Pathways Japan provides the “Japanese Language School Pathways” program, which admits young people with refugee backgrounds from outside Japan into Japanese language schools to help them pave the way for the future in Japan.
In late March 2025, a total of 21 students from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, who will start studying at the Japanese language school this year, arrived in Japan. (Two more students are scheduled to arrive in Japan later this year by June, bringing the total number of students admitted this year to 23.)
Despite the conflicts and political oppression in their home country, they have never given up hope for the future and have finally taken a new step forward in Japan. Pathways Japan will continue to accompany the students in Japan so that they can establish their lives in Japan, improve their Japanese language skills, interact with various people in society, and develop new careers.
Seeking for education opportunities: 1,300 young people applied
The number of applicants for the “Japanese Language School Pathways” program in FY2025 was 1,349, up from last year.From Syria, many young people who were interested in a career in Japan and eager to learn Japanese applied for the program, in amid of the uncertainty of the future due to the conflict and subsequent political turmoil. From Afghanistan, many women applied for the program, seeking opportunities for higher education and employment, as women are unable to receive secondary or higher education or work under the effective rule of the Taliban. In Ukraine, too, students who had studied Japanese at universities and other institutions and had a high interest in Japan applied, in the prolonged state of war. From the many highly motivated applicants seeking educational and career opportunities in Japan, 24 students* were selected after screening of documents and multiple interviews.
*One of the 24 students subsequently withdrew due to difficulties in coming to Japan.
Orientation for starting up life in Japan-Support by senior students
Pathways Japan provides orientation for students before their arrival in Japan and also conducts an intensive 4-day orientation after their arrival in Japan to help them quickly establish their lives in Japan and develop their future careers. The students who have completed their university education will aim to find a job in Japan after graduating from a Japanese language school, while those who graduated from high school or were forced to drop out of university due to political changes will aim to enter a university or vocational school after learning Japanese at a Japanese language school. We provided them with information on goal setting and necessary preparations so that they can realize their goals in Japan during the next two years.
On the first day, “senior students” who are currently enrolled in Japanese language schools or have graduated and entered higher education served as lecturers and facilitators, offering various advice and information based on their own experiences. 28 participants from 3 countries attended, providing useful information on daily life, communication with Japanese people, how to find a part-time job, and time management for balancing study, part-time work, and career preparation, and other useful information that only those who have actually experienced it can share. For the newly arrived students in Japan, it was a great opportunity to meet the role models they aspire to be, and the interaction deepened not only during the group talk time, but also during the breaks.
After the orientation by senior students, a “New Student Welcome Party and Graduate Celebration” was also held, inviting guests who support this program and the students, which was a step toward building a network in Japanese society. Six representatives of the students who came to Japan gave speeches and spoke powerfully about why they chose to come to Japan and their future goals, keeping hope alive despite the difficult circumstances in their home countries. Some of the students delivered their speeches in Japanese, and the participants were impressed by their strong desire to continue their education in Japan and their strong aspirations. Graduates in 2024 also shared their future plans and expressed their gratitude to their supporters who have helped them along the way.
Afterwards, we received words of congratulations from SAP Japan Co., Ltd., Tokyo Seinan Rotary Club/General Foundation SIYUKAI, and Syrian OV Association, all of which support Pathways Japan’s activities. Also. New students and graduates received gifts from LUSH JAPAN G.K.
*Speeches will be posted later.
Students admitted by Pathways Japan reach 200
Since admitting students from Syria in 2017, Pathways Japan has expanded students it admits to Afghanistan and Ukraine. And with the admission of 23 students this year, the number of students admitted into Japan is expected to reach 200.
The number of Japanese language schools admitting students has also expanded to 12 directly partnered schools. The regions admitting refugee and displaced students have expanded to include Miyagi, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama, Shimane, Kumamoto, and Okinawa, creating connections with refugee and displaced students throughout Japan.
Expand admission at universities
In addition to admitting refugees and displaced persons at Japanese language schools, the Japan Education Pathways Network (JEPN), a network promoting the admission of refugees and displaced persons at universities, has recruited scholarship recipients for the new “Japan Education Pathways” program for displaced persons living in Japan from the 2025 academic year. As a result, a total of 12 young people with refugee backgrounds will be going on to higher education at universities and graduate schools starting this April at five universities: Tokiwa University, Bunkyo Gakuin University, Ryukoku University, Waseda University, and International Christian University, which had begun admission applications earlier. Pathways Japan will serve as the secretariat of the Japan Educational Pathways Network (JEPN) and will continue to support them in cooperation with the universities.
Pathways Japan is committed to accompanying these young people who embark on a new pathway in Japan this spring so that they can pave the way for their futures. We will also deepen our efforts in cooperation with various organizations and groups, including educational institutions, businesses, and government agencies, to further expand the admission of refugee and displaced youth who seek educational opportunities.
