FOCUS: Japan's free high school policy may provoke exodus from public schools

By Junko Horiuchi, Spotlight Japan - 1 hour ago - 16:29 | All, Spotlight, Japan
Japan's decision to make high school tuition virtually free, even for private institutions, is raising alarm among educators and policy experts, who warn it could accelerate an exodus from public schools and deepen inequalities.
While aimed at easing households' financial burdens amid inflation, the policy -- rushed through as part of a political deal -- also risks undermining the role that public high schools have long played as "safety nets" for students with diverse needs.
Critics say the government has failed to pair the tuition measure with adequate support for struggling public schools, many of which are already facing shrinking enrollment and budget shortfalls, putting their very survival in question.
So far, public schools have adapted to various social changes, but they have also grappled with challenges such as excessive teacher workloads and more frequent cases requiring individualized responses such as bullying and truancy.
In one English lesson at a public high school in a mountainous town in the suburbs of Tokyo, 11 first-year students took turns interviewing each other about daily activities. The 40-minute class was mostly spent with students standing and practicing conversation.
Teacher Shunsuke Nakamura walked around the classroom, encouraging them to make eye contact, checking their grammar and applauding correct responses. His hands-on approach was designed to boost student confidence and foster a more engaging environment.
"Although it increases the workload for teachers, I focus on offering care and education tailored to their individual needs and on motivating them to learn," Nakamura said, stressing the importance of being inspired by classmates to lift the overall level of the class.
He said the school's roughly 260 students include individuals with developmental disabilities, some of whom struggle to attend regularly, and others living in poverty, with a portion enrolled in evening classes at Tokyo Metropolitan Itsukaichi High School.
While praising Nakamura's efforts, Principal Mariko Matsuzaki said she feels that the school's shortcoming lies in its promotional strategy, even as unique courses are being introduced utilizing the abundant natural resources of the nearby valley.
"Our school carries out educational activities in collaboration with community entities, but its unique features are not even fully recognized by local residents," Matsuzaki said, as it joins other Tokyo-run facilities in failing to fill seats.
Another public institution, Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School, near the capital's Shibuya district, said its strength is accepting teenagers from a range of backgrounds, with a third of its about 715 students being either Japanese children returning from living abroad with their families or foreign nationals.
At the school's annual highlight occasion, students confidently delivered speeches in English on topics of their choice -- such as overcoming nervousness, passion for movies and feminism -- before an audience of around 700 in the gym.
Participants also gave presentations in fluent Chinese, French, German, Korean and Spanish -- languages taught at the school as part of its curriculum -- showcasing the linguistic diversity and global outlook of the student body.
An official at the institution said the move to make tuition effectively free at public and private high schools, which began earlier in Tokyo in 2024, has contributed to a drop in applicants and enrollment, even though the entrance exam remains competitive.
Asked what the school offers compared with private counterparts that also promote global education, Haruki Honma, a teacher in charge of English, said, "Here, every day -- whether inside or outside class -- is international exchange, thanks to the makeup of our students."
"I doubt other Japanese private schools have this much diversity in their student makeup. Students naturally learn from each other's different cultures and backgrounds, both inside and outside class," Honma said.
Momentum to reform Japan's high school tuition exemption program picked up late last year as the minority ruling coalition, led by Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party, and the opposition Japan Innovation Party drew closer.
The ruling camp agreed to adopt the JIP's signature policy of tuition-free high schools to secure its support for passing the fiscal 2025 draft budget in parliament.
From the 2026 academic year, income limits for aid to families with children in private high schools will be scrapped and the maximum subsidy raised to about 457,000 yen ($3,150), near average tuition levels. The cap was removed in fiscal 2025 for public schools.
At this juncture, families earning under 9.1 million yen annually receive 118,800 yen in tuition support for both public and private high schools. For private schools, those earning less than 5.9 million yen may receive up to 396,000 yen in aid.
In the Osaka prefectural and Tokyo metropolitan governments, which have already implemented their own free high school education programs, a shift away from public high schools has been observed.
Analysts say debate by policymakers has centered only on addressing household financial burdens, with little discussion on how tuition subsidies could affect the overall education system, including the role of public schools as safety nets.
The state-led policy "pressures public schools" to attract more applicants but lacks funding or extra teachers, leaving them unable to "compete with private schools" on an equal footing, said Hideyuki Konyuba, a professor of education policy at Teikyo University.
"It is necessary that the state provide resources -- money and teachers -- for public" institutions, he said, adding it must also craft a vision for Japan's high school system, which while not legally compulsory is effectively viewed that way with nearly 99 percent of junior high students enrolled.

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• Yomiuri Shimbun

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This was followed by the 'Bobson' line, which was established in 1969 as the little brother of the Big John brand. This positioning-based brand strategy, unusual in Japan at the time, proved highly successful. Betty Smith, Japan's first women's jeans brand, was launched in 1970. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum) An advertisement for Betty Smith jeans from the 1970s. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum) Interestingly, Big John advertised and marketed these brands as if they were from California. Beginning in the 1970s, Japan's textile industry became less competitive due to US-Japan trade friction, the increasingly strong yen, and the industrialization of developing nations, causing the Japanese market to be flooded with jeans imported from the United States and other markets. Now that they had been introduced to the real McCoy, Japanese consumers also became choosier. Kojima's jean manufacturers were forced to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Building on the Region's Original Strengths While Japanese clothing manufacturers initially sourced their raw materials from the United States, Kojima's makers began to explore ways to bring their production focus to a more local level, from materials to crafting methods, early on. As discussed above, the changing business environment also encouraged Kojima jeans manufacturers to innovate. What was traditionally called the Sanbi region (comprising the old domains of Bizen, Bitchū, and Bingo that span today's Okayama and Hiroshima prefectures), has for hundreds of years had a large indigo dyeing industry, and it was this experience that enabled a smooth transition to modern-day indigo dyeing. Hiroshima-based textile manufacturer Kaihara, one of the first to make indigo-dyed denim, is now an internationally renowned company with an over 50% share of the domestic market. According to the Japan Cotton and Staple Fiber Weavers' Association, which represents the cotton textiles industry, a total of 23.9 million square meters of denim were manufactured in the Sanbi region in 2023, representing almost 100% of Japanese made denim. Renowned jeans manufacturers from around the world love the product for its quality and uniqueness. Kuroki is a denim manufacturer based in Ihara, to the west of Kurashiki, that has partnerships with the world's largest luxury brand, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and has received praise for its incorporation of traditional Japanese weaving techniques. Denim manufactured in the Sanbi region travels to Kojima to be made into high-quality jeans. This is because, as noted above, the region is home to a large workforce of skilled textile workers, as well as to the craftmanship and attention to detail that have been passed down from generation to generation. At the heart of Kojima-made jeans are pattern-cutting technologies that make jeans better fitting, and over 200 years of technological innovation in stitching thick cotton. Denim garments shrink slightly over time, a property that Kojima's jean manufacturers have successfully transformed into a comfortable fit through the application of expertise in patterns and stitching. Stitching techniques passed down through generations are the secret of Kojima-made jeans' comfortable fit. (Courtesy Betty Smith Jeans Museum) Kojima manufacturers have also continually tried to avoid falling into the trap of mimicking established overseas brands like Levi's, time and time again creating new value. Their washing techniques are a prime example. Wash processing makes jeans softer and more comfortable to wear. To date, textile manufacturers have developed a variety of wash processes, including stone washing, in which denim garments are put in a washing machine with pumice and abrasives; chemical washing, in which garments are treated with bleach and other additives; and bleaching, in which oxidants and reductants are added to fade the fabric. Another manufacturing technique that enables makers to add value is 'distressing,' in which fabric is sandblasted or otherwise intentionally damaged. As well as enabling Kojima-based manufacturers to differentiate themselves from overseas brands, these techniques have also led to the creation of new trends in jeans fashion. The world-leading refinement of these techniques is the reason that many overseas brands of jeans are produced in Kojima. A World Denim Leader Let us consider what needs to be done to enable the continued development of the Kojima jeans industry. It is possible to identify five main areas where work is needed. The merging of traditional craftsmanship with technological innovation The enhancement of branding Tie-ups between industry and tourism Environmental measures Reuse and recycling With regard to technological innovation, the distressing process is now being performed by lasers, as the merger of this new technology with traditional technologies opens up new markets. When it comes to boosting the 'made in Kojima' brand, we can learn a lot from the Swiss watch industry, which pulled off a successful revival in the 1980s through clever marketing. Harnessing tourist attractions like 'Jeans Street,' which is filled with jeans proprietors, and the Jeans Museum, which showcases the history of Kojima's jeans in a way that shares the appeal of the local jeans culture with a large audience, will win new fans. This unique sign greets visitors to Kojima Jeans Street. (Courtesy Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry) This manhole on Kojima Jeans Street features a characteristic logo and orange stitching. (Courtesy Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry) It goes without saying that ongoing efforts to manage the large quantities of water and chemicals consumed in the manufacturing process are essential, in addition to other environmental commitments. As textile waste increasingly becomes an issue internationally, initiatives for the reuse of unwanted jeans will become even more important. According to Ōshima Yasuhiro, former chair of the Kojima Chamber of Commerce and president of Betty Smith, 'In addition to being the home of Japanese-produced jeans, Kojima needs to retain its leading position as a manufacturer of the world's most global uniform.' In order to resolve these issues and make Ōshima's aspirations a reality, the fostering of workers who will carry on the craft, as well as engineers who will bring about future innovation, is a matter of urgency. The industry also needs a new entrepreneurial figure to carry on Ozaki Kotarō's legacy of plotting and executing a path for the future. The street remains a popular destination for visitors. (Courtesy Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry) References The author referred to the following works in preparing this article. Christensen, Clayton M., The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail, Harvard Business School Press (1997). David, Paul A., 'Clio and the Economics of QWERTY,' in American Economic Review, Vol. 75 No. 2 (1985). Heldt, Gustav (trans.), The Kojiki: An Account of Ancient Matters, Columbia University Press (2014). Porter, Michael E., Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors, Free Press (1980). Porter, Michael E., The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Free Press (1990). Schumpeter, Joseph A., The Theory of Economic Development: An Inquiry into Profits, Capital, Credit, Interest, and the Business Cycle, Harvard University Press (1934). Sugiyama Shinsaku, Nihon jīnzu monogatari (The Story of Japanese Jeans), Kibito Publishing (2009). (Originally published in Japanese. Banner photo: A display of jeans welcomes visitors at the entrance to the Kojima Jeans Street. © Kojima Chamber of Commerce and Industry.)

NHK

14 hours ago

• NHK

Japan govt. panel drafts first change to 'romaji' rules in about 70 years

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