(Photo courtesy of PNA)
TOKYO, JAPAN — Japan is struggling to secure enough Japanese-language teachers for foreign workers ahead of the implementation of a new employment program in April 2027, according to a recent government survey.
The Employment for Skill Development program, which will replace the existing Technical Intern Training program, requires foreign nationals to pass at least the A1 level of Japanese-language proficiency or complete a minimum of 100 hours of language instruction before beginning work in Japan.
The survey, conducted jointly by the Immigration Services Agency and the labor ministry, assessed the readiness of organizations responsible for supporting foreign workers and companies planning to employ them.
A total of 1,880 organizations were included in the survey, with 348 submitting valid responses during the three-day period ending October 7.
Results showed that 125 organizations, or 35.9 percent of respondents, had not secured enough registered Japanese-language teachers and had no clear prospects of meeting their staffing requirements.
Only 51 organizations, representing 14.7 percent, reported having sufficient teachers, while 66 organizations, or 19 percent, said they expected to secure the necessary personnel.
The remaining 106 organizations said they were still working to address the shortage.
The participating organizations plan to accept a combined 17,247 foreign workers during the program’s first year.
Of this number, approximately 13,502 workers are expected to pass the required A1-level Japanese proficiency examination or higher before arriving in Japan.
Several respondents cited difficulties in finding qualified instructors, saying they lacked information on where to recruit registered Japanese-language teachers or seek assistance.
Government data showed that Japan had approximately 20,000 registered Japanese-language teachers as of August 2026.
An official from the Immigration Services Agency acknowledged the need to improve awareness of the new system and strengthen efforts to recruit qualified instructors.
“We have to raise awareness about the system,” the official said. “We will make further efforts to secure teachers.”
The teacher shortage highlights a challenge for Japan as it prepares to introduce a revised foreign worker program aimed at improving skills development and language proficiency among overseas employees.
