Japan Plans Generative AI Support for Foreign Students Learning Japanese Amid Teacher Shortages

Japan Moves to Apply Generative AI in Schools: A Practical Brief for Government Leaders

Japan plans to use generative AI and digital tools to support Japanese language teaching for children with foreign backgrounds. The goal is clear: lift instructional quality, reduce pressure on scarce language staff, and provide consistent support across schools.

Guidelines are being prepared to show schools how to use AI for Japanese and other subjects, with a system that combines AI translation apps and online learning. The plan also includes steps to help schools accept students arriving from abroad more smoothly.

What's Changing

• National guidelines for using generative AI in classrooms, including translation and course delivery.
• A school-ready system combining AI translation and online learning tools to ensure access regardless of language background.
• Onboarding processes for foreign students so schools can start support on day one.

The Scale of Need

About 69,000 students in elementary, junior high, high schools, and special-needs schools required Japanese language instruction as of May 2023-the highest since tracking began in 1991. Around 10 percent received no support in class or after school.

Staff shortages persist across languages such as Portuguese, Mandarin, and Spanish. The initiative targets these gaps with AI-supported workflows and clearer division of roles among teachers, Japanese instructors, and mother-tongue support staff.

Timeline and Budget Levers

• The Ministry of Education intends to include expenses in the FY2026 budget request (from next April) to complete the guidelines in about a year.
• Starting in FY2025, the ministry plans to expand subsidies for local governments to recruit language instructors and support staff, and to run outreach programs for foreign children not currently attending school.

What Local Governments and School Boards Should Prepare

• Student language mapping: Build an up-to-date roster by school and grade. Prioritize campuses with the highest unmet need.
• Pilot design: Select 3-5 schools for fast pilots (different sizes and regions). Define clear success metrics: attendance, language gains, subject mastery, and teacher workload impact.
• Tool vetting: Evaluate AI translation and tutoring tools for accuracy in Portuguese, Mandarin, Spanish, and other common languages; require human review for high-stakes content.
• Procurement guardrails: Standardize contracts, data retention limits, and incident response. Require model transparency, version control, and uptime SLAs.
• Data protection: Enforce consent, minimal data collection, and encryption. Restrict sharing of student data with third parties.
• Teacher enablement: Provide short-format training and ready-to-use lesson flows. Assign a school-level AI point person for troubleshooting.
• Access and equity: Ensure devices, connectivity, and quiet study spaces. Plan offline options where needed.
• Out-of-school outreach: Use community liaisons and multilingual communications to get foreign children registered quickly.

How the Classroom Model Could Work

• Teachers share core materials; AI provides translated scaffolds and vocabulary lists per student language.
• Japanese instructors run targeted language blocks; AI suggests practice exercises aligned to lesson goals.
• Mother-tongue support staff assist with complex concepts or family communication; use AI drafts, then refine.
• All content involving grades, discipline, or sensitive topics receives human review before delivery.

Risks and Safeguards

• Accuracy: Mistranslations can mislead. Set thresholds for human verification and maintain bilingual glossaries for curriculum terms.
• Bias and fairness: Monitor for unequal performance across languages. Require periodic audits and feedback loops.
• Privacy and security: Keep student data off public models where possible. Use institution-managed accounts and access controls.
• Overreliance: AI supports instruction; it does not replace teacher judgment or individualized guidance.

Quick Action Checklist

• Nominate a cross-functional team (curriculum lead, IT, legal, school admin, and a teacher advisory group).
• Select pilot schools and languages; define success metrics and reporting cadence.
• Issue a short RFI to tool providers covering accuracy, data use, security, and support.
• Draft a one-page acceptable use policy for staff and students.
• Launch pilots within one term; review results; scale with a standard playbook.

Where to Learn More

• Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
• Complete AI Training - Courses by Job

The direction is set: use AI to close language gaps, give teachers leverage, and make enrollment smoother for families arriving from abroad. With clear guardrails and fast pilots, governments can improve access and outcomes within the next budget cycle.