385
2.5%
Miyagi
1,872 (2,018)
6,821
(3,746)
(2.7)
Akita
355
(292) Chugoku (7,142)
Yamagata
225
Fukushima
302
5.0%
(5.2) Okayama
2,273 (2,516)
(207)
Hiroshima
2,499 (2,647)
(441)
Yamaguchi
1,671 (1,566)
Ibaraki
2,638 (2,713)
Tokushima
332
(350)
Tochigi
1,075 (1,073)
Gunma
1,366 (1,571)
Kanto (64,088) (46.4) Saitama
64,429
46.8%
1,309
1.0%
Kagawa
351
(378)
(1,418)
(1.0)
Ehime
462
(507)
5,877 (6,013)
Kochi
164
(183)
Chiba
5,290 (4,850)
Fukuoka
Tokyo
43,500 (43,188)
Saga
Kanagawa
4,683 (4,680)
Nagasaki
Niigata
1,533 (1,592)
Toyama
Ishikawa
15,165
11.0%
Fukui
Chubu (15,441) (11.2) Yamanashi
Nagano
567
(571)
Shikoku
Kyushu
18,219
13.2% Kumamoto
(18,699) (13.5)
1,570 (1,670)
Oita
10,434 (10,635)
292
(341)
1,461 (1,518)
724
(667)
3,562 (3,873)
Miyazaki
170
(167)
288
(309)
Kagoshima
968
(881)
841
(880)
Okinawa
608
(617)
774
(681)
Gifu
1,406 (1,353)
Shizuoka
1,563 (1,679)
Aichi
6,623 (6,706)
Total
137,756
100.0%
(138,075)
(100.0)
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
Note: International students attending universities whose campuses lie in two or more prefectures are
included in the figure for the prefecture where the main office of the university is located.
-8-
Number of international students by housing (As of May 1, 2012)
Total number of international students:137,756 studentsDecrease of 319 students
Students in public housing:29,940 studentsIncrease of 1,600 students
International student housing set up by schools
83 schools
National universities
Local public universities 27 schools
304 schools
Private universities
18,759 students
8,384 students
717 students
9,658 students
International student housing set up by public corporations,etc.
Student housing set up by JASSO
Student housing set up by local government
Student housing set up by public corporations
Public housing
Private company housing
General student housing set up by schools
Natioal universities
Local public universities
Private universities
102 schools
11 schools
232 schools
742
850
1,305
1,903
447
5,247 students
students
students
students
students
students
5,934 students
3,177 students
218 students
2,539 students
13.6%
21.7%
3.8%
4.3%
Total
137,756
students
100.0
78.3%
Private housing
78.3%107,816 students78.3
-9-
Reference 1
Shift in number and percentage of international students
Number of students
Annual increace Annual % change
1983
10,428
2,312
28.5%
1984
12,410
1,982
19.0%
1985
15,009
2,599
20.9%
1986
18,631
3,622
24.1%
1987
22,154
3,523
18.9%
1988
25,643
3,489
15.7%
1989
31,251
5,608
21.9%
1990
41,347
10,096
32.3%
1991
45,066
3,719
9.0%
1992
48,561
3,495
7.8%
1993
52,405
3,844
7.9%
1994
53,787
1,382
2.6%
1995
53,847
60
0.1%
1996
52,921
926
1.7%
1997
51,047
1,874
3.5%
1998
51,298
251
0.5%
1999
55,755
4,457
8.7%
2000
64,011
8,256
14.8%
2001
78,812
14,801
23.1%
2002
95,550
16,738
21.2%
2003
109,508
13,958
14.6%
2004
117,302
7,794
7.1%
2005
121,812
4,510
3.8%
2006
117,927
3,885
3.2%
2007
118,498
571
0.5%
2008
123,829
5,331
4.5%
2009
132,720
8,891
7.2%
2010
141,774
9,054
6.8%
2011
138,075
3,699
2.6%
2012
137,756
319
0.2%
(As of each May 1)
- 10 -
Reference 2
Major universities in terms of number of international students (As of May 1, 2012)
University name
Number of students
Waseda University
Private
3,771
(3,393)
Japan University of Economics
Private
3,135
(3,378)
The University of Tokyo
National
2,873
(2,877)
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Private
2,526
(2,692)
Kyushu University
National
1,931
(1,866)
Osaka University
National
1,925
(1,780)
University of Tsukuba
National
1,681
(1,663)
Kyoto University
National
1,664
(1,631)
Nagoya University
National
1,611
(1,556)
Tohoku University
National
1,428
(1,497)
Nihon University
Private
1,378
(1,340)
Hokkaido University
National
1,347
(1,340)
Ritsumeikan University
Private
1,324
(1,253)
Tokyo Institute of Technology
National
1,241
(1,252)
Keio University
Private
1,203
(1,072)
Kobe University
National
1,132
(1,108)
Doshisha University
Private
1,131
(877)
Osaka Sangyo University
Private
1,098
(1,154)
Meiji University
Private
1,089
(1,046)
Takushoku University
Private
1,030
(970)
Hiroshima University
National
1,005
(1,090)
Kokushikan University
Private
967
(1,159)
Chiba University
National
961
(1,025)
Meikai University
Private
924
(859)
Yokohama National University
National
861
(868)
Tokyo International University
Private
835
(831)
Josai International University
Private
810
(882)
Sophia University
Private
757
(520)
Chuo University
Private
750
(684)
Kansai University
Private
726
(672)
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
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Reference 3
International students in Japanese language institutes
Region of origin
Region
Asia
Number of students
% of total
Change
22,921
95.1
1,673
Europe
774
3.2
59
North America
187
0.8
18
Africa
68
0.3
23
Middle East
62
0.3
27
Latin America
45
0.2
Oceania
35
0.1
12
24,092
100.0
1,530
Total
Nationality
Country/region Number of students
% of total
Change
China
15,079
62.6
2,275
Republic of Korea
2,268
9.4
594
Vietnam
1,735
7.2
689
Nepal
1,150
4.8
193
Taiwan
962
4.0
61
Myanmar
418
1.7
37
Thailand
406
1.7
21
Indonesia
221
0.9
63
Sweden
207
0.9
37
Sri Lanka
175
0.7
42
Others
1,471
6.1
196
Total
24,092
100.0
1,530
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Number of international students by region and prefecture of Japan
Region
Number of
students
% of
Prefecture
total
Number of
students
Region
Number of
students
Hokkaido
Tohoku
116
0.5%
(138)
(0.5%)
(138)
3,411
Kinki
14.2%
(3,422) (13.4%)
46
(100)
Shiga
(0)
Kyoto
1,085
(947)
Osaka
1,612 (1,516)
Hyogo
624
(809)
Nara
44
(50)
Aomori
(0)
Wakayama
(0)
Iwate
(0)
Tottori
(0)
(442)
Shimane
(0)
(1.6%) Okayama
215
(240)
1.0%
Miyagi
221
(453)
(1.8%)
Akita
(0) Chugoku
Yamagata
(1)
Hiroshima
125
(170)
Fukushima
18
(10)
Yamaguchi
(0)
Ibaraki
38
(60)
Tokushima
(0)
Tochigi
188
(204)
Gunma
274
(179)
(17,217) (67.2%) Saitama
597
821
67.2%
Chiba
Tokyo
Kanagawa
1,721
Chubu
116
Number of
students
239
16,194
Kanto
Hokkaido
% of
Prefecture
total
Mie
(1,809)
7.1%
340
(410)
1.6%
0.0%
Kagawa
(0)
(0)
(0.0%)
Ehime
(0)
(572)
Kochi
(0)
(884)
Fukuoka
Shikoku
13,282 (14,247)
Saga
146
(115)
Nagasaki
(0)
8.6% Kumamoto
(0)
Oita
33
(0)
994 (1,071)
Niigata
(0)
Toyama
20
(19)
Ishikawa
(0)
Miyazaki
(0)
Fukui
(0)
Kagoshima
33
(47)
99
(107)
Okinawa
178
(168)
Nagano
172
(188)
Gifu
170
(164)
Shizuoka
436
(500)
Aichi
824
(831)
(7.1%) Yamanashi
Kyushu
2,071
1,681 (1,843)
(2,173)
Total
(8.5%)
24,092
100.0%
(25,622)
(100.0)
indicates figures as of May 1, 2011
- 13 -
Number of international students by housing(As of May 1, 2012)
Number of international students students (Decrease of 1,530 students
Students in public housing students (Increase of 1,216 students
Type
Number of students
Public housing
Change
8,298
1,216
International student housing set up by schools
7,010
119
International student housing set up by public corporations, etc.
233
42
Student housing set up by local government
10
Student housing set up by public corporations
19
115
38
89
1,055
156
Private housing
15,794
2,746
Total
24,092
1,530
Student housing set up by JASSO
Public housing
Private company housing
General student housing set up by schools
Public housing
8,298 students
34.4%
Total
24,092 students
(100.0%)
Private housing
15,794 students65.6%
- 14 -